Group Programs

ACT offers a number of group programs in Ottawa throughout the year for children and teens. Groups focus on functional routines, mental health, making friends and more.

All group programs at ACT are eligible for expense under the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Core Clinical Services. Groups may also be eligible for third-party insurance coverage.

Let’s Play! (3 to 6) Resilient Minds (7 to 9) Children’s Friendship (9 to 12) Teen Neurodiversity (13 to 17) Teen 2SLGBTQ+ (13 to 17)

Let’s Play!

Ages: 3 to 6 (birth years 2021, 2020, 2019)
Location: Orleans (bilingual), Lancaster, Nepean (bilingual), Kanata

Fall Group

Dates: September 8 to November 14, 2025.
Time: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 1:30 PM to 4 PM
Cost: $900 for one day a week, $1800 for two days a week and $2700 for three days a week ($90 per day)

Children of all skill levels are welcome. Children who require 1-to-1 support to participate in the group environment may require a modified attendance schedule.

What to expect:

Children will participate in structured group activities (e.g., circle, craft) and unstructured group activities (e.g., free play) with peers. The curriculum is designed to help children learn to follow a consistent routine as well as support the development of social interaction and play skills.

The program is delivered by a group of trained staff who comprise of various paraprofessionals such as, Early Childhood Educators, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Communicative Disorders Assistants and Behavioural Therapists.

Please note this group is not affiliated with the PLAY Project.

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Resilient Minds – Anxiety Group

Ages: 7 to 9
Dates: September 18 to October 23, 2025
Time: Thursdays, 5 to 6:30 PM
Location: Colonnade
Cost: $900

The objective of this group is to help children build upon emotional awareness and self-regulation skills through a combination of psychoeducation discussions, sensory exploration, mindfulness and creative activities.

Throughout the 6-week program, each session introduces a theme related to understanding emotions, calming the body and developing a personalized coping toolkit.

What to Expect:

Children will participate in games, hands-on sensory activities, mindfulness exercises and age-appropriate discussions to better understand how their brains and bodies respond to stress.
By the end of the program, each child will have a personalized (tangible) toolbox of strategies they can use to feel calmer, focused and confident in managing big feelings.

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CHILDREN’S FRIENDSHIP GROUP

Ages: 9 to 12
Dates: September 16 to November 18
Time: Tuesdays, 5 to 6 PM
Location: Colonnade
Cost: $1000

The Children’s Friendship Group is a 10-week program in support of neurodiverse elementary school-aged children who struggle to make and maintain friends.

What to expect:

A fun and welcoming environment for children to learn skills to meet and make friends.
An evidence-based, skill-building group for children.
Weekly caregivers’ group (held at the same time as the children’s group) to get the tools and knowledge to become social coaches for your children.

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TEEN NEURODIVERSITY GROUP

Ages: 13 to 17
Dates: September 18 to November 20
Time: Thursdays, 5 to 6 PM
Location: Colonnade
Cost: $700

Calling all teens! Our 10-week teen group is a chance to make friends and take part in activities (suggested by youth) in a warm and welcoming space!

What to expect:

Soft coaching around social skills, group rules, boundaries, consent etc.
Teens collaborate with group facilitators to choose activities they want to participate in.
Crafts, video game night, board games, low-cost outings etc.

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2SLGBTQIA + TEEN NEURODIVERSITY GROUP

Ages: 13 to 17
Dates: September 18 to November 20
Time: Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 PM
Location: Colonnade
Cost: $700

Our upcoming 2SLGBTQIA+ 10-week group is a chance to make friends and take part in activities (suggested by youth) in a warm and welcoming space! This group will be a place where you can share, laugh and hang out with like-minded people!

What to expect:

Soft coaching around social skills, group rules, boundaries, consent etc.
Teens collaborate with group facilitators to choose activities they want to participate in.
Crafts, video game night, board games, low-cost outings etc.

Begin Registration

Having trouble completing registration? Email intake@actlearningcentre.ca or call 343-887-2287.

This post is also available in: French