Course Schedule
| Session |
Course Dates |
Application Deadline |
Document Deadline |
Payment Deadline |
| Spring 2026 |
Monday, April 6, 2026 – Friday, June 5, 2026 |
Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 7pm ET (CLOSED) |
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 4pm ET (CLOSED) |
Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 4pm ET |
| Summer 2026 |
Monday, June 22, 2026 – Friday, August 7, 2026 |
Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 7pm ET |
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 4pm ET |
Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 4pm ET |
| Fall 2026 |
Monday, September 28, 2026 – Friday, December 4, 2026 |
Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 7pm ET |
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 4pm ET |
Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 4pm ET |
| Winter 2027 |
Monday, January 25, 2027 – Friday, April 2, 2027 |
Sunday, January 17, 2027 at 7pm ET |
Tuesday, January 19, 2027 at 4pm ET |
Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 4pm ET |
Deadline dates are subject to change.
Spring 2026
- Course Dates: Monday, April 6, 2026 – Friday, June 5, 2026
- Application Deadline: Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 7pm ET (CLOSED)
- Document Deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 4pm ET (CLOSED)
- Payment Deadline: Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 4pm ET
Summer 2026
- Course Dates: Monday, June 22, 2026 – Friday, August 7, 2026
- Application Deadline: Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 7pm ET
- Document Deadline: Tuesday, June 16, 2026 at 4pm ET
- Payment Deadline: Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 4pm ET
Fall 2026
- Course Dates: Monday, September 28, 2026 – Friday, December 4, 2026
- Application Deadline: Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 7pm ET
- Document Deadline: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 4pm ET
- Payment Deadline: Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 4pm ET
Winter 2027
- Course Dates: Monday, January 25, 2027 – Friday, April 2, 2027
- Application Deadline: Sunday, January 17, 2027 at 7pm ET
- Document Deadline: Tuesday, January 19, 2027 at 4pm ET
- Payment Deadline: Thursday, January 21, 2027 at 4pm ET
Course Description
The additional qualification course, Teaching Children with Communication Needs (autism spectrum disorders), focuses on the development and the implementation of program design for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This course provides a detailed look at the characteristics associated with ASD. You will explore research-based approaches to instruction and ways to negotiate challenging behaviour. This course looks at the significance of working with school-based teams and community personnel. Creating a positive learning environment that reflects care, diversity, and equity is the foundation of this course. This course enhances professional knowledge (through lived experience, inquiry, and reflection), ethical practice, and leadership. This course is aligned with the Ontario curriculum, legislation, government policies, frameworks, strategies, and resources.
In this course you will:
- analyze, interpret, and implement Ontario's curriculum, district school board polices, frameworks, strategies, and guidelines
- apply background information regarding the characteristics of ASD
- explore theories that attempt to understand the triad of impairments
- generate ways to create a positive learning environment conducive to the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, cultural, spiritual, and moral development of students with ASD and design ways to develop their social skills
- develop awareness of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit perspectives and ways of knowing
- incorporate various types of programming and therapies such as applied behavioural analysis into classroom practice
- access and explore a variety of resources, including technology
- discover a variety of positive behavioural supports including reinforcement schedules
- collect information about sensory needs and ways to deal with sensory defensiveness
- develop an understanding of how to create and sustain professional learning communities
- develop lessons which show an understanding how to create and sustain safe, healthy, equitable, and inclusive learning environments that honour and respect diversity
- model and adapt expectations, strategies and assessment practices in response to the individual needs of students
- facilitate the creation of learning environments conducive to the intellectual, social, emotional, physical, environmental, linguistic, cultural, spiritual, and moral development of the student
- identify ways to collaborate with in-school personnel, parents/guardians, and the community
- refine professional practice through ongoing inquiry, dialogue, and reflection
- support and model ethical practices
- illustrate the need to respect and conserve resources in the environment
- integrate environmentally respectful perspectives and practices
Application Requirements
We will use the OCT number you provide during online registration to confirm that you are an OCT member.
Course Materials
N/A
Accommodations
Applicants who require accommodations for a specific learning need (e.g., learning disability) within their AQ/ABQ course, should click here for further information and support.
Have a question? Contact us!
Refund Schedule
- If you drop a course by the midpoint of the course, you will receive 100% of your course fee
- If you drop a course after the midpoint, before the end of the course, you will receive 50% of your course fee
| Session |
100% Refund Deadline |
50% Refund Deadline |
| Winter 2026 | Friday, February 27, 2026 | April 03, 2026 |
| Late Winter 2026 | Friday, March 13, 2026 | April 17, 2026 |
| Spring 2026 | Friday, May 1, 2026 | June 05, 2026 |
| Late Spring 2026 | Friday, May 29, 2026 | June 26, 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | Friday, July 10, 2026 | August 07, 2026 |
Starting Late Summer 2026 Session
Our refund policies are changing starting with the Late Summer 2026 Session (Monday, August 10, 2026). See the new schedule below.
- If you drop a course before the course begins: 100% refund
- If you drop a course on or before the 14th day of the course: 75% refund
- If you drop a course after the 14th day of the course: No refund
| Session |
Course Dates |
75% Refund Cut Off Date |
| Late Summer 2026 | Monday, August 10, 2026 – Friday, October 2, 2026 | August 23, 2026 |
| Fall 2026 | Monday, September 28, 2026 – Friday, December 4, 2026 | October 11, 2026 |
| Fall/Winter 2026 | Monday, November 9, 2026 – Friday, February 5, 2027 | November 22, 2026 |
| Winter 2027 | Monday, January 25, 2027 – Friday, April 2, 2027 | February 07, 2027 |
| Late Winter 2027 | Monday, February 15, 2027 – Friday, April 16, 2027 | February 28, 2027 |
For more about our refund policies, visit our Fees & Refunds page.