What are the opening hours?

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

The Portia Learning Centre

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Ottawa, ON
The Portia Learning Centre

We use an interdisciplinary, evidenced based approach in providing ABA therapy. We offer a variety of ABA Services to suit each child’s unique needs.

The Portia Learning Centre’s individualized ABA treatment programs follow a developmental and interdisciplinary approach for children of all ages, starting at 6 months of age. Our team of Behaviour Analysts, ABA Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists and Psychotherapists, and Psychologists are here to help you and your family. We also offer worldwide supervision services.

09/03/2026

Did you know Jordan's Principle can help fund ABA therapy for First Nations children?

Recent legal developments have clarified that there's no blanket exclusion for ABA under this important program.

Our blog post covers:
✨ What Jordan's Principle is and why it matters
✨ Recent key changes to the program
✨ Step-by-step guide to accessing funding
✨ How it works with other funding options like OAP

If you're a First Nations family seeking ABA support, this guide can help you understand your options and navigate the application process.

Read the full post: https://www.portialearning.com/blog/jordans-principle-aba-therapy-funding/

09/01/2026

💬 Busting an AAC Myth with Talk Inc. 🗣️

Some families feel hesitant when a communication device is first suggested, and that's completely understandable. Samantha Berardesca, SLP and Clinical Director at Talk Inc., explains what actually happens when a child uses AAC.

Using a device doesn't mean the talking stops. Even while using AAC, therapists are modelling verbal communication, and children can always respond in whichever way works for them.

The goal is never to restrict how a child communicates. It's to give them more ways to be understood. 💙

Read the full story in our blog post on AAC devices in ABA: https://www.portialearning.com/blog/aac-devices-in-aba/

08/27/2026

Wondering how to fund ABA therapy for your child?

With OAP wait times around 5 years, understanding all your options is crucial for getting timely support.

Our comprehensive guide covers:
✨ How the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) works and wait times
✨ Using private insurance for ABA therapy coverage
✨ Advocating for RBA coverage with your insurer
✨ Combining funding sources strategically
✨ Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Don't let funding confusion delay your child's therapy.

We've helped families navigate Ontario's system since 2006 and can guide you through every step.

Read the full guide: https://www.portialearning.com/blog/aba-therapy-insurance-coverage/

08/26/2026

At Portia, support for your child doesn't happen in silos. It happens as a team.

Ontario clinical psychologist Dr. Dillon Browne shares how our integrated clinical team operates: every month, the behaviour analysts and psychologist meet to review a young person's full clinical file and treatment plan together.

They bring the challenging moments to the table and brainstorm ways through them, as one team.

This is what interdisciplinary therapy looks like in practice: different experts, aligned around the same plan, all focused on your child. 💙

Want to understand how it all fits together? Read our latest blog post on the psychologist's role at Portia.

https://www.portialearning.com/blog/interdisciplinary-therapy/

08/20/2026

Our free ABA printables make it easy to continue your child's progress beyond therapy sessions.

From firefighter and police officer activities to calendar skills and pronouns practice - we've got you covered.

These printables support key ABA concepts and daily living skills that families can use anytime, anywhere.
Visit our resources page to download today.

💙 Shared with thanks to Shiny Educational Resources for creating and sharing such helpful materials for the ABA community.

Check it out now: https://www.portialearning.com/resources/aba-printable-materials/

08/18/2026

Our Whitby learners became junior scientists this week with a bubbly, foamy science experiment!

Using simple household ingredients, they watched a fizzing, foaming reaction bubble right up and over the bottle.

Hands-on science like this is packed with learning opportunities:
✨ Cause & Effect - Watching what happens when ingredients combine
✨ Following Instructions - Working through the steps in order
✨ Vocabulary Building - Learning words like bubble, foam, fizz, and react
✨ Sensory Engagement - Exploring textures, colours, and reactions

There's nothing quite like the wonder on a child's face when science comes to life 💙

08/13/2026

🗣️ Will an AAC device stop my child from talking? 💬

It's one of the most common worries we hear from families. So we asked Samantha Berardesca, Speech-Language Pathologist and Clinical Director at Talk Inc., to set the record straight.

The research is clear: adding AAC to a child's plan does not stop verbal communication. If anything, it supports it. It's never an either/or.

AAC and speech work together, not against each other. 💙

Want to learn more? Check out our full blog post on AAC devices in ABA:
https://www.portialearning.com/blog/aac-devices-in-aba/

08/11/2026

🍓 July Favourites from Ottawa East

Our team made the most of summer with themed play, creative crafts, and calming sensory fun. Here are a few highlights from the month.

Summer learning is always better with a little creativity 💙

08/06/2026

🥪 Building Life Skills with PALM at Whitby

In our PALM summer program, we focus on the practical, everyday skills that build independence and confidence.

Last week, our learners followed a simple 3-step visual recipe to make their own cheese sandwich.

Activities like this are about so much more than a snack:
✨ Following Instructions - Working through steps in the right order
✨ Visual Supports - Using a checklist to stay organized and independent
✨ Fine Motor Skills - Practicing safe knife use with kid-friendly tools
✨ Sequencing - Understanding what comes first, next, and last
✨ Independence - Building confidence in the kitchen and beyond

Every small step toward independence is a big win worth celebrating! 💙

08/04/2026

🍦 Ice Cream Shop Fun at Nepean 🍨

Our pretend play ice cream store is scooping up some serious learning opportunities.

Using Natural Environment Teaching (NET), children practice:
✨ Turn-taking as customer and server
✨ Communication skills through ordering
✨ Following multi-step directions
✨ Social interaction and role-play
✨ Fine motor skills with scooping and serving

When learning feels like play, magic happens! This engaging setup makes every interaction meaningful while building essential life skills.

Address

50 Steacie Drive
Ottawa, ON
K2K2A9

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.portialearning.com/

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