Navigating the Journey Together:
From diagnosis to empowerment – tools, knowledge, and community for every step
When your child has a disability, the path forward may seem unclear. That’s why the Move Learn Grow program is offering a series of practical workshops at no cost, designed specifically to support parents and caregivers who are navigating this journey.
Led by experienced occupational therapists and disability experts, these sessions offer guidance on everything from understanding your child’s diagnosis and meeting them where they are at, to securing financial support and resources. Whether you're just beginning or looking to deepen your understanding, each workshop is a chance to connect, learn, and feel empowered.
Explore the sessions below to find the support that fits your family's needs!
Upcoming Workshops
Your Child Has Been Diagnosed – What's Next?
Monday, December 1, 2025 (7 pm - 8 pm online)
Understanding Your Child on the Spectrum
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 (1 pm - 2 pm online)
Every Opportunity Counts – Meeting Your Child Where They're At
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 (10 am - 11 am online)
Finding Balance and Building Resilience – Supporting Yourself While Supporting Your Child
Thursday, December 4, 2025 (6 pm - 8 pm in person at 99 Duncan Mill Road)
Financial Supports and Disability – Related Benefits in Canada
Friday, December 5, 2025 (12 pm - 1 pm online)
Your Child Has Been Diagnosed – What's Next?
Date: Monday, December 1, 2025
Time: 7 pm - 8 pm
Format: Online video group meeting
Description
Receiving a new diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming, and understanding what comes next is often the most challenging part. This practical workshop is designed to support families who are just beginning their journey. Whether your child has received a diagnosis related to developmental, physical, or mental health needs, this session will help you take the first steps with confidence.
The workshop will guide you through:
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Accessing Services: Learn how to find and connect with local health, education, and community-based services across Ontario.
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Understanding Waitlists: Get clear information on how waitlists work, what to expect, and how to stay informed while you wait.
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Advocating for Your Child: Discover practical strategies for communicating with service providers, schools, and healthcare professionals to ensure your child’s needs are met.
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Navigating Systems: Gain insight into how Ontario’s health, education, and social systems intersect – and how to work within them effectively.
This session is ideal for parents and caregivers who are new to the world of diagnoses and looking for guidance, clarity, and connection. You’ll leave with tools, resources, and a better understanding of how to advocate for your child and access the supports they deserve.
Presenters
Mary Rose Hackbart, OT Reg. (Ont.) &
Sara Kurniadi, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Mary Rose Hackbart is a registered Occupational Therapist and the Senior Manager of the Early Learning program, and Sara Kurniadi is an Occupational Therapist in the Early Learning program at March of Dimes Canada.
Mary Rose Hackbart is a registered Occupational Therapist with more than 13 years of experience. Throughout her career she has supported individuals with physical, cognitive and mental health conditions within complex systems including healthcare, rehabilitation, insurance and legal frameworks. She is passionate about helping others to engage in meaningful activities and empowering independence in that journey. Her approach when working with clients is to break down challenging concepts into manageable steps to promote understanding and enable forward progression toward goals. When she is not supporting the operation of children’s programming at March of Dimes Canada, she can be found spending time outside with her spouse and young son, stand-up paddle boarding, or playing volleyball.
Sara Kurniadi is an Occupational Therapist in the Early Learning program at March of Dimes Canada. She is a registered Occupational Therapist with a passion for helping children thrive in their daily lives. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Western University and a Bachelor’s in Autism and Behavioural Sciences from McMaster University. With experience working with diverse populations and a special interest in Autism, Sara brings both clinical and lived experience. Having grown up with Sensory Processing Disorder, becoming an OT has become a full-circle moment for her, fueling her creativity, empathy, and commitment to inclusive, strength-based care. She strives to build meaningful connections with families and encourages play-based approaches to support each child. Beyond this, you can find her travelling, snowboarding, or exploring with her Westie!
Understanding Your Child on the Spectrum
Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Time: 1 pm - 2 pm
Format: Online video group meeting
Description
This introductory workshop is designed for caregivers who want to build a strong, compassionate foundation for understanding and supporting their autistic child. We’ll explore common characteristics of autism to help you better understand how your child may experience the world. By learning to recognize these traits through a neurodiversity-affirming lens, you’ll gain insight into your child’s needs, strengths, and unique ways of connecting.
Key Topics:
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Sensory Processing Basics: What does it mean when a child is overwhelmed by sound, avoids touch, or seeks movement? Learn what sensory processing is and how sensory differences affect regulation and behaviour.
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Communication Styles: Explore the many ways children communicate – beyond spoken language – and how to encourage functional communication.
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Behaviour: Begin to reframe behavior not as something to “fix,” but as a meaningful form of communication. Understand what your child might be telling you through their actions.
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Supporting Your Child: Discover affirming strategies to meet your child where they are, foster connection, and create environments that feel safe and supportive.
Presenter
Ealu Li, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Ealu is an Occupational Therapist in the Early Learning Program at March of Dimes Canada. She is passionate about supporting children and families to enhance health and well-being, as well as empower engagement in daily life.
She uses a strengths-based, holistic, and family-centered approach to help children achieve meaningful goals at home, school, and in the community.
Ealu has experience with a wide range of diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Acquired Brain Injuries, learning disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, and sensory processing challenges. Using a play-based approach, she supports skills such as gross and fine motor development, sensory processing, social skills, handwriting, executive functioning, and emotional regulation.
She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and an Honours Bachelor of Science, double majoring in Human Biology and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto. Dedicated to neurodiversity-affirming practice, Ealu has completed training in sensory integration/autism, Handwriting Without Tears, and Zones of Regulation, and continues to pursue professional development to best serve her clients.
