Together We Thrive: Empowering Families and Caregivers of Individuals with Autism

Presented by the Ontario Association of Social Workers  (OASW)

Note: This course will be open to 10-15 learners, based on a first come first serve basis. If the course is full, please join our waitlist and we will contact you in case a spot opens up. 

  Course Description 

• Small Cohort, Big Impact:    Join a small cohort of 10-15 learners and embark on a collaborative learning journey. Forge meaningful connections with peers, share insights, and support each other every step of the way.
• Interactive Self-paced Content:   Delve into the course content at a pace that suits you, engaging with a varied blend of videos, research materials, and pertinent websites to fully immerse yourself in the learning experience.
• Live Sessions with Experts:  Engage directly with the industry experts behind the course. Get your questions answered in real-time, gain valuable insights, and deepen your understanding of the course material through interactive discussions.
• Engaging Assignments:   Put your newfound knowledge into practice with thought-provoking assignments. Receive personalized feedback from our experts to help you refine your skills and apply your learning effectively.
• Ontario-based Knowledge and Resources:  Through a combination of region-specific case studies, practical scenarios, and current research, participants gain insights into the challenges and opportunities inherent to Ontario's social work landscape. 
• Community Learning:  Connect with fellow learners through our dedicated Community Page. Foster discussions, share resources, and build a strong network of support to enhance your learning experience. 

Course Outline & Schedule

Delve into the fundamentals of autism, master effective communication techniques, acquire practical intervention strategies, and learn the to build collaborative networks. 

Course Instructors 

Tina Gandhi (BA, MSW, RSW) works with the Adult Team at Surrey Place with families and clients who have developmental disabilities. She has over 20 years of clinical experience in the areas of autism, disability at developmental and mental health agencies. She provides counselling to diverse families, couples, siblings and individuals and leads parent support groups for parents and family members of children with autism. She is a Master Level ASIST (Suicide Prevention) trainer, Mental Health Ambassador, and presenter on the importance of the social work role in the field of neurodiversity. She was recently the keynote speaker discussing families of children who have autism for the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers.

Dr. Barbara Muskat (MSW, PhD, RSW) has worked in a variety of settings across her almost 50-year career as a social worker, including children’s mental health and pediatric health care. She currently is an Adjunct Professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (University of Toronto) where she teaches courses in clinical practice, specializing in the areas of child and adolescent practice, primarily with neurodivergent individuals, and in group work. Barbara has been a lead researcher on a number of projects, including examination of the hospital experiences of children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.

Registration Instructions

This course will be open to 10-15 learners, based on a first come first serve basis. If the course is full, please join our waitlist and we will contact you in case a spot opens up. 

Once registered, we will contact you via email to confirm your attendance.

This course runs from May 1st to May 31st 2024, with a kick off Introductory Live session on April 19th 2024. 

Cost: FREE

This event is being offered thanks to support from The Canadian Red Cross Society Community Services Recovery Fund.