Franco-Ontarian Autism Society

What Franco-Ontarian Autism Society does

The Franco-Ontarian Autism Society (La Société franco-ontarienne de l'autisme, SFOA) is an Ottawa-based non-profit charitable organization, incorporated in 2002, that provides specialized French-language programs and services for francophone children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families in the Ottawa/Orléans region of Ontario, Canada. The organization's service portfolio comprises seven core offerings: three school-year programs — Sam-dit-Turbos (group speech-language therapy for ages 5-16, launched 2009), Samedi-fou (bi-monthly socialization and motor-skills program for children, adolescents, adults, and neurotypical siblings, launched 2008), and Par ici, la sortie! (community outings for ages 10-18, launched 2019); three summer day camps — Camp Autour du Monde (2007) for participants with pronounced needs, Camp Été Fou (2009) integrating neurotypical peers, and Programme Estival de l'Avenir (PEDA) for autistic adults aged 18+; and a respite program connecting families with trained independent workers. All programs are delivered in French exclusively, and the organization has been a clinical placement site for the University of Ottawa's speech-language pathology program since 2009.

SFOA's revenue model combines three streams: annual individual/family memberships at CAD $20 (renewable April 1 through March 31), per-participant camp fees (CAD $2,000 per 4-week session for ASD participants; CAD $200/week for neurotypical peers; CAD $500 for transportation), and project grants from francophone and government bodies including the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario (CAD $11,000 in 2021) and ACFO Ottawa / Patrimoine canadien (CAD $20,000 in 2022). Distribution is entirely direct, with on-site programming at École élémentaire publique l'Odyssée and community venues, and outreach conducted through the organization's website (sfoautisme.org), Facebook page, email newsletter, and annual World Autism Day awareness campaigns. The organization employs 11-50 staff and is led by Directrice Générale Yasmine Benotmane and Directrice Générale Adjointe Bouchra Berkouki under a member-elected Board of Directors.

Name

Franco-Ontarian Autism Society

Legal name

La Société franco-ontarienne de l'autisme

Website

https://sfoautisme.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Franco-Ontarian Autism Society (La Société franco-ontarienne de l'autisme) is an Ottawa-based non-profit, founded in 2002, that delivers French-language therapeutic programs, summer camps, and respite services to francophone children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families in Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Support Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAAAA

Autism-Specific Schools & Programs

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Special Education Schools & Programs

SECONDARYEDAKAKAG

Autism Communication Support (AAC, Pragmatics & Language)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Autism Support Services (Educational)

SECONDARYEDAKAKAC

Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Autism Support Services (Educational)

Keywords

• Autism support services
• French-language programming
• Specialized day camps
• Speech-language therapy
• Respite care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership Fees: Annual membership dues of $20 per member, renewable April 1 through March 31 each year. Members receive community information about autism, services and programs in the region, preferential pricing on activities and programs including summer camps, and voting rights at the Annual General Meeting.
2. Summer Camp Fees: Fees for summer day camp programs: $2000 for four weeks per participant with ASD, $500 for transportation, and $200/week for neurotypical participants. Programs include Camp Été Fou (speech-language group camp), Camp Autour du Monde (for children with pronounced needs across multiple areas), and Programme Estival de l'Avenir (PEDA for autistic adults).
3. Government Grants and Subsidies: Funding from government and bilingual organizations including $20,000 from Ottawa Bilingues/ACFO Ottawa for summer camp activities, $11,000 from the AFO's Fonds de secours des organismes à but non lucratif for pandemic-related expenses including rent, professional fees, salaries, physical space adaptation, and marketing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Franco-Ontarian Autism Society provides specialized French-language programs and services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families in the Ontario region. Offerings include school-year programs (group speech-language therapy, socialization activities, community outings) and summer day camps integrating neurotypical peers, plus a respite program connecting families with trained workers. All programs are delivered in French exclusively to serve the Franco-Ontarian community in the Ottawa/Orléans area.

Product overview

The Franco-Ontarian Autism Society (Société franco-ontarienne de l'autisme) operates as a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of specialized programs and services for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across the Franco-Ontarian community. The core offerings include three seasonal programs during the school year (Sam-dit-Turbos for speech therapy, Samedi-fou for socialization, and Par ici la sortie! for community outings), three summer day camps (Camp Eté Fou integrating neurotypical children, Camp Autour du Monde for those with pronounced needs, and PEDA for autistic adults), and a respite program connecting families with trained workers. All programs are delivered in French and serve the Ottawa region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programme Estival de l'Avenir (PEDA): A specialized 4-week summer camp in July for francophone autistic adults aged 18+ featuring speech-language therapy, arts, physical activities, swimming, animal-assisted therapy, music, and community outings.
• Sam-dit-Turbos
• Samedi Fou
• Par ici, la sortie!
• Camp Eté Fou (CEF)
• Camp Autour du Monde (CADM)

Products and services

• Sam-dit-Turbos Group speech-language therapy program for autistic children and adolescents aged 5–16, designed to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills as well as social skills in a group setting.
• Samedi-fou Bi-monthly socialization, motor skills, and leisure program for autistic children, adolescents, adults, and their neurotypical siblings, featuring music workshops, zootherapy, yoga, crafts, and sports activities.
• Par ici, la sortie! Community outings program for pre-adolescents and adolescents aged 10–18 with ASD, providing structured community activities designed to develop autonomy and social skills.
• Camp Été Fou (CEF) Group speech-language summer day camp integrating verbal autistic children and adolescents with neurotypical peers, fostering communication and social interaction through group speech therapy activities in a camp setting. Priced at CAD 2,000 for 4 weeks per ASD participant; CAD 200/week for neurotypical participants.
• Camp Autour du Monde (CADM) French-language day summer camp for autistic children and adolescents with pronounced needs in multiple areas, providing specialized programming in a supportive environment. Priced at CAD 2,000 for 4 weeks per ASD participant, with optional transportation for CAD 500.
• Programme Estival de l'Avenir (PEDA) Specialized 4-week summer day camp for autistic adults aged 18+, running July weekdays from 9h–16h, featuring speech-language therapy, art activities, physical activities, swimming, zootherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, trampolines, and community outings.
• Programme de répit Respite program connecting parents of autistic individuals (aged 5+) in Ottawa with trained independent workers who have received ASD-specific training through SFOA summer camps. Parents access a list of available workers and arrange respite services directly.
• Annual SFOA Membership Annual membership at CAD 20 per member, valid April 1 through March 31. Members receive community information about autism, services and programs in the region, preferential pricing on activities and programs including summer camps, and voting rights at the Annual General Meeting.

Quantifiable outcome

• Programs serve Franco-Ontarian children, adolescents, and adults with ASD in the Ottawa/Orléans region

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Université d'OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Partnership established in 2009 making SFOA a clinical placement site. University of Ottawa students from the interprofessional primary healthcare clinic and Master of Health Sciences program in audiology and speech-language pathology complete placements at SFOA.
• CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization visible in SFOA's partner logo section. Nature of partnership involves coordination of autism services for the Franco-Ontarian community.
• La Cité (ICEC Program)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity integration through cooperative education program (ICEC) offered by La Cité college. Program serves individuals with intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, or significant learning challenges, providing adapted college-level courses and supervised work placements.
• Ottawa Public Library / Bibliothèque et Archives CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership in co-designing an inclusive shared facility. SFOA participates in community consultations to ensure the future library and archives building is accessible and inclusive for all, including individuals with autism.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• CHEO (Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario): Pediatric hospital and autism diagnostic/treatment provider in Ottawa, and a listed SFOA partner. Comparable as a regional autism service provider in the same catchment area, though operating from a clinical rather than community-based model.
• La Cité collégiale: Ottawa-based francophone college and existing SFOA partner via the ICEC cooperative education program. Comparable as a francophone institution serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, ASD, and learning challenges in the same Ottawa community.

Broad incumbents

• Sinneave Family Foundation: Alberta-based non-profit supporting adolescents and adults with autism through skills-development and transition programming. Comparable in focusing on life-span autism services, particularly the adult transition space where SFOA's PEDA also operates.
• Autism Speaks Canada: National autism advocacy and grantmaking organization operating across Canada. Comparable in mission to serve the ASD community but focuses on awareness, research funding, and policy rather than direct service delivery.
• Autism Canada: National autism organization providing resources, advocacy, and a community network across Canada. Comparable in mission to support individuals with ASD and families nationwide, though English-language and at a national scale.

Direct peers

• Kerry's Place Autism Services: Ontario-based autism services organization providing residential, day, and community programs across the lifespan. Highly comparable as a multi-program ASD service provider in Ontario, though broader in scope and English-language.
• Miriam Foundation: Quebec-based non-profit supporting francophone individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities through services, research, and a specialized school. Closest linguistic/cultural peer given the French-language focus.
• Autism Ontario: Provincial autism society providing programs, services, and advocacy for individuals with ASD across Ontario. Most direct comparable in mission and geography, though it operates in English and at significantly larger scale.
• Geneva Centre for Autism: Toronto-based autism services organization offering clinical, educational, and community programs for individuals with ASD. Comparable in offering multi-disciplinary ASD services (speech-language, social skills, recreation) in Ontario.

Regional players

• PACFA (Programme d'aide aux enfants et adolescents ayant un trouble du spectre de l'autisme): Francophone autism support program operating outside Ontario. Conceptually comparable as French-language autism services for children and adolescents, though operating in a different Canadian region with distinct funding structures.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SFOAutisme
• Xx.com/sfoautisme

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Franco-Ontarian Autism Society