Every Opportunity Counts – Meeting Your Child Where They’re At
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 10 am - 11 am
Format: Online video group meeting
Description
This 60-minute virtual workshop empowers parents and caregivers to better understand their child’s behaviors through the lens of empathy and connection. Grounded in the principles of responsive caregiving, the session explores how small, intentional adjustments can make a big impact – especially during challenging moments.
Participants will:
- Learn ways to interpret their child’s behaviors with empathy
- Discover the benefits of meeting your child where they're at
- Learn strategies to build and sustain emotional connection
- Explore ways of practicing responsive caregiving, including a case example
- Reflect on how adjusting your “sails” can help navigate parenting with more confidence and care
Presenter
Danielle Baumann, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Danielle Baumann is a registered occupational therapist in the Early Learning Program at March of Dimes Canada, where she provides strength-based, play-centered, and neurodiverse-affirming therapy for children and youth.
She supports skill development in areas such as emotion regulation, sensory processing, social interaction and play, executive functioning, and motor skills. Danielle has worked with a wide range of diagnoses including Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, learning disabilities, and genetic conditions, and thoughtfully tailors her interventions to meet each child’s unique needs.
Central to her practice is a passion for coaching parents and caregivers to work toward meaningful goals with their children, fostering harmony, connection, and confidence in everyday routines. She believes that family involvement is essential to creating lasting and impactful change.
Danielle holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Child, Youth, and Family Studies from the University of Guelph. Her training includes sensory-based approaches, interoception, ADOS, and the Autism OT Coaching Program. Danielle is committed to ongoing professional development to ensure high-quality, evidence-informed care.
Finding Balance and Building Resilience – Supporting Yourself While Supporting Your Child
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 6 pm - 8 pm
Format: In-person at MODC Head Office (99 Duncan Mill Road, Toronto, Ontario)
Description
This workshop is designed for parents who have recently learned that their child/youth has been diagnosed with autism and/or a dual diagnosis. It offers practical strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and finding balance while navigating the emotional and logistical challenges that often accompany a new diagnosis. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own needs, strengths, and support systems, while learning tools to care for themselves as they care for their child. The session fosters a sense of community and connection, creating space for shared experiences, mutual encouragement, and personal growth.
Whether you're just beginning your journey or seeking new ways to cope and thrive, this workshop provides a compassionate and empowering environment to support you every step of the way.
Presenters
Sabrina Pacheco, Director, Community Programs &
Alison Dearing Lahn, Instructor, Paving the Path to Work
Sabrina Pacheco is a passionate advocate and experienced leader dedicated to building inclusive communities and empowering families, and Alison Dearing Lahn is a Skills Instructor for Paving the Path to Work at March of Dimes Canada, with a background in Child and Youth Studies, education, and family support.
As Director of Community Programs at March of Dimes Canada, Sabrina Pacheco leads the development of innovative programs that support children, youth, and adults with disabilities and diverse developmental needs.
With over 20 years of experience in health and social services, Sabrina brings a deep understanding of how systems work – and how they can be improved. She holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science with a specialization in Clinical Exercise Physiology, alongside certifications in project management and process improvement, ensuring that the programs she leads are both compassionate and effective.
Sabrina is also a parent of a neurodivergent child, and she understands firsthand the emotional, logistical, and systemic challenges families face. Her lived experience fuels her mission: to break down barriers, empower parents through education and advocacy, and ensure no family feels alone as they navigate the journey of disability support.
Her work is rooted in empathy, equity, and action – creating spaces where families feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.
Alison Dearing Lahn has extensive experience working with children and young people with disabilities and brings both professional expertise and lived experience as a parent and former foster parent. Alison takes a compassionate, strengths-based approach to her work, with a focus on building resilience and fostering connection. She facilitates workshops for parents and caregivers navigating complex diagnoses and is committed to creating inclusive spaces where families feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Financial Supports and Disability – Related Benefits in Canada
Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 12 pm - 1 pm
Format: Online video group meeting
Description
Are you a parent or caregiver who is new to the world of disability supports and services in Canada? Join us for an informative and welcoming workshop designed to help families understand the financial resources available to support children with disabilities.
This session will introduce key programs such as the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), Canada Child Benefit Disability Supplement (CCBDS) and other federal and provincial benefits that can help ease financial pressures and support your child’s future.
We will guide participants through the basics of each program, including:
- Who qualifies and how to determine eligibility
- Guidance on how to apply
- Tips for navigating paperwork and common challenges
- Strategies to make the most of available resources
This workshop is especially helpful for families who are just beginning their journey and may be feeling overwhelmed by the system. You’ll gain practical knowledge, helpful tools, and the confidence to take the next steps in securing financial support for your child.
There will also be time for questions, discussion, and sharing experiences with other families who are on a similar path.
Presenter
Amanda MacKenzie, National Director, Public Affairs, Advocacy and Strategic Communication
Amanda MacKenzie has a deep, personal connection to March of Dimes Canada's mission and was legal guardian for her little brother, Graham, who had intellectual and physical disabilities.
Amanda joined March of Dimes Canada (MODC) in August 2020 with a background in advocacy, public affairs, communications, and government and stakeholder relations. Amanda leads MODC’s full-service public affairs, advocacy, and strategic communications programs with the aim of raising the organization’s profile and influence with all levels of government and stakeholder groups in Canada. Amanda was a key player in establishing the new Canada Disability Benefit and is a recognized expert in accessing federal benefits – including the Disability Tax Credit – currently leading several funded projects meant to boost benefit uptake and spread awareness of disability supports in Canada.
Prior to joining MODC, Amanda built and led grassroots advocacy and multifaceted public affairs programs at the provincial and federal levels. She is a Toronto native whose son, Grant, is a carpenter-apprentice living in Calgary. Amanda, her partner, and two bonus young teens live in central Toronto with their boisterous dogs, Sprocket and Pippa.
