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.

07/28/2026

🎉 Crazy Hair Day at Kanata 💇

Our Kanata team and learners had a blast celebrating Crazy Hair Day.

From wild colours to gravity-defying styles, everyone brought their most creative looks to the centre.

Days like these remind us that learning and laughter go hand in hand 💙

07/23/2026

Wondering whether a communication device could help your child, or worried it might stop them from talking?

This co-authored guide answers the big questions from both an ABA and speech-language perspective, featuring the team at TalkInc Speech, Language, & Voice Therapy!

Inside the post:
✨ What AAC devices are, explained in plain language
✨ Low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech options (with Canadian pricing)
✨ Core vs. fringe vocabulary and why it matters
✨ Busting the most common AAC myths

The research is clear: AAC supports spoken language, it doesn't replace it. And the best results come from a team working together. 💙

Read the full guide: https://www.portialearning.com/blog/aac-devices-in-aba/

07/21/2026

📚 Grab & Go Resources at Nepean

Our colourful resource board makes essential life skills accessible and fun!

Each envelope contains step-by-step visual guides for important daily activities:

🧼 Hand Washing 🚽 Toileting 👟 Putting on Shoes 🤐 Zipping 🦷 Brushing Teeth 🕐 Mealtime Routines

When children have clear, visual instructions, they can "grab and go," they're empowered to succeed. These resources make learning life skills engaging and achievable.

07/16/2026

At Portia, we believe the best support comes from learning across disciplines.

That is why we have been hosting Lunch and Learn workshops with Occupational Therapist Mikayla Pickering from CVE Inc!

Over two sessions, our team explored:
✨ Interoception: Understanding the Hidden Sense
✨ Executive Functioning: Understanding the "How"
Behind Performance

Bringing an OT perspective into our ABA practice helps us see the whole child, from how they sense their internal world to how they plan, focus, and reach their goals.

Thank you, Mikayla, for sharing your expertise with us!

We are grateful for partners who value continuous learning as much as we do. 💙

07/14/2026

Inside Our Nepean Location 🌟

Take a peek at three amazing spaces designed to support every aspect of learning and development:

🌈 Coping Mechanisms Corner - Rainbow and star breathing exercises with visual emotion cards help children build self-regulation skills and manage big feelings.

📚 ITT Table Setup - Our Intensive Table Time area provides structured, focused learning with visual supports and interactive materials targeting communication, problem-solving, and academic readiness.

✨ Sensory Room - This magical space with calming blue lighting and soft play equipment offers sensory regulation, movement exploration, and peaceful breaks when learners need to reset.

Every space at Portia is thoughtfully designed to meet children where they are and help them grow! 💙

07/09/2026

When Bedtime Feels Confusing for Kids 💙

As the days get shorter and it’s dark earlier, many families notice bedtime becoming more challenging.
The time change can be especially confusing for children on the autism spectrum, who often rely on routine and clear visual cues.

Does this sound familiar? 👇

Your child is:
✨ Unsure if it’s time to sleep or time to get out of bed
✨ Struggling to fall asleep when it’s “too early”
✨ Waking up very early or throughout the night

In some cases, a visual sleep clock can help.

Tools like the Gro Clock or Hatch Alarm Clock use simple changing lights to show:
🌙 “Time to stay in bed”
☀️ “Time to get up”

Many also include gentle night lights and white noise, which can add comfort and predictability to your child’s bedtime routine.

Every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another, but visual supports like sleep clocks are often a helpful starting point.

Not sure how to introduce a sleep clock, or if it’s right for your child?

Our experienced staff can help create strategies that align with your child’s needs and your family’s routine.

💙 Learn more about our family-centred approach: https://www.portialearning.com/

07/07/2026

Happy Canada Day from our Ottawa East location 🍁

Our learners got into the Canadian spirit last week with these adorable beaver paper bag puppets.

This craft was the perfect way to celebrate while building important skills.

We hope all our families had a wonderful Canada Day weekend filled with fun and celebration.

07/03/2026

Looking for activities to support your child's learning at home?

We've created a collection of free ABA printable materials covering everything from animals and vehicles to daily living skills and safety concepts.

Perfect for:
✨ At-home therapy practice
✨ Reinforcing classroom learning
✨ Building vocabulary and concepts
✨ Supporting positive routines

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

Download yours today:
https://www.portialearning.com/resources/aba-printable-materials/

07/01/2026

Happy Canada Day from all of us at The Portia Learning Centre. 🍁

Holidays like today remind us how grateful we are for our country and how much community matters.

We hope today brings your family rest, connection, and joy. 💜

06/29/2026

Your child refuses to brush their teeth. They rip their shirt off the second it gets wet. Haircuts are completely out of the question.

It's easy to assume these actions are defiance.
But for many children with autism or developmental challenges, it's actually a sensory processing issue. 🧠

Many children experience the world differently through their senses. The bristles of a toothbrush, the texture of certain fabrics, or the sound of a hand dryer can feel genuinely overwhelming to their nervous system.

So when your child melts down during teeth brushing, it's not that they won't do it. It's that the sensation is so intense, their body is telling them they can't.

Understanding this changes everything.

It shifts the approach from "How do I get my child to cooperate?" to "How do I help my child feel safe enough to try?"

That might look like introducing the toothbrush slowly, starting with just a touch. It might mean finding clothing with softer fabrics. It might mean practising haircuts in small, playful steps over weeks.

The key is to go at your child's pace and celebrate every small step forward. 👏

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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