● Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services
Developmental Services Bulletins: Spotlight on Transformation
Peer Support
● Best Buddies Canada
The essence of friendship is at the heart of Best Buddies Canada, a national charitable organization dedicated to enhancing communities through building relationships between students and people with intellectual disabilities, with 38 high school and 25 university/college chapters in Ontario, with over 3,000 participants. For high school and university/college students with intellectual disabilities, Best Buddies offers an opportunity to get involved in the community, enhance communication skills, and build a sense of confidence. For students, Best Buddies builds different levels of leadership, tolerance and awareness.
For both, Best Buddies offers a chance to meet a friend for life. “Together, we can make a difference – one friendship at a time.”
Resources
● Living with ASD: Adolescence and Beyond - Resource Manual
Autism Ontario resource manual written with teens and adults with autism in mind. Information, tips and stories are written by parents, professionals and individuals on the autism spectrum. The manual provides information on a variety of topics including:
• social skills
• getting a diagnosis as an adult
• sexuality
• ODSP
• sensory impairments
• person-centred planning
• safety in the community
• financial planning
• making employment work
To order, click here.
● Ontario Adult Autism Research and Support Network (OAARSN)
OAARSN is an online resource welcoming discussion of ideas and topics related to adults with autism. They support freedom of information and expression and encourage everyone to try to see all sides of issues and to understand the viewpoints of others. Please note, they do not endorse all opinions or interventions that may be reported on their website or in their news bulletins. Click here for an archive of OAARSN news bulletins.
John Lord, Michael Kendrick, John O'Brien, Brian Salsbury, and David Weatherow have all written extensively on the subject of Person-directed Planning. Of the five, David Weatherow is probably the most practical. The rest tend to be more theoretical. Google their names and you should find their sites.
Person-directed Planning Guide
Direct Support Professionals
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play an important role in the lives of people with disabilities. DSPs assist people with disabilities with activities of daily living, social activities, personal contacts, coordination of health care, community interactions and more.
Best Journey to Adulthood
Microboards
Individualized Funding Coalition
Planned Lifetime Advocacy Networks
Transitional Support
● D.O.O.R. 2 Adulthood Project - (Disability Ontario Online Resource)
A website developed for youth with disabilities who live in Ontario with a focus on making the transition to adult life as a person with a disability.
People with disabilities, parents and service providers joined together to plan, develop and evaluate this online resource. The goal is to make the transition to adult life for youth with disabilities easier.
Website includes:
• A database of resources and services related to transition in Ontario
• Stories and blogs about transition to adulthood
• An E-chat where people can share information about making a smooth transition
• An “Ask a Mentor” link to youth who have experienced transition
Visual Teaching Materials
● Kozmic Visual Connections
a Canadian company selling picture cues, routine boards, school charts, hygiene checklists, guides and more
sample package and custom orders available
Employment Resources
● Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work (CCRW) - federal
CCRW is a network of organizations and individuals that provides leadership in programs and services for job seekers with disabilities and businesses committed to equity and inclusion. "A one-stop shop for disability and employment resources."
● Hawkins Institute – Toronto
Founded in 1995, offers help to adults with Asperger’s Syndrome and those with autism who are able to acquire vocational skills and find meaningful work. Clients are self-referred to the Institute, or referred by various professionals and agencies in the field of autism.
The Institute also offers training for companies looking to hire individuals with autism.
Their motto is, “No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.”
The website provides job tips such as “what to wear to work,” “how to give a good handshake,” “how to greet an interviewer.”
The Insitute also offers workshops suited to parents, teachers, professionals and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
● jobs.abilities.ca
An online job-board for employers and job seekers organized by The Canadian Abilities Foundation in partnership with the Workopolis NicheNetwork.
Other info for Teens & Adults with Autism / Aspergers
● Asperger’s Society of Ontario
Provides education, resources and support to individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome, their families, educators, medical and mental health professionals, employers, government and the community, to enable individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome to realize their potential as fully contributing members of their community.
● Focus on Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism
Click on the link above to view a 79-minute keynote address in online video format delivered by Dr. Temple Grandin, Ph.D., an individual with autism and noted expert and author on early intervention, educational strategies, visual thinking, social skills, medications and mentoring. Grandin gives presentations around the world and is the author of several books including Emergence: Label Autistic, Thinking in Pictures, Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships, co-authored with Sean Barron. In addition to several DVDs, her recent release of Animals in Translation maintained a top-10 position on the New York Times best-seller list.
● ODSP Action Coalition
The ODSP Action Coalition advocates for improvements to the income and employment supports provided by the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). The work of the coalition is grounded in the experience of ODSP applicants, recipients and community-based service providers. This information is received through the website, consultation and participation in meetings. The activities of the coalition include creating and disseminating materials on ODSP and making representations to various levels of government. The work of the ODSP Action Coalition is always with a focus on action to bring about change.