The Portia Learning Centre

12/25/2025

Happy Holidays from The Portia Learning Centre 🎄

Whether it's reading stories by the tree, baking cookies, playing in the snow, or simply enjoying quiet moments of connection, we hope your holidays are filled with warmth, laughter, and all the little traditions that make this season magical.

To all the families we work with and our wonderful team: may your holidays be filled with love, rest, and plenty of happy memories with those who matter most!

12/22/2025

This weekend, our East End location was filled with joy as we hosted our annual Holiday Respite program!

For one special Saturday each holiday season, we open our doors at each centre to provide FREE respite care for our Portia families. While parents tackled holiday shopping, errands, or simply enjoyed a well-deserved break, our amazing team kept the kids engaged with fun activities and festive cheer.

Seeing the smiles on everyone's faces reminds us why we love this tradition so much. It's our small way of giving back to the incredible families who trust us year-round.

Thank you to our dedicated staff who made this day possible! 💚❤️

12/18/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Alert!

🎧 Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYIxNHLJAVE

We are thrilled to share that our very own Charlene Gervais was recently featured on The Flex podcast with host Scott Herbst.

In this insightful episode, Charlene dives deep into the realities of leadership in the field of ABA.

She shares her journey from working 1:1 in homes to overseeing clinical innovation, and the lessons learned along the way.

As Charlene puts it, leadership is like a "mountain with no top"—the goal isn't just to arrive, but to continually climb, adapt, and improve the quality of care for our learners.

12/16/2025

We’re excited to welcome Adrianna Jordan Lebar to the Portia team as a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)!

Adrianna brings a compassionate, structured approach to working with children and teens, providing neurodiversity-affirming psychotherapy that helps young people build emotional regulation, communication, and executive functioning skills.

She supports children and teens with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, and other neurodevelopmental or emotional challenges, empowering them and their families every step of the way.

12/09/2025

⭐ MEET THE TEAM: Tovah Sloman ⭐
Clinical Supervisor, Whitby | Registered Behaviour Analyst, M.Sc., BCBA, R.B.A (Ont.)

Tovah leads our Whitby location with nearly two decades of dedication to supporting individuals and families in their ABA journey.

With a Master of Science in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Capella University, a Behaviour Science Technology Advanced Diploma from George Brown College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Laurentian University, Tovah brings exceptional expertise to every family we serve!

Tovah specializes in functional communication training, the teaching & training of AAC devices, self-regulation, and parent training. Her approach is rooted in transparency, respect, and integrity, ensuring families feel supported every step of the way.

We're so grateful to have your leadership and expertise, Tovah! ❤️

12/02/2025

🎉 Celebrating Amelia Smith! 🎉
Clinical Lead Therapist | Diploma in Social Work, BA in Linguistics

Amelia has been a cornerstone of our Nepean location since 2017, bringing over a decade of experience in special needs support and advocacy.

With a Diploma in Social Work from St. Lawrence College and a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from Carleton University, Amelia combines academic excellence with genuine compassion for the families we serve.

Her client-centered approach and dedication to helping children reach their full potential continue to make a meaningful impact on our Nepean families every day.

We're so grateful to have you on our team, Amelia! 💙

11/25/2025

Frequent early pick-ups from school aren't just disruptive—they may be a form of informal exclusion.

If your child is struggling in Kindergarten or early grades, you have the right to request:
✓ A documented support plan
✓ Clear strategies to build toward full-day attendance
✓ Collaboration—not just crisis management

Learn what to ask for and how to advocate effectively in our latest resource.

Read the full guide: https://www.portialearning.com/blog/school-exclusion/

11/19/2025

🌟 MEET THE TEAM: Kari Morrow 🌟
Clinical Director, Registered Behaviour Analyst, MPEd, BCBA, R.B.A (Ont.)

Kari has been part of The Portia Learning Centre since 2014, starting as an Instructor Therapist and now serving as Clinical Director at our Nepean location. 💙

A Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Registered Behaviour Analyst in Ontario, Kari holds a Master of Professional Education in Applied Behaviour Analysis from Western University. She brings a wealth of experience, clinical insight, and compassion to every aspect of her work.

Kari is passionate about supporting children in developing communication skills, reducing challenging behaviours, and navigating school transitions with confidence. She also plays a key role in mentoring and supervising future professionals in the field of ABA.

Her thoughtful leadership and unwavering dedication make her an integral part of the Portia team.

Thank you for all that you do, Kari! 💙

11/11/2025

Did You Know We Offer Parent Training Opportunities?🤔💡

Portia Learning offers parent training services designed to involve families in the learning process. Parents and siblings are welcome to attend sessions to observe how skills are taught, reinforced and generalized across different environments.

Learn More Here: https://www.portialearning.com/services/parent-support-guidance/

11/06/2025

🥶 Cold weather is coming - here's how to prepare.

Getting kids dressed in winter gear means zippers, buttons, shoelaces, and snaps. For children developing fine motor skills, these small tasks can turn mornings into a challenge.

The good news? You can start practicing now with simple activities that build hand strength and coordination:

🎨 Play dough - Rolling, squeezing, and shaping strengthens hand muscles
✏️ Colouring - Holding crayons and markers improves grip and precision
🧵 Lacing - Threading beads or lacing cards builds hand-eye coordination
🧩 Puzzles - Inset puzzles develop finger strength and dexterity

These activities make learning feel like play - while preparing your child for independent dressing this winter.

https://www.portialearning.com/

10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween from the Portia Learning Centre 🎃

What an amazing day celebrating Halloween across all our locations. Our staff brought so much creativity, joy, and Halloween spirit.

We celebrated with festive crafts, a Mad Libs board, and trick-or-treating at our special Halloween door. Everyone had a blast!

Thank you to our incredible teams in Ottawa and Whitby for making this day so special.

These moments of learning through play are what we're all about 🧡

10/31/2025

Thanks so much, TutorBright 📣💙

🎓 How ABA Therapy Supports Executive Function

This week, we’re partnering with The Portia Learning Centre to show how ABA therapy can help children build executive function skills (like planning, focus, and emotional regulation) and how tutoring can reinforce these skills for success at school and beyond.

From breaking tasks into manageable steps to celebrating small successes, this approach boosts confidence, independence, and learning enjoyment.

✨ Learn practical strategies for supporting executive function in children, whether at home or in the classroom.

🔗 Read the full blog here: https://www.tutorbright.com/blog/how-aba-therapy-supports-executive-function