Our Commitment

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The goal of A Centre for Conscious Care (CCC) is simple: to enable individuals who have a developmental disability or autism to be all that they can be. The best way to achieve this quality of life for all individuals is to work with the people who care for and about them: the caregivers, support workers, team leaders, case managers, family, educators, etc. 

We believe that as we enhance the understanding, commitment, emotional maturity and compassion of the supporters, we enhance the quality of life of those supported. In fact, both groups share a new experience of fulfillment.

At CCC, we are committed to seeking out the best and most recent research and applying that research to our best practices. Thanks to researchers at Harvard Medical School, The Centre for Discovery and numerous other research and treatment programs throughout North America, we now know that many of the expressions of anxiety, agitation and aggression ascribed to someone who has a developmental disability or autism are in fact a byproduct of anxiety and stress that results from unmet bio-medical needs. 

We have drawn together research from the fields of neurology, neuroplasticity, social neurobiology, gastrointestinal health, autism spectrum disorder and physical fitness (among others) to draw a new map of the range of these stressors, far beyond what has traditionally been understood. We have taken the research in these fields and in relevant conventional behavior therapies, plus new fields such as mindfulness, energy balancing, emotional freedom therapy and sensory integration, to build new practices to match our new understandings.

The Center for Discovery

Please find links to the most recent projects supported by the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services. Both were funded as demonstration projects to incorporate the learnings of Conscious Classrooms and Conscious Care and Support into the current models of support being offered in the educational and developmental systems.

Conscious Classrooms

Conscious Care and Support

All of our programs give participants a more complete understanding of the complex needs and stressors of the individuals they are supporting, so that they will develop a much fuller capacity to meet those needs.

Anyone who has tried to manage the most challenging expressions of anxiety, agitation and aggression of individuals who have complex needs for any length of time knows how very difficult this work can be- how hard it is to stay conscious and compassionate in the middle of conflict or confrontation.  CCC is unique in offering practical training on how to access calm and compassion even in the most difficult situation and bring those qualities to every encounter.

As we grow, we are branching out into every area where we can help the people who support individuals who have a developmental disability or autism.

Conscious Care and Support (CCS) is our program for families and supporters in the healthcare and community and social services systems.

Conscious Classrooms (CC) is our program for administrators, teachers and education workers.

Mindful Emotionally Mature Management (MEMM) is the program we have adapted to help leaders and managers in all fields to support their staff in applying the core principles of CCS.