I've Registered My Child in the OAP. Now What?

Please note there are hyperlinks in this post

Read our previous post explaining the different parts of the OAP here

See the PDF (with hyperlinks) of this infographic here

(1) I've registered my child in the OAP, now what?

Keep a service file.

This could be a binder or something similar. Bring it with you whenever you are meeting with anyone about your child. Consider labelling categories such as: 

• History; birth history, developmental milestones, interests, sleep patterns, behaviour logs, etc. 

• Assessments 

• Medical 

• Financial 

• School 

Keep a log of contact information and agencies that you are involved with.

Information to include: 

• Primary contact person; name, phone number, email, position. 

• The date the referral was made. 

• Dates of contact; include phone calls, emails, and visits made. It’s important to include who you spoke to, the date and time and what you talked about.

• Be sure to contact the agency if something changes with your situation such as a move, a stressful event, etc.

You can decide to have private services.

• This means you need to pay out-of-pocket. Do your research about your options. 

• You can interview different services and people and make your own decision. See our post about choosing an ABA provider here. If you are looking for a neuro-affirming therapist, check out our list here

• Charitable foundations may support funding. Workplace benefits/insurance policies may also provide some coverage for private services. Check out our list of financial assistance resources here

If you want a specific service of program, you need to check the following to help speed up the process.

• Does this service have a deadline? 

• Is there certain criteria that I need to have to enroll? 

• Do I need a referral or doctor’s note? 

Parents need to keep original documents.

Many agencies request copies of assessments and reports to help determine services. It may be useful, and quicker, to give an extra copy than having agencies request them from other agencies. 

• Make sure the date is on all reports. 

• Make photocopies of all assessments, reports and recommendations. 

• Sign consent for an agency to have a copy of your child personal information.

Keep any receipts for items directly related to your child’s needs.

You may be able to use receipts for certain grants, government funding options, taxes and insurance purposes.

Start building your support network 

Building a network of support is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family. Whether it’s finding other caregivers to talk to, joining a local support group, or participating in advocacy efforts, connection matters. 

Look ahead

Pay attention to upcoming transitions: entering school, becoming a teenager, or preparing for adult services. You may also want to begin learning about long-term financial planning, including government benefits, legal guardianship, and setting up a support network that can evolve with your child’s needs. 

(2) What else can we do while waiting for Core Clinical Services (direct funding)?

Read the full blog post here

See our other blog posts about the OAP here

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