The government of Ontario recently celebrated the opening of three new state-of-the-art ErinoakKids facilities in Oakville, Mississauga and Brampton. ErinoakKids is Ontario’s largest children’s treatment centre for children and youth with special needs. Ontario invested $163 million in the construction of the three new facilities.

The new buildings double the centre’s space and provide expanded care by consolidating 10 existing spaces into three modern, state-of-the-art buildings, making it easier for families to access the care they need while minimizing travel. ErinoakKids helps care for over 16,000 children and youth living with physical, intellectual, developmental and communication disabilities, including autism, each year.

The facilities will provide more responsive and coordinated services, including stimulating therapeutic playrooms and multi-sensory rooms, an audiology area for hearing aid fitting and dispensing, a family resource centre to support parents and caregivers, and a youth drop-in.

“The opening of ErinoakKids’ new Halton facility is a game-changer for children and youth with disabilities and special needs in the community. This treatment centre represents a new model of service built on a single point of care for families who are often faced with the burden of travelling to multiple locations for services,” said Bridget Fewtrell, president and CEO of ErinoakKids, in a press release. “Children with complex needs now have access to expanded services and programs under one roof in a space designed for them that we know will better support their growth and development.”

The government is also investing over $300 million in new funding over three years to add 2,000 new teachers, specialized support staff and education workers to help eliminate wait lists for special education assessments, as well as an additional $62 million in the Ontario Autism Program.