For over 20 years, Toronto Public Health has provided Preschool Speech and Language, Infant Hearing and Blind-Low Vision program services to families in Toronto.
On April 1, 2022, these programs will move from Toronto Public Health to Surrey Place. Surrey Place is an experienced agency that provides many services to support child development. This change will help children and families continue to receive the specialized services they need.
Thank you to all Toronto families for letting us support your child’s speech, language, hearing and vision development over the years.
This change will not impact the services your child is receiving.
After April 1, 2022 your child will continue to receive the services they need. The Preschool Speech and Language, Infant Hearing and Blind-Low Vision Programs are funded by the Province of Ontario. There is no cost to families for these services.
If your child is currently on the waitlist for services, you do not need to register again with Surrey Place.
Your child will keep their place on the waitlist and you will be contacted by Surrey Place to begin services when space is available.
Your child’s name, contact information, and the services they are receiving will be transferred to Surrey Place. The information is stored in a secure database called the Healthy Child Development Integrated Services for Children Information System (HCD-ISCIS). It is operated by the provincial government (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services). It records information about early child development programs for the province of Ontario.
This change will not affect any of these services.
The Provincial Schools Resource Services Department (PDSB), Toronto District School Board (TDSB) or Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) provide services in partnership with the Infant Hearing Program. However, these programs are separate and will not change.
For questions related to your child’s services, please contact your service provider (e.g., audiologist, speech-language pathologist, early childhood vision consultant). For general questions about the programs, you can contact Early Abilities until March 31, 2022. As of April 1, 2022 contact Surrey Place for program information.
Even though your child is no longer receiving service, your child’s name, contact information, and the services they received will be transferred to Surrey Place. The information is stored in a secure database called the Healthy Child Development Integrated Services for Children Information System (HCD-ISCIS). It is operated by the provincial government (Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services). It records information about early child development programs for the province of Ontario.
Based on Ontario record keeping laws, including the Medicine Act, your child’s record must be kept for 10 years after they turn 18 years old (that is, until 28 years of age). For example, if your child was born in 2002 and received a hearing screen at a Toronto hospital, their record must be kept in the secure database until 2030. As such, the responsibility for keeping your child’s record will be transferred to Surrey Place.
If you declined services in the past and your child’s file was closed, you can still receive services if they meet the eligibility criteria. As of April 1, 2022, please contact Surrey Place to register for early intervention services.
As of April 1, 2022, Toronto Public Health will no longer provide Preschool Speech and Language, Blind-Low Vision and Infant Hearing Programs. These programs will move from Early Abilities at Toronto Public Health to Surrey Place.
To make a referral after March 31, 2022: