Here are the program guidelines in PDF format.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

In order to be eligible to receive funds under the Grant Assistance Program, an individual must:

• have been a full-time or part-time (at least .5 Full Time Equivalent or greater) employee of a regional provider of the Autism Intervention Program for at least one year continuously (or cumulatively in the case of applicants from isolated communities*) and employed as a member of the program's clinical team.
  
  Examples of eligible clinical positions include Instructor Therapist, Waitlist Co-ordinator, Transition Co-ordinator, Senior Therapist (or equivalent), Training Supervisor, Psychometrist, Psychologist or Clinical Director.

• be legally entitled to live and work in Canada, and

• be enrolled in or accepted to a qualifying academic program for full- or part-time study.
  

*Isolated communities are defined as communities of fewer than 10,000 people, greater than 80 km from a regional centre of more than 50,000 people.

Other Terms and Conditions              

Other Grants and Awards

The total value of other grants or student awards, including scholarships, student grants and bursaries and grants from previous employers, but not including loans under the Ontario Student Assistance Program, must be provided in the application form. These amounts will be deducted from the eligible grant amount unless already factored in to tuition costs.

Resignation or Dismissal

If a grant recipient resigns or is dismissed from the regional program, the agreement is terminated and no further payment under the Grant Assistance Program will be made. If the recipient is subsequently hired back, the initial period of employment cannot be carried over, and if the employee is again eligible for Grant Assistance, another application must be submitted.

Transfer between Providers

If a grant recipient transfers from one regional provider to another in the same position, while continuing in the qualifying academic program, the agreement remains in force.

Promotion within Provider

If a grant recipient is promoted to a more senior position (e.g. from Instructor Therapist to Senior Therapist) within the same provider or from one provider to another, the agreement remains in force, providing the recipient successfully completes the qualifying academic program. When the current agreement has finished, the grant recipient may apply for additional assistance in the new position for another qualifying program.

Interruption of Studies

If a grant recipient decides to interrupt the scheduled completion of the qualifying academic program as set out in the agreement, and resume the program at a later date, the Program Administrator should be notified as soon as possible so the agreement can be amended. Payments will resume under the amended agreement as long as the grant recipient remains employed within the Autism Intervention Program.

Interruption of Work

If a grant recipient ceases active work with a regional provider, but continues an employment relationship, for instance as a casual employee, or transfers temporarily to another program within the same provider, the Program Administrator should be notified as soon as possible. The funding agreement will be extended by the duration of any period during which the grant recipient is not actively working for the regional provider within the Autism Intervention Program. Note that a funding agreement cannot continue if employment is actually terminated.

If a grant recipient takes a leave of absence and continues to pursue the qualifying academic program, reimbursement for tuition will be provided when the applicant returns to work. If the applicant interrupts his or her studies during the leave, then the Interruption of Studies section above is applicable.

Holding of Grants Successively

Grants may be held successively but not concurrently. For instance, an employee may receive retroactive funding for two years for a qualifying college program completed before application date. The same employee may subsequently apply for a second grant if accepted to a qualifying undergraduate or master’s degree program. It is not possible to receive retroactive funding and funding for ongoing academic development concurrently.