Recherche

FAMILIES OF CHILDREN, teens and adults with ASD (and related diagnoses) sometimes lack the necessary skills and confidence to raise concerns comfortably and constructively with human service systems. Yet, families sometimes have more real political “clout” in affecting change in educational, developmental, social service and health systems than they realize at first (Schields, 1987). When families raise concerns, they stand outside of existing systems. They have access to sources of influence (e.g., mainstream and social media, top government or bureaucratic decision-makers, self-help and

When River Christie-White started school, he didn't talk. Now the 15-year-old First Nations teen speaks in front of crowds across Canada and the United States, spreading awareness about autism and the lack of support for children and families with special needs on reserves. A hoop dancer, Christie-White uses the traditional art to lobby for inclusion and connect with other special needs kids. He runs his own organization, Hoops for Hope, and recently picked up an award for his efforts from London City Council. "Going through elementary school, I was bullied a lot. I decided that I was going to

AUTISM ONTARIO AND APEX ACADEMY ONLINE HELP AUTISTIC JOB SEEKERS AND EMPLOYERS WITH AUTISM CAREER CONNECTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Toronto, Ontario – November 3, 2021 For people on the autism spectrum, job hunting and securing employment can be incredibly difficult. Facing barriers related to inherent hiring biases and a lack of understanding of how autistic talent can contribute greatly to the workforce, autistic job seekers face an uphill battle. Autism Ontario and its community partners have been looking at ways to change this, by giving autistic youth and adults who are looking for work

1 minute read - My brother, Chetan, recently started cooking classes. Honestly, this was quite a surprise as he had just finished basketball. I’ve found that he enjoys hands-on activities- cooking, sports, swimming and so forth. I think his enjoyment primarily comes from having others- whom he considers friends- around him. Chetan loves affection, support, company- basically anything to do with people. My mom finds new and innovative ways to spark Chetan’s interests by observing his habits. For example, Chetan loves food. Whether it be cooking with ingredients, creating dishes on his own, or

2 minute read - November 30th is Giving Tuesday, a day that is celebrated annually to make a difference in our world. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 with a simple idea: to encourage people to do good. The idea caught on and has grown around the world, inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. It can be as simple as a smile and a greeting to a stranger, helping an elder shop for groceries, or donating to a cause that is meaningful to you Each of you has given to Autism Ontario in the past, and you are part of our extended family. Your gifts

2 minute read - This holiday season, won’t it be wonderful to look someone in the eye again in person, see a smile, and share in the festivities? This is truly one of the best gifts we could receive. We will have a chance to do something kind, whether it's by sharing a meal, giving a present, or even hugging a special person! Autism Ontario was blessed with acts of kindness all year. We are grateful to the staff and volunteers who stay steadfast in their efforts to make a difference for people with autism. We have been able to continue to support thousands of people across Ontario. And we are

4 minute read - Allow me to take you on a wonderful journey in autism… where none of the boring rules of the neurotypical world apply. In this journey, like any other, there will be good times and tough times, but nonetheless, they will be “us” times. This story is about a handsome young boy born some six years ago to very boring parents, who lived in a black and white world. Everything was just “meh” until he arrived. Just 10 days short of World Autism Day, A. was born! From birth, his mother knew that there was something magical about her son: big beautiful eyes that were always so engaging

1 minute read - The other day, we had posted a picture on Facebook...the thoughts behind it are from last summer when we took the boys for walks down by the beach where we live. It was a struggle, to say the least. Jackson especially enjoys the water, so while walking on the path beside the beach, or going on to the sand, he was constantly pulling, crying, and screaming because he wanted to run into the water, of course not understanding the dangers it posed. At that time, I remember thinking that a walk like this would just never be something we could ever do safely. It seemed like an

Autism Ontario RESPONDS TO THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S AODA K-12 EDUCATION STANDARDS REPORT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Toronto, Ontario – November 15, 2021 Earlier this year in July, Autism Ontario was invited to submit its recommendations to the Ministry of Education’s province-wide invitation to the AODA’s K-12 Education Standards Development Committee Initial Recommendation Report. The goal of the Committee’s report was to remove and prevent barriers to accessibility for students attending the publicly-funded education system. Autism Ontario assembled a team of knowledgeable and dedicated

2 minute read - For many of us, being with family and doing everyday activities like shopping, going on trips, and walking through festive holiday markets is simple and does not require a lot of pre-planning. That’s not the case for many families with autistic children. For example, you may need to plan your outing well in advance for a time that’s not busy or distracting. You may also have to bring along a support worker, which can mean additional planning and expenses. Over the years, Autism Ontario’s staff and volunteers have established some amazing partnerships which have enabled us to

Cette période de l’année nous incite à réfléchir à ce qui s’est passé dans notre vie et dans le monde. Et dans les brefs moments de calme ou de chaos qui entourent le temps des Fêtes, nous pouvons penser à ce qui compte vraiment et exprimer notre gratitude. Nous envisageons l’année qui vient avec un regain d’optimisme, en réfléchissant à la manière dont nous pourrons nous renouveler et influencer positivement le monde qui nous entoure. En faisant la rétrospective de l’année écoulée, je vous suis reconnaissante de votre indéfectible soutien actif. Même si la pandémie et d’autres événements ont

The SAAAC Autism Centre Goodness Gift Program began in 2015 with two people and the goal of providing employment experience for people from neurodiverse communities who would typically have difficulty finding and maintaining employment. Since then, the program has grown in both size and scope. The onset of the pandemic has only made finding and maintaining employment even more difficult. According to an August 2020 Statistics Canada report, one-third of people with disabilities surveyed reported a temporary or permanent job loss due to the pandemic. Even during these difficult times, SAAAC's

