Lansdowne Events Schedule Autism Services Video Game Night ages 10-14 Wed, Aug 19 Brantford REGISTRATION OPENS AUG. 11th at 9 am For children ages 10-14 registered with Lansdowne Autism Services. The ratio of this group is 1 staff for 3 children. We do not have the staff available to supervise clients who have aggressive behaviour or are a flight risk. See All More Info Caregiver Event - Coffee Chat, BRANTFORD Thu, Aug 20 Lansdowne Brantford Lansdowne client parents and caregivers are invited to join an evening of conversation and fun. Limited childminding capacity available (no cost). Please register in advance. +15 more Details Multiple Dates Autism Services Circle Time Group (1) Fri, Aug 21 Brantford Weekly on Friday's from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm Children 2-6 registered with OAP with their caregivers More Info Caregiver Event - Bertie the Bus BRANTFORD, school-ready experience Wed, Aug 26 Lansdowne Brantford Lansdowne client parents and caregivers are welcome to introduce children of any age who may be riding a school bus for the first time this fall. Explore and sit on a school bus, before the big first day, in a safe, controlled environment (no cost). Please register in advance. +3 more Details Autism Services Caregiver Orientation Wed, Aug 26 Brantford Virtual information session for caregivers and support persons of children registered with Lansdowne Autism Services. More Info General Strategies to Support Fine Motor Skills Thu, Aug 27 Online Please join an Occupational Therapist from Autism Services to learn about Fine Motor Strategies to help your child increase their independence and participation. More Info Autism Services Summer Science Days ages 10-13 Thu, Aug 27 Brantford REGISTRATION OPENS AUG. 20th at 9 am Children aged 10-13. Registered with Lansdowne Autism Services. The ratio of this group is 1 staff for 3 children. We do not have the staff available to supervise clients who have aggressive behavior or are a flight risk. More Info Autism Services Girl's Night Out ages 11-15 Thu, Aug 27 Lansdowne Brantford For youth ages 11-15 who identify as girls. Registered with Lansdowne Autism Services. Able to participate safely and successfully in a 1:3 support ratio in Centre and in the community. +1 more More Info Autism Services Teen Social Group 14-17 Mon, Aug 31 Lansdowne Brantford For Youth aged 14-17 registered with Lansdowne Autism Services, who can successfully participate in groups with 3:1 support ration (1 adult for 3 youth) See All More Info Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed Mon, Sep 07 Brantford Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed More Info Multiple Dates Caregiver Event - Sip and Share, BRANTFORD Fri, Sep 11 Lansdowne Brantford As kids go back to school in September, Lansdowne client parents and caregivers are invited to join supportive conversation and connect in a casual, safe and comfortable environment. Please note, there is no childminding available at this event. See All More Info Fundraising - Heroes Walk and Roll for Lansdowne Kids Sat, Sep 26 Brant Conservation Area, Brant Park Dress up. Team up. Show up. Your fundraising super powers STRENGTHEN ACCESS to programs and supports. BUILD INCLUSION through opportunities where every child belongs. REDUCE BARRIERS for families who need help now. Be a Hero with your kids, for kids. More Info Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed Wed, Sep 30 Brantford More Info Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed Mon, Oct 12 Brantford Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed More Info Fundraising - Benefit Show, Country Greats in Brantford Fri, Nov 20 Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts The Sounds of Nashville hit the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts! Join us for an unforgettable evening of country music featuring the hits of Alabama, Miranda Lambert, and Zac Brown Band. A portion of proceeds will be donated to Lansdowne Children’s Centre. More Info Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed Fri, Dec 25 Brantford Lansdowne Children's Centre sites closed More Info Upcoming Events: Upcoming Events

