Five Skills to Focus on While Waiting for OAP Funding

If you’re waiting for core clinical funding through the Ontario Autism Program, you might feel stuck.

Like progress is paused.

Like real support hasn’t started yet.

But here’s the truth:

You do not have to wait to build meaningful skills.

Some of the most powerful foundations for long-term success can be built right at home - no funding required. Here are five high-impact skills we often recommend families focus on while waiting.

Functional Communication

If we could prioritize one thing above all else, it would be this.

Functional communication means teaching your child how to appropriately ask for:

• Help

• A break

• More time

• A preferred item

• Attention

When communication improves, interferring behaviour often decrease.

Try this:

• Prompt your child to say or gesture “help” before stepping in.

• Teach “break” during mildly challenging tasks.

• Pause before giving a preferred item and prompt “I want ___.”

Even simple communication (single words, visuals, gestures) can change everything.

Tolerating “No”

This is a life skill.

Your child will hear “no” at school, in the community, and eventually in the workplace.

We don’t want “no” to trigger emotional overwhelm every time.

Start small:

• Say “not right now” instead of immediate no.

• Pair “no” with a clear alternative:

  • “No iPad right now. iPad after dinner.”

• Reinforce calm responses immediately.

The goal isn’t compliance - it’s emotional flexibility.

Waiting

Waiting is a foundational self-regulation skill.

It supports:

• Turn-taking

• Classroom participation

• Social play

• Community safety

Build gradually:

• Start with 5–10 seconds.

• Use a visual timer.

• Praise calm waiting specifically:

  • “You waited so calmly. That was awesome.”

Waiting tolerance grows with practice - just like a muscle.

Independent Dressing

This is one of our favourite “hidden impact” skills.

Why?

Because independence builds:

• Confidence

• Daily living competence

• Reduced parent stress

• School readiness

Start with one step:

• Pulling up pants

• Putting arms through sleeves

• Zipping halfway

Transitioning Between Activities

Transitions are one of the most common triggers for behaviour challenges.

Moving from:

• iPad → dinner

• Park → car

• Preferred → non-preferred task

…can feel huge for some children.

Make transitions predictable:

• Use countdown warnings (“2 more minutes.”)

• Use visual schedules.

• Reinforce smooth transitions heavily.

The smoother transitions become, the calmer daily life feels.

Why These Five?

Because they:

• Reduce interferring behaviour

• Increase independence

• Support school success

• Improve family routines

• Build long-term resilience

These are foundational skills - not “extra” therapy goals. They are life skills.

A Gentle Reminder

Waiting for funding does not mean waiting to support your child. Small, consistent, daily practice matters more than intensity. Five minutes of intentional skill-building every day adds up. And when funding does arrive? You’ll already have momentum.

How The Nest Can Support You

If you’re a York Region family waiting for OAP funding, we can:

• Help you prioritize goals

• Offer parent coaching sessions

• Create simple home-based plans

• Provide consultation while you wait

Sometimes families don’t need 20 hours of therapy. Sometimes they just need direction.