Caregiver-Mediated Early Years (JASPER)
- Fully funded by the Ontario Autism Program
- Children up to 48 months
- 18 hours over 12 weeks (6 in summer)
- Online and in person
We give you the tools to support your child’s development, with strategies you can keep using at home long after the program ends.
What is JASPER?
JASPER stands for Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement and Regulation. It is an evidence-based approach developed at UCLA for very young children with autism, and it works on the things that come before words: sharing attention with another person, playing with meaning, staying in an interaction, and staying regulated inside it.
Joint attention may be a new term for many parents. It is when a child looks at a toy, then at you, then back at the toy, to check that you are sharing the moment. It is one of the earliest social skills to appear and one of the most reliable predictors of later language. JASPER teaches this skill directly, through play.
How caregiver-mediated support works
In JASPER, a JASPER-trained coach teaches you strategies to support your child's play, engagement and communication during everyday interactions. During one-to-one sessions, your coach works alongside you and your child, helping you practice the strategies and giving feedback in the moment.
The most important part happens between sessions. Caregivers are expected to practice what they are learning during everyday play and routines, giving their child many more opportunities to build these skills.
What the program looks like
The program includes 18 hours of caregiver training, combining one-to-one coaching with online group learning. For most of the year, sessions are spread over 12 weeks, with individual coaching sessions every other week and group sessions in between. During the summer, the same program is delivered weekly over six weeks.
-
Online group session
Learn the strategies alongside other families in the program.
2 hours, every other week (weekly in summer), on alphabeePRO -
One-to-one session
A master's-level coach models the strategies, then observes you using them with your child and gives feedback.
1 hour, every other week (weekly in summer), in person or remote -
Between sessions
You practice the strategies during everyday routines at home.
At home, at your own pace
All online training content is hosted on alphabeePRO, our learning platform, and remains available to you throughout the program. If you miss a session or would like to review the material, you can revisit it at any time.
What it costs
The Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Program is funded in full by the Ontario Autism Program for eligible families. With an invitation letter, there is no fee, no co-payment, and nothing comes out of your child's OAP budget allocation.
Funding is administered through MCCSS.
Delivered with SAAAC
This program runs as a partnership between AlphaBee and the South Asian Autism Awareness Centre, under the name Early Connections Autism Services. Together, the two organizations have close to forty years of experience working with children with autism and their families in this community.
The coaches delivering it are trained directly by the UCLA team who developed JASPER.
The details
- Who it's for
- Caregivers of children with an autism diagnosis up to 48 months old
- What you need
- An invitation letter from the Ministry (MCCSS). Families receive this after registering with the Ontario Autism Program
- Who you'll work with
- A master's-level coach, trained by the UCLA JASPER team
- Length
- 18 hours of training in total, over 12 weeks (6 weeks in summer)
- Format
- A 2-hour online group session plus a 1-hour one-to-one session, every other week (weekly in summer)
- Where
- Group sessions are online. One-to-one sessions take place at our centres, in your home or online
- Cost
- Fully funded by the Ontario Autism Program
Questions we get asked
My child turns four soon. Are we too late?
The age limit is 48 months at the time of registration. If your child is close to 48 months, please contact us as soon as possible so we can confirm eligibility.
Does this use up our OAP funding?
No. The Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Program is funded separately by the ministry. Your child's budget allocation for core services is untouched.
Will the coach work directly with my child?
Your child attends the one-to-one sessions and the coach works with both of you, but the training is for you as the caregiver. If you want direct therapy for your child, that is early intervention, which is a different program and can run alongside this one.
Do I have to come to a centre?
No. Group sessions are always online. One-to-one sessions take place at our centres, in your home or online.
Can both parents take part?
Yes. The strategies work best when everyone around a child uses them, so both parents are welcome to attend the group sessions.
What if my English is not strong?
Training is delivered in English. We can help arrange translation for the intake process. During the program, you are welcome to use translation tools or include a family member who can help.
What happens after the twelve weeks?
We encourage parents to keep using the strategies after the program ends. If your child would benefit from direct therapy afterwards, explore early intervention and ABA therapy.
Where sessions happen
The online group sessions run wherever you are in Ontario.
Not ready to call yet?
Start with the free printables our clinical team uses with families. Free to download, no sign-up required.
Or read what happens next after you get in touch.
Did you receive an invitation letter?
Register for the next cohort through our partner site, Early Connections Autism Services.
Register for the next cohort Fully funded. There is nothing to pay at any point.