Deadline: April 30

Autism Ontario is now accepting applications for our 2024 scholarships.

Each year, Autism Ontario awards scholarships to outstanding students entering their first year of a post-secondary program across Ontario.

To qualify, the student applicant on the autism spectrum must currently live in Ontario and be accepted to attend their first year in any level of a post-secondary institution (e.g. college program including apprenticeships, university, graduate) in Canada.

Autism Ontario offers three different academic scholarships: the Eleanor Ritchie Scholarship for ASD individuals, the Jeanette Holden Scholarship for siblings of ASD individuals, and the MacDonald Family Scholarship for children of ASD individuals. Applicants are encouraged to apply for any of the scholarships they qualify for, but may only receive one scholarship.

Have you heard of the Patient Ombudsman? The OCO is pleased to welcome Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman, Craig Thompson, to talk about what the office of the Patient Ombudsman is, what it does, and what caregivers need to know about making health care complaints in Ontario. In this presentation, you will learn:

• How the Patient Ombudsman works with patients, residents, caregivers, and health organizations to resolve complaints
• Examples of complaints the Patient Ombudsman helps resolve
• What the Patient Ombudsman can and cannot do for caregivers
• How to make a complaint when your care recipient has a negative health care experience, including best practices for caregivers

Their Speaker: Craig Thompson is Ontario’s Patient Ombudsman. The office of the Patient Ombudsman helps resolve complaints from patients, residents, and caregivers about experiences in Ontario’s public hospitals, long-term care homes, home care, and community surgical and diagnostic centres.

Who should attend?

Anyone who would like to learn more about the Patient Ombudsman in Ontario should attend.

The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a special credit for people with a disability and those who support them.

On its own, the DTC can help reduce income taxes in order to offset some of the extra costs people living with a disability may incur. But perhaps an even greater benefit are the other programs you may be eligible for once you have been approved for the DTC. Programs like the Registered Disability Saving Plan (RDSP), which can provide you with up to $90,000 of bonds and grants from the Government of Canada or the Child Disability Benefit, which is a tax-free monthly payment to families with a child with a disability, are available to people that qualify for the DTC

Learn more about the Disability Tax Credit and application process by clicking the button below.

The webcast includes a live Q&A with P4P panelists.  

The Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is a made-in-Canada, long-term savings vehicle designed specifically for individuals with disabilities.

What's in it for you?

• An understanding of the RDSP and potential government contributions
• Knowledge of the latest updates and changes to the RDSP
• Tips and advice on free resources that can be consulted for additional information

Join DSO Housing Navigators for their two-part virtual series featuring Tiny Homes. This event is open to people with a developmental disability, their family members, and/or support networks, as well as professionals in Ontario.

Housing Navigators will discuss tiny homes, lane way and secondary suites.

Part 1 and Part 2.

Join DSO Housing Navigators, Alexandra Shannan and Martha Beach, as we welcome guest speaker Karly Wilson, Lawyer, Don Valley Community Legal Services.

Renting a place to live is a big step toward independent living. To ensure your tenancy is successful, it’s important to know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

CAMH is hosting a six-week program to learn and practice mindfulness skills for family caregivers, including those who provide care to people with disabilities, those who are aging, and those experiencing a challenging illness.

Your child has been diagnosed with autism, and the more you learn about the autistic identity, the more you wonder: Could I be autistic, too?

Autistic parents may have to raise their children with less family support, greater fatigue, more sensory considerations, and may struggle more with interactions to advocate for their children than non-autistic parents.

If you’ve ever wondered if the way you experience parenting might express some autistic characteristics and traits, consider joining us for a virtual discussion facilitated by autistic self-advocate Maxine Share.

An event in support of autism awareness month, Spectrum Works aims to break the stigmas associated with autistic job seekers contributing to the workforce.

Spectrum Works hopes to connect autistic job seekers with organizations they may not have discovered. They offer an HR booth, as well as a resume building booth, to help you be as successful and comfortable as possible.

On March 28th, 2023, the Government of Canada passed Bill S-203, which legislates the development of a national autism strategy to help and support all autistics and their caregivers. At the same time, a government commissioned report reported significant gaps in information about autistic adults.

To fill some of these gaps, Autism Alliance of Canada, partnering with McMaster University, conducted a survey of autistic adults (age 30 years and older) across Canada. This survey was being funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and will be used to inform a National Autism Strategy.

The full report of this survey has been published and is available to read online.

The Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence is launching public consultations to ensure that the strategy reflects the lived experiences of all those who give care.

How to include your voice in the creation of a National Caregiving Strategy:

• Attending one of their engagement webinars held during National Caregiver Month
• Submitting your ideas by completing their online engagement form.