Questions or concerns about your child's developing physical or communication abilities? This milestone guide invites you to check off the skills that your child is demonstrating on a consistent basis. If your child does not meet all the milestones for their age, we recommend that you complete a referral submission to SmartStart Hub at Lansdowne Children’s Centre to gain access to resources, assessment, services and supports. We can help your child to realize their optimal potential. Start Instructions Feedback 3 months 6 months 9 months 12 months 15 months 18 months 24 months 36 months 48 months Early Years Development Checklist, 0 - 48 months Do you have questions or concerns about your child's physical or communication abilities? We can help To begin, continue to the Instructions tab, or select the age that is closest to the age of your child. By 6 months old my child can: String vowels together when babbling Start sitting up unsupported Roll over in both directions (front-back, back-front) Reach for toys with both hands and mouths Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 ... 5 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant Early Years Development Checklist, 0 - 48 months Every child learns and develops in their own unique way. This early years development checklist provides physical and communication development milestones that most children are demonstrating in each age group. Check off the abilities that your child is demonstrating on a consistent basis. If you have concerns about unchecked milestones. first consult the online resources provided for more information. The recommended streaming videos and printable activities will help you enage in play-based learning with your child. Often these universal strategies for skill development will help a child's progress. If you have multiple incomplete milestones, and especially if you have incomplete milestones from an earlier age group, please consider completing a referral with SmartStart Hub to access opportunities for assessment, support and therapy services. There is no cost to access SmartStart Hub resources, services and supports at Lansdowne Children's Centre. By 9 months old my child can: play peek a boo stand holding onto something or someone make sounds like “mamama” “dadada” “bababa” copy sounds and gestures of others transfer objects one hand to another crawl or move around in some way Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 6 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 12 months old my child can: use gestures like shaking head ”no” or waving “bye” start to play with/use things functionally (like a spoon) pull themselves up to stand, walk holding on to furniture join in back and forth conversation by making noises or gestures try to copy (say) words/sounds back to you after you say them Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... 8 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 18 months old my child can: walk on their own without support use at least 20 single words that you can understand play simple pretend, such as feeding a doll Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 10 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 24 months (2 years) old my child can: copy others, imitating sounds and gestures uses 2-3 word phrases to label pictures stack blocks or rings self-feed using cup, spoon and fork Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 11 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 36 months ( 3 years) old my child can: copy lines or circles with a crayon follow 2 or 3 step directions speak in clear sentences jump with 2 feet off the ground tell stories, sequences of events Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant When you're done, please come back to this tab and let us know about your checklist experience. Your feedback helps us to improve. Thank you! How was your experience? Don’t love it Not great Good Really good Love it Where are you from? How old is your child? Submit Thank You! Your feedback has been submitted. By 3 months old my child can: Hold their head steady Coos, smiles and recognizes familiar people Turn their head in both directions towards sounds Follow people or objects with their eyes Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 1 ... 1 2 3 4 ... 4 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 48 months (4 years) old my child can: take turns in play with a friend answer simple questions use the toilet independently Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ... 11 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant By 15 months old my child can: point to show something interesting to others walk with minimal support say 3-5 words (other than “mama” and “dada”) understand and follow simple commands turn pages of a book Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 10 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ontario Autism Program (OAP) / Access OAP Open EarlyON Programs, Brantford-Brant

Kids need to grow, and so do we. To improve service access and equity, and better serve the booming population in our region, Lansdowne Children's Centre is pursuing approvals to build a new children's treatment centre facility in Brantford. #ForTheKids Event Calendar News Blog Service Guide Resources Work With Us About Us Centre Board Contact Us Kids need to grow, and so do we. Lansdowne is ready to grow, and we need your support. Please add your name to this letter of support for a NEW Lansdowne Children's Centre facility in Brantford, addressed to Hon. Minister Michael Parsa at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. CLICK THE IMAGE OF THE LETTER TO EXPAN D AND PREVIEW Share This Story Show Your Support... I am proud to offer my support for Lansdowne Children's Centre's request for Stage 1 planning approval, and respectfully ask that you prioritize Lansdowne through your Ministry’s results-based planning process later this year. Signed, First name Last name Email Place of residence Choose an option Write a message Submit I am proud to offer my support for Lansdowne Children's Centre... 590 Page 1 Jatinkumar in Brantford Please help to share our story. Click on an image to like it or share it on your social media. The population of our region is BOOMING . We are thrilled to welcome so many new families into Brantford, Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk. As demand for our services and supports GROWS, so does our need to GROW in response. It is time to build a NEW Lansdowne Children's Centre. The current wait list for services at Lansdowne Children’s Centre exceeds 2,449 children , nearly double the volume since pre-pandemic 2019. There is no more room to compromise. Board Member Mike Gatopolous is a parent of a child who attends Lansdowne. Mike is an active advocate, sharing the impact that Lansdowne services, resources and supports provided his family, and the purgatory of time spent on a waitlist. Seen here at a January 2023 meeting of Brant County council. Rogers TV20 (Kitchener/Brantford) produced this community feature, including comments from MPP Brantford-Brant Will Bouma and Executive Director Rita-Marie Hadley at the June 2023 Lansdowne annual general meeting. Lansdowne Children’s Centre Speech Services in Top 5 for Hamilton Spectator’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards Lansdowne Children’s Centre is so honoured to be a Top 5 nominee for Best Speech Services in the Health, Beauty and Wellness category for the Hamilton Spectator’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards Jul 30 Lansdowne Children’s Centre hosts annual general meeting Lansdowne Children’s Centre’s held its annual general meeting on June 15, 2026. It was a celebration of the year behind, and an eager glimpse at the road ahead. Jun 23 Grandview Kids CEO shares experience of concept to concrete for a new building Grandview Kids is a children’s treatment centre in Durham Region; its CEO, Tom McHugh, spoke about his organization’s journey from concept to concrete, outlining the pathway and experience of recently completing a new purpose-built facility in their community. Jun 19 Lansdowne Children’s Centre takes major step forward with selection of architect for new Brantford facility (L to R), Representatives of Montgomery Sisam Architects, Karine Quigley, Shannon Wiley, Wesley Gross; from Lansdowne Children's Centre, Rosemarie Press, Rita-Marie Hadley, and (far right) Tamie Aubin; and Miller McLeod and Rami Bouz of Colliers Project Leaders. Lansdowne Children’s Centre for child development is pleased to announce the selection of Montgomery Sisam Architects for its new purpose-built facility in Brantford, marking a significant and celebratory milestone in May 26 Over 165,000 reasons to smile in Brantford Powered by passionate community leaders and dedicated volunteers, Lansdowne Children’s Centre and Brant Food For Thought are celebrating a new Smile Cookie record for fundraising in Brantford. Each organization has received $82,501.52 at the conclusion of the Tim Hortons 2026 Smile Cookie campaign, eclipsing the previous achievement of $79,415.54 each organization received through the 2025 campaign. The money was raised through the sale of Smile Cookies and associated mercha May 22 Port Dover resident sees advocacy at the heart of Lansdowne Children’s Centre board position A lot of public advocacy work comes down to building personal relationships in the community, noted Lansdowne Children’s Centre board member Rick Rozak. Hailing from Port Dover, Rozak joined the board in 2018. “The majority of my career, I worked with young people in the youth justice system,” he said. When he started out, he would have a caseload of two or three youths at a time, and a big part of his job was mentoring them through their plan of care, which he would also hel Apr 21 The analysis in 2020 reported that the current Lansdowne space-needs are nearly triple the amount of space available in our 57-year old building. Children are Paying the Price and Can’t Keep Waiting: • Children in our community have had vital procedures delayed, suffered learning losses, and experienced devastating impacts on their physical and mental development. • These problems will continue to get worse without expansion. The challenges Lansdowne children face will only compound as they age and become more difficult to address. Everyday Matters in the Life of a Child: • Only one in three kids in Ontario receive services within the clinical standard, with the majority waiting almost three years to access services. • At Lansdowne Children's Centre in Brantford that ratio is only one in four kids. • Families are falling further behind and wait lists are longer than they have ever been. • Long wait times and limited resources are not new barriers to timely care, but these barriers have increased significantly since the pandemic began. It’s Time to Champion Children’s Healthcare: • By acting quickly, we can stop children from suffering and start their healing. • Children deserve a strong system of care that provides the care they need, when they need it, and where they need it. Dream Board | Architect Concept Art Spacious, open concept areas for connectivity, with access to daylight. Outdoor recreation areas designed with enhanced sensory environments. Spaces for individual and group play. Dedicated treatment and assessment areas, designed for program delivery. Universally accessible washrooms. Spaces to meet and work. Enhanced sensory environments for client therapy and recreation. Spaces that are calming and comfortable. With a new facility we can address serious limitations. We can: Offer improved accessibility at ground level and reach new heights in a multi-storey design, including consideration for the access and mobility needs of our clients and staff. Reduce wait time and welcome even more clients and their families to our expanded assessment and treatment facilities, with more capacity to grow our team of dedicated staff; Reduce environmental dangers by providing adequate on-site parking for all families and staff; reducing exposure to increasingly busy side streets and improved visibility at entrance and exit; Reduce travel time for client families by hosting more services, including sensory environment, respite and group activitieis on-site, while also reducing costs by eliminating rental fees; Host more group meetings, community events and recreation programs in expanded meeting rooms and recreation facilities, specially desiged to accomodate the needs of our clients; Deliver a more equitable, quality experience for clients and their families, in a comfortable modern environment without compromise to care and privacy. Together we can impact change in the lives of many families in our community in pursuit of our mission, to support infants, children and youth with physical, developmental or communication needs, and their families, and our vision, realizing the optimal potential for infants, children and youth. A New Lansdowne, A Community Effort The preparation for the new-build Lansdowne proposal included a full day visioning workshop to establish a direction for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Chi ldren's Centre. Hosted in December 2019 with Montgomery Sisam Architects, over 100 Lansdowne staff and community members, including the Mayors of Brant County, the City of Brantford and other City staff, came and offered their opinions on the test plans and the visioning boards. Each participant was also provided with three Red Dots that they could place on any portion of a given panel to anonymously indicate a preference. Of the Visioning Boards presented, the most dialogue centered around the Sensory Environment of the building as well as the different Open Office solutions for staff workspace. Feedback was universal in stating that the building should be as non-institutional as possible and that the environment should be engaging to the full age range of the clients who will use the building. Invest in their future. To learn how, CLICK HERE

Join the Lansdowne Children's Centre corporate team, the Lansdowne Cruisers, in the Rotary Brantford Classic Run, in support of local children's programs. Rotary Club of Brantford 2026 ROTARY BRANTFORD CLASSIC RUN - SUNDAY, JUNE 7 - Join the Lansdowne Cruisers team You Run. Kids Win. Sign Up Today Register Event Info Print Flyer Email Flyer Join our Corporate Team The Lansdowne Cruisers and walk, run or roll with Lansdowne Children's Centre in support of local children's programs. Rotary Club of Brantford presents The 42nd Rotary Brantford Classic Run Sunday, June 7, 2026 10:15 a.m. Start W. Ross Macdonald School, 350 Brant Ave. Brantford Using the provided Race Roster event page, you will create your own participant account with an email and password. During your registration, you will be asked if you would like to register as an individual or as part of a team. To join our Lansdowne Cruisers team, select: Join a Team - a Corporate Team - find Lansdowne Children's Centre Our Team Captain is Tiffany Morgan, recreation services. Please email Tiffany to provide your email contact as a registered team member. We would like to contact you by email closer to the event date to organize a group meeting point and time to get our annual Lansdowne team photo. For any questions or concerns, you can email Tiffany at: tmorgan@lansdownecc.com Did you know... That Lansdowne Children's Centre has entered a corporate team in the Rotary Classic Run going back decades! Lansdowne is one of the earliest community programs for children supported by this event. LANSDOWNE CRUISERS THROUGH THE YEARS Join the Lansdowne Cruisers, Rotary Brantford Classic Run June 7, 2026 Apr 1 Rotary Club of Brantford annual Children's Party at Lansdowne Children's Centre, 2025 Dec 19, 2025 Commemorative photo book celebrates 50+ Years of Lansdowne, in print fundraiser and free online Apr 14, 2025 1 2 3 4 5

Accessible Playground Directory | | Lansdowne Children's Centre Resource Library Accessible Playground Directory A comprehensive resource designed to empower individuals of all abilities to discover inclusive play spaces in their local communities and throughout Ontario. Download printable PDF handout/activity pages Accessible Playground Directory no download available Download Keywords and search terms commonly associated with this resource include:

Welcome to Lansdowne Children's Centre. Important information about client rights. Start Here Guide: Know Your Client Rights Return Next Lansdowne Children’s Centre is a safe and respectful space for all. We are committed to fostering an environment where clients, families, staff, volunteers, and visitors feel supported, understood, and safe—whether in person, virtually, or in writing. We do not tolerate any form of harassment, violence, aggression, or disruptive behaviour. No yelling. No bullying. No hate speech. No threats. To protect the wellbeing of our team and community, any staff member may end a client interaction or appointment at any time if they feel unsafe. Together, we uphold respect, kindness, and inclusion. While involved with Lansdowne Children’s Centre as a client, client family, and/or client caregiver, you have the right to: Be treated with courtesy, dignity and respect. Have your language, culture, religion and sexual orientation respected. Receive care in an environment free from abuse, exploitation, retaliation. Have your have questions and concerns heard without intimidation or fear of reprisal, and to expect Lansdowne staff to provide a timely response to your concerns. Receive quality care and service, in a clean and safe environment. Privacy and confidentiality of your health information and record of care. Be involved in decision making regarding your child. Receive information and answers to your questions about Lansdowne services, your child and your child’s individual service experience. Give or refuse consent to any proposed care and to be advised of the risks and benefits of the service being proposed. Be informed of any unanticipated service reductions and contingency plans related to your child’s service. Click here to learn more about Lansdowne's Family-centred Guiding Principles Return Next

Questions or concerns about your child's readiness to begin kindergarten at school? This milestone guide invites you to check off the skills that your child is demonstrating on a consistent basis. If your child does not meet all the milestones for their age, we recommend that you complete a referral submission to SmartStart Hub at Lansdowne Children’s Centre to gain access to resources, assessment, services and supports. We can help your child to realize their optimal potential. Start Instructions Feedback 1) Concept 2) Physical 3) Health & Safety 4) Numbers 5) Language 6) Reading 7) Writing 8) Social Kindergarten Readiness Checklist, 36 - 72 months Do you have questions or concerns about your child's readiness for entry to school, ie. ready to start kindergarten? We can help. To begin, continue to the Instructions tab, or select the age that is closest to the age of your child. Kindergarten Readiness Checklist, 48 - 72 months Every child learns and develops in their own unique way. This kindergarten readiness checklist provides cognitive, physical and communication abilities that most children are demonstrating by the time they are ready for school entry (ie. starting kindergarten). Check off the abilities that your child is demonstrating on a consistent basis. If you have concerns about unchecked milestones. first consult the online resources provided for more information. The recommended streaming videos and printable activities will help you engage in play-based learning with your child. Often these universal strategies for skill development will help a child's progress. If you have multiple incomplete milestones, and especially if you have incomplete milestones from an earlier age group, please consider completing a referral with SmartStart Hub to access opportunities for assessment, support and therapy services. There is no cost to access SmartStart Hub resources, services and supports at Lansdowne Children's Centre. When you're done, please come back to this tab and let us know about your checklist experience. Your feedback helps us to improve. Thank you! How was your experience? Don’t love it Not great Good Really good Love it Where are you from? How old is your child? Submit Thank You! Your feedback has been submitted. What is Concept Development? Concept development is a problem solving ability that allows young children to construct their own understanding of concepts as they interact and work with materials, people, events, and ideas. Examples of an ability to work with concepts include: Completing puzzles, fitting shapes Building towers with blocks Sorting toys or books by size or colour Counting groups of similar items Drawing a character or scene from a book Following simple instructions like “Put the ball on the chair” and “ Get the pot from under the sink.” Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ready for Kindergarten - Video Playlist Open Early Years, Behaviour Tips - Video Playlist What is Physical Readiness? Physical readiness is a child's ability to control and use large and small muscles to perform actions. Children need physical skills to be successful in school and participate in a variety of play-based activities. Examples of an physical readiness include: Climbing and playing on playground equipment Dressing themself, closing buttons, snaps and zippers Using scissors to cut shapes from paper Using crayons, pencils or markers to draw lines and shapes Rolling, throwing and/or bouncing a ball Peddaling a tricycle or similar vehicle Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ready for Kindergarten - Video Playlist Open Early Years, Behaviour Tips - Video Playlist What is Health and Safety Readiness? Health and safety readiness includes a child's basic needs for health care, grooming, rest and nutrition. Examples of health and safety readiness include: Regular check-ups with a family doctor and up-to-date shots Regular teeth brushing and trips to the dentist Regular activity and exercise An established bed time and regular rest Healthy eating including fresh fruit and vegetables Understanding simple safety rules and signs, like traffic lights, stop signs, fire danger, poison danger) Understanding stranger danger Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Ready for Kindergarten - Video Playlist Open Early Years, Behaviour Tips - Video Playlist What are Number Concepts? Number concepts include ability to perform classifying, ordering, counting, and time and space relationships. These are directly related to child’s ability to perform mathematical tasks throughout their school years and the rest of their lives. It is important to help young children feel confident in dealing with number tasks. Examples of number concept readiness include: Answering questions like, "how many forks do we need?" Comparing objects by size, and ordering largest to smallest Following a regular sequence of events, ex. Bedtime routine Comparing groups and identifying which is more and which is less Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies What are Language Abilities? The development of language abilities – listening, speaking, reading, writing – is critical to a child’s success throughout their school years and the rest of their lives. It is tied to everything children learn or do in school. Parents can support the development of language abilities by talking with and listening carefully to children as they share their ideas and experiences. Examples of language abillity readiness include: Answering open questions like, "How do feel?" or "What do you think?" Identifying and using words that rhyme Asking questions about concepts or instructions Expressing original ideas, ex. Sharing what they think would happen next in a story Alerting a caregiver to needs or dangers, Ex. "I need to use the bathroom" or "I feel sick" Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Open Referral Form, Online Access | SmartStart Hub Services Why Read With Your Child? A child's ability to read and comprehend information is an important skill that will impact their daily life. A caregiver can have a positive impact on a child's interest and ability to read by sharing early reading experiences. Reading a book with children is enjoyable and interesting. It is the most important way in which parents can help children learn to read and ideally would be a part of a daily routine. Reading also provides a shared expereience you can talk about together. "What did you think when?" or "What was your favourite part?" Examples of reading readiness include: Have a library card and be familiar with choosing books to read Demonstrate "pretend reading" turning pages and telling a story Point and read words in your environment, ex. Stop signs, Store names, Labels on food Sit quietly and listen to a story be read by someone else Follow along reading pointing to words as they are read Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Ready to Write? To become a skilled, lifelong writer, a child needs encouragement and support as they begin the writing process. They’ll play at writing like they play at reading. Ask them to read what they’ve written. Children go through various stages of writing development. These stages include scribbling, drawing pictures and pretend writing. Examples of writing readiness include: Organize letters (ex. letter blocks, or magnets) to form words Scribbling/drawing letters on paper Tracing over letters/words/secntences on paper Writing their name Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies What is Social and Emotional readiness? Children need to be socially and emotionally ready to start school, and this includes knowing how to take turns, make compromises, approach familiar children, obey those in authority (principals, teachers, caregivers) and generally be nice to others. You can help a child to get ready for school by giving them the opportunity to interact as part of a group of children. Community opportunities include attending playgrounds, early on learning centres and the public library. Examples of social and emotional readiness include: Following the instructions/rules of an authority figure Use words to express feelings Be comfortable with trying new things Join others in a game, group activity Use words to solve disagreements, no violent acts Model the use of works such as please, thank you and excuse me Recommended Resources 1 2 3 4 5 1 ... 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ... 12 Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies Open Face to Face, Communication Strategies

JOB POSTING: Occupational Therapist - Autism Services View All Job Posts Date Published: Date Closing: Tuesday, August 11, 2026 DOWNLOAD Job Title: Occupational Therapist Salary Range: $38.31 to 43.53 Application Deadline: Internal August 13, 2026; external August 31, 2026 Department: Autism Services Location: Brantford & Surrounding Communities (Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk) Position Type: Temporary Full-Time up to 18 month contract Unionized: Yes Existing Position: Yes What you'll do Key Responsibilities Provide assessment, treatment and consultation for children and youth with physical and/or developmental delays or disorders. Services are provided in a variety of settings. The position provides service in locations in Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk Counties. Travel is required within the catchment area. · Provide assessment, treatment, and consultation for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. · Deliver caregiver‑mediated training and consultation. · Collaborate and knowledge‑share within a multidisciplinary team. · Demonstrate flexibility and resilience in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment. · Perform other duties as assigned. Why you'll love working here Growth: Training, mentorship, and career development for all stages Purpose: Work that makes a difference in our community Belonging: Employee committees, inclusive policies, and a culture of respect Benefits: HOOPP retirement plan Education, Qualifications and Certifications Qualifications · Mandatory: Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy or equivalent · Registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario · First Aid/CPR Certification Experience and Knowledge Experience • Preferred: Paediatric experience of at least 2 years in providing service with a special needs population. • Minimum: • Minimum 2 years of extensive pediatric experience. • Experience working with children and youth with Autism is considered an asset. • Experience collaborating with Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) teams or multidisciplinary teams. Accessibility & Inclusion Lansdowne Children’s Centre is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. APPLY TODAY Submit your resume and a short cover letter telling us why this role excites you. We welcome applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Or, please send your application by e-mail to: apply@lansdownecc.com APPLY FOR THIS POSITION Lansdowne Children’s Centre provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process. If you are contacted to participate in an interview or screening process, please advise us if you require accommodation. We thank all applicants , however, only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted

Board Past Chair Lloyd St Amand, Centre Board - Lansdowne Children's Centre. Serving the needs of the children and youth, and their families, who access services and support for communication, developmental and physical needs, at Lansdowne Children's Centre in Brantford, Caledonia, Dunnville and Simcoe. < Back Previous Next Lloyd St Amand Board Past Chair Lloyd St Amand joined the Lansdowne Centre board in 2015 and is a lawyer and Senior Partner at Lefebvre & Lefebvre LLP. Lloyd shares a desire to assist our exceptional agency in providing supports to children and families.

JOB POSTING: Scheduler – SmartStart Hub View All Job Posts Date Published: Date Closing: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 DOWNLOAD Job Title: Scheduler – SmartStart Hub Salary Range: $25.50 - $29.98 Application Deadline: Internal June 9, 2026, external June 24, 2026 Department: SmartStart Hub Location: Brantford & Surrounding Communities (Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk) Position Type: Part-Time Permanent Fridays 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Unionized: Yes Existing Position: Yes What you'll do · Schedule and coordinate client appointments using a computerized system · Communicate with families and service providers to arrange, confirm, or reschedule · appointments · Maintain accurate records in the client information system · Support specialty clinics and program scheduling · Maintain waitlists and run reports for internal programs · Book rooms and resources for appointments and meetings · Assist with data collection, telephone assessments, and clinical statistics · Address needs within the SmartStart Hub as required and participate in team activities · Ensure adherence to privacy, safety, and organizational policies · Collaborate across teams to drive meaningful results. Why you'll love working here Growth: Training, mentorship, and career development for all stages Purpose: Work that makes a difference in our community Belonging: Employee committees, inclusive policies, and a culture of respect Benefits: HOOPP retirement plan Education, Qualifications and Certifications Experience and Knowledge · Technically and administratively competent, strong organizational skills · Anticipate, identify, and define problems, seek root causes · Develop and implement practical and timely solutions · Effectively manage time and prioritize · Focus on service delivery, responsiveness, and quality · Strong interpersonal skills · Goal oriented · Communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, in a clear and straight forward manner · Demonstrate initiative and independent thinking · Able to work independently with minimal direction · Problem solver capable of analyzing information and making appropriate decisions · Understand and adhere to privacy and security requirements, policies and procedures · Represent Lansdowne Children’s Centre in a manner consistent with the organization’s vision, mission, and values in matters of conduct, image and work · Proficiency in computer applications · Demonstrate ability in communication, problem solving and organizational skills · Interpersonal skills · Time management skills Accessibility & Inclusion Lansdowne Children’s Centre is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. APPLY TODAY Submit your resume and a short cover letter telling us why this role excites you. We welcome applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Or, please send your application by e-mail to: apply@lansdownecc.com APPLY FOR THIS POSITION Lansdowne Children’s Centre provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process. If you are contacted to participate in an interview or screening process, please advise us if you require accommodation. We thank all applicants , however, only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted

JOB POSTING: Social Worker View All Job Posts Date Published: Date Closing: Friday, May 1, 2026 DOWNLOAD Job Title: Social Worker Salary Range: $31.44 to $36.98/hour Application Deadline: Internal April 22, 2026; external May 7, 2026 Department: Lifespan Location: Brantford & Surrounding Communities (Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk) Position Type: Permanent Full-Time Unionized: Yes Existing Position: Yes What you'll do Key Responsibilities The Social Worker provides family‑centred social work services to children, youth, and families receiving services at Lansdowne Children’s Centre. This role supports families through assessment, counselling, advocacy, and coordination of services, with an emphasis on coping, capacity‑building, psychosocial well‑being, and navigating challenges related to disability, illness, grief, or life transitions. Key Responsibilities · Provide individual, family, and group counselling based on identified needs and priorities · Conduct comprehensive psychosocial assessments and develop individualized care plans · Support families in understanding and responding to medical diagnoses and developmental concerns · Advocate for client and family needs within the Centre and the broader community · Coordinate care with internal teams, schools, and community partners · Plan and deliver groups, workshops, and consultations for families and staff · Maintain accurate, timely documentation and contribute to program evaluation and service planning · Participate in team meetings, training, accreditation, and quality‑improvement initiatives · Ensure client and staff safety through crisis intervention, safety planning, and duty‑to‑report responsibilities Why you'll love working here Growth: Training, mentorship, and career development for all stages Purpose: Work that makes a difference in our community Belonging: Employee committees, inclusive policies, and a culture of respect Benefits: HOOPP retirement plan Education, Qualifications and Certifications Qualifications • Bachelor’s Degree in social work or other related field as required for registration as a Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Experience and Knowledge Experience • Preferred: Three years work related experience in paediatrics preferably in the areas of physical and/or developmental disabilities Minimum: Related experience working with children and youth or families Proof of immunizations or willingness to obtain Accessibility & Inclusion Lansdowne Children’s Centre is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. APPLY TODAY Submit your resume and a short cover letter telling us why this role excites you. We welcome applicants of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Or, please send your application by e-mail to: apply@lansdownecc.com APPLY FOR THIS POSITION Lansdowne Children’s Centre provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment process. If you are contacted to participate in an interview or screening process, please advise us if you require accommodation. We thank all applicants , however, only those candidates to be interviewed will be contacted