At this time of year, we naturally reflect on what has happened in our lives and around the world. And in the brief moments of stillness or chaos of the year-end holiday celebrations, we can reflect on what truly matters and express our gratitude. We look forward to the coming year with renewed optimism and how we may renew ourselves and positively impact the world we live in. As I look back at the past year, I am grateful for your continued and active support. Although the pandemic and other events have made 2021 a challenging year, Autism Ontario has continued with the work of making autism

Great news! Families who need support for their child with ASD during the March break can now apply for the March Break Reimbursement Fund until January 24, 2022. The 2022 March Break Reimbursement Fund is available to Ontario families of children or youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who retain the services of a one-to-one support worker OR who have paid for their child to attend a 2022 March Break camp or program, but not both. Maximum reimbursements of $350 per child or youth (up to their 18th birthday) will be made to subsidize services purchased between March 14-18, 2022

There are many opportunities to volunteer with Autism Ontario. Whether you are looking for something casual or something more committed, there is a volunteer role suited to you. Here are some of the ways you can volunteer with Autism Ontario: Administrative: help with mailings, thank you letters, etc. Events: we run events year-round, which require volunteers to keep them running smoothly Whether you want to lend a hand with administrative work, help with event planning, volunteer at an event, or sit on a committee, we encourage you to become a volunteer and help us raise awareness of Autism

Oyez Oyez! Les familles qui aimeraient avoir du soutien pour leur enfant autiste durant la semaine de relâche peuvent maintenant présenter, jusqu’au 24 janvier 2022, une demande au Fonds de remboursement de la semaine de relâche. Le Fonds de remboursement de la semaine de relâche 2022 est mis à la disposition des familles ontariennes d’enfants autistes qui font appel aux services d’un travailleur de soutien individuel pour leur enfant ou leur adolescent OU qui déboursent des frais pour que celui-ci participe à un camp ou à un programme durant la semaine de relâche 2022, mais pas les deux. Un

Support, isolation, funding, resources, friends...these are the things that many families who care for someone with special needs think and worry about. For many of these families, their circle of support is quite small. This is often the case for racialized communities who have a child with special needs. The Black Parents of Children and Adults with a Disability Support Group (BPSG) was created by my husband and me to provide a safe space for families of African descent to come together to meet and connect, share resources, expertise, and needs, and to inspire and support one another through

I usually preach humility and any success is celebrated quietly in my family. I am allowing myself to break this rule to highlight a moment of sheer bliss in my life—my very own Olympic medal, my Everest. A few days ago, at the age of 22, my son Alexandre was admitted to the master’s program in Public and International Affairs that he had applied for, with an entrance scholarship and an honorary scholarship. My son was diagnosed with autism at the age of 7, just as he began his first year of elementary school. Back then, I knew little about autism except for the few pages I had studied in the

Autism Ontario's Manager of Communications and Resource Development, Crystal Hunter, recently spoke with CityTV News Toronto about the negative impacts of online learning on the physical and mental well-being of children on the autism spectrum. Read the article.

At times, it may be difficult to understand what your loved one on the autism spectrum is trying to say, do, or express. It is incredibly important to attune to the subtle gestures and hints that they may be attempting to display. For instance, my little brother, Chetan, tends to stiffen up or become more still when he is irritated or angry. However, when he is happy, he tends to be jumpier or moves around more. It is not easy to pick up on these cues, especially without direct communication (if your loved one is non-verbal or has difficulty with communication for example). This does not mean

Autisme Ontario RéponD à la version préliminaire à des fins de discussion de la Note Politique/Programmes n° 81 Dans sa réponse, Autisme Ontario a choisi de se concentrer sur la seconde partie de la version préliminaire de la Note Politique/Programmes n° 81 (NPP-81), qui s’avère d’une plus grande pertinence générale pour notre champ d’intérêt : Services cliniques communautaires et services de réadaptation en milieu scolaire. Réponse d’Autisme Ontario à la version préliminaire à des fins de discussion de la Note Politique/Programmes n° 81

Today researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University's Laurier Autism Research Consortium (LARC) released their new report, "Families in flux: Findings from the 2021 Ontario Autism Caregiver Survey" on education, service access, and well-being in the context of COVID-19. Read the full report on LARC's website.

Aujourd'hui les chercheurs au Laurier Autism Research Consortium (LARC) de l'Université Wilfred-Laurier ont lancé leur nouveau rapport intitulé « Families in Flux: Findings from the 2021 Ontario Autism Caregiver Survey on education, service access and well-being in the context of COVID-19 ». Lire le résumé du rapport (en français). Lire le rapport complet au site web de LARC (en anglais seulement).

Autism Ontario's Executive Director Margaret Spoelstra recently appeared on CFRB Newstalk 1010 to discuss Ontario’s political parties' commitments in the upcoming provincial election as they relate to supporting autistic individuals and their families. Listen to the interview.

Mme Margaret Spoelstra, directrice générale d’Autisme Ontario, a récemment fait une apparition sur la chaîne CFRB Newstalk 1010. Elle a discuté des engagements des partis politiques de l’Ontario dans le cadre des prochaines élections provinciales en ce qui concerne le soutien aux personnes autistes et à leur famille. Écouter l’entrevue, en anglais.

Autism Ontario's Executive Director Margaret Spoelstra appeared on CBC Radio One's Ontario Today to talk about the importance of education approaching the provincial election. Listen to the interview (begins at 37:30).

Mme Margaret Spoelstra, directrice générