Autism Sleep Support That Works With Your Child's Brain

Canada-Wide Telehealth

High-touch sleep coaching for caregivers of Autistic kids and teens aged 4 to 15, led by registered occupational therapists. No cry-it-out. No extinction. No judgment about how your family sleeps right now.

Registered OTsAn Everyday OT companyBillable to AFU, AHP, DLs, & extended health

The exhaustion is real. So is the way through it.

You've done the research.

The 2 a.m. searches. The books, the parent groups, the contradictory advice. You're not short on effort or information. No one has put the pieces together for your child yet.

Bedtime takes hours, and you can't leave.

The routine starts at 7. Someone is still awake at 11, and only if you're lying right there. One step toward the door and it starts over.

The 2 a.m. wake-ups.

Your child is wide awake, needs you close, and is ready to talk about Minecraft. You have a meeting at 9.

The advice never fits.

Every sleep tip online assumes a child who isn't yours. Most sleep consultants have never supported an Autistic kid.

You've stopped telling people where everyone sleeps.

Co-sleeping, lying with them until they drift off, a mattress on the floor. However your family sleeps right now, it got you this far. It's a starting point, not a confession.

If any of that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. Sleep struggles affect up to 80% of Autistic children, and they rarely respond to generic sleep hygiene tips.

Your family isn't failing. The standard tools were built for a different brain.

Why won't my Autistic child sleep?

Sleep is affected in up to 80% of Autistic children, and they rarely respond to generic sleep hygiene tips.

The short answer

Autistic children often have real, physiological differences that affect sleep: differences in melatonin production, heightened sensory processing, difficulty noticing internal tiredness cues (interoception), and nervous systems that stay alert long after stress or excitement. These differences are common and supportable, but generic sleep training rarely fits them.

What's underneath the sleep struggle

Sensory processing.

The tag on the pyjamas, the hum of the furnace, the texture of the sheets. Input that other brains filter out keeps an Autistic nervous system on alert.

Interoception.

β€œGo to bed when you're tired” only works if your body reliably tells you it's tired. Many Autistic kids don't get that signal clearly, or get it late.

Arousal regulation.

After a demanding school day of masking and transitions, the nervous system may need hours to come down, not minutes.

Circadian differences.

Research points to differences in melatonin timing and production for many Autistic people.

Monotropism.

Many Autistic minds flow deeply into one interest at a time. Leaving a game, a video, or a favourite topic for a dark, quiet room is one of the hardest transitions of the day. That's an attention style, not defiance.

Anxiety and demand sensitivity.

For some kids, β€œtime for bed” lands as a demand, and demands trigger alarm rather than calm. Worries about separation or the school day pile on after lights out.

What makes an occupational therapy approach different?

The short answer

Occupational therapists are regulated health professionals trained in sensory processing, nervous system regulation, routines, and family systems. Instead of applying a standard sleep-training protocol, an OT assesses why sleep is hard for your specific child and builds a plan around their sensory profile, your family's reality, and your relationship with your child.

Typical sleep consultantAutism Sleep
Certificate course, unregulated
Registered OTs, regulated health professionals
One standard sleep plan
Individualized, sensory-first plan built with you
Extinction-based methods (β€œstay out of the room”)
Relationship-based. No cry-it-out, ever
Hourly billing, surprise indirect fees
One flat monthly package, everything included
Support only at appointments
Message your OT between sessions, when it actually matters
Often 100% out-of-pocket expense
Eligible for medical expense tax credits and funding through AFU, AHP, DLs & EH benefits

High-touch support, four phases.

01

Understand.

A deep assessment of your child's sleep history, sensory profile, bedroom environment, routines, and daytime regulation. We also flag medical contributors worth ruling out with your doctor.

02

Plan.

Your family sleep plan, co-designed with you. Realistic for your household, your child's neurotype, and your energy levels. Nothing you'd have to enforce through tears.

03

Coach and adjust.

Weekly sessions plus direct messaging with your OT between them. When Tuesday night falls apart, you get support Wednesday morning, not at next month's appointment.

04

Sustain.

We fade support as routines hold, leave you with tools that keep working, and handle JFE paperwork if sleep equipment should be funded.

The Autism Sleep Centre Program

One flat rate. Every touchpoint included.

$800 per month  Β·  Most families: 2 to 3 months

  • 10+ hours of dedicated OT care each month
  • All-inclusive rate (roughly 55% off the equivalent hourly OT fee)
  • Message your OT anytime between sessions
  • Flexible check-ins and custom planning that adapts with progress
  • No hidden or surprise indirect fees
  • JFE support for funded sleep equipment
  • Billable to AFU / AHP / DLs with approved RTP
  • Extended health eligible (plans with OT coverage)

Is it worth it? Most families pay about $720 per month for four standard weekly OT sessions. This program includes 10+ hours of OT support monthly, which works out to roughly half the usual hourly rate, with far more access between sessions.

Book a Free Discovery Call

Free 15 minutes. No pressure, no obligation.

An Everyday OT company.

The Autism Sleep Centre of BC was built by Everyday OT, an ND-affirming occupational therapy practice trusted by more than 750 Autistic clients and their families across Canada.

Our sleep consultants are registered OTs with deep experience in Autism, AuDHD, and co-occurring conditions. They're also parents. No fresh grads handing out rigid plans: real clinicians with real empathy for real-life exhaustion.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

β€œIt has been life changing for all of us. We deeply appreciate all of Rachelle's skills, supports, and suggestions. The level of communication is phenomenal; so responsive and timely!”

Lindsay D.Caregiver Β· Verified Google Review

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

β€œHighly recommend super friendly staff and very knowledgeable Oat rachelle has been amazing in helping mine sleep if you have kiddos in need of supports give them a call you wont reget it πŸ˜€β€

Jodi L.Caregiver Β· Verified Google Review

Still have questions?

The answers below cover what most families ask before booking. Anything else, bring to your free call.

Do you work with families across Canada?+
Yes, almost everywhere. Sessions run by secure video, and our OTs are registered in provinces that allow cross-jurisdictional telehealth under a Memorandum of Understanding between Canadian OT regulators. We can support families in every province and territory except Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Do you use cry-it-out or extinction methods?+
No. Never. Extinction-based methods ask Autistic children to suppress distress rather than resolve it, and they erode the trust that sustainable sleep is built on. Our approach is sensory-first and relationship-based.
What ages do you support?+
Caregivers of Autistic kids and teens aged 4 to 15. Outside that range, contact us anyway and we'll connect you with the right support through Everyday OT.
How do we know if this is a good fit?+
It's a fit if sleep is affecting your whole household and you want a plan built around your child, not imposed on them. It's not a fit if you're looking for a three-night fix, or you want someone to make your child sleep alone regardless of distress. We don't do that, and we won't pretend it works long-term.
Is this covered by Autism Funding or extended health?+
Yes. The program is billable to the Autism Funding Unit, At-Home Program, and Distributed Learning with approved RTPs, and is eligible for extended health plans with OT coverage. We'll walk you through setup.
Can I claim this on my taxes?+
In most cases, yes. Occupational therapists are CRA-recognized medical practitioners, so OT fees can qualify for the Medical Expense Tax Credit. That's a key difference from standard sleep consultants, who are unregulated and whose fees generally don't qualify. Keep your receipts and confirm the details with your tax preparer.
What does the flat rate cover?+
Everything: sessions, planning, direct messaging, and behind-the-scenes work. No hourly limits, no surprise indirect fees.
How often do we meet?+
Typically weekly by video, with messaging between sessions. Some phases involve contact multiple times a day. Your OT keeps a small caseload on purpose.
Can I message my OT between sessions?+
Yes. That's the point of high-touch support. When the plan meets a hard night, you get guidance while it still matters.
How long does the program last?+
Most families work with us for 2 to 3 months. The timeline flexes with your goals; the aim is sustainable routines, not dependency on us.
We already have an OT. Can we still join?+
Yes. This program focuses specifically on sleep and complements your existing team. We collaborate with other providers when helpful.
My child takes melatonin. Is that a problem?+
Not at all. Many of our clients use melatonin. We work alongside your prescriber and focus on the sensory, regulation, and routine factors medication can't address.
My teen doesn't want help. Now what?+
Common, and workable. With teens we coach collaboratively rather than imposing a plan, and much of the work can run through you as the caregiver until your teen opts in.
Do you work with my child directly or with me?+
Primarily with you. Caregiver-led coaching is what the evidence supports for sleep, and it builds capacity that stays in your home. Kids and teens join sessions when it's helpful and wanted.
What happens after I book a call?+
A free 15-minute discovery call to make sure we're a fit. If we are, we guide you through intake and funding setup, then your OT begins scheduling.

Ready for easier nights?

Book a free 15-minute call. No pressure, no obligation. Just a conversation about your family's sleep and whether we can help.

Book a Free Discovery Call