ECHO Ontario Autism
What is Project ECHO? Project ECHO® is a movement to “demonopolize” or “democratize” specialist knowledge by offering online sessions that combine didactic and case-based learning to community physicians and other professionals. The goal is to amplify the capacity to provide best-practice care especially for underserved people in rural and remote communities. Each ECHO has an "expert" multidisciplinary Hub Team that provides education as well as guidance and recommendations on cases presented by participants. The ECHO model takes an "All Teach All Learn" approach, with community clinicians also contributing information and knowledge.
ECHO Ontario Autism: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (Holland Bloorview) is pleased to offer the ECHO Ontario Autism program. Our vision for ECHO Autism is to provide community practitioners with the knowledge and support they require to diagnose autism and provide ongoing care for autistic children/youth within their practice. This will enable families to receive more timely care in their own community.
We aim to build a community of practice with support from our interdisciplinary hub team comprised of professional and lived experience members. ECHO Autism uses an "All Teach, All Learn" approach to sessions where participants and hub team members learn from each other, in order to improve care within the system.
We endeavor to apply a neurodivergent affirming approach, guided by the lived experiences of autistic advocates and families.
Building national capacity to improve the future
Learn how a team at Holland Bloorview is tackling long wait times for autism diagnoses across Canada – delays that can cause children to miss key developmental milestones. Led by Dr. Melanie Penner, developmental pediatrician and senior clinician scientist at the Bloorview Research Institute, the ECHO Autism and ECHO AuDIO initiatives engage nearly 600 community-based clinicians nationwide each year to build stronger connections, improve early diagnosis and support the development of integrated community care and tailored local strategies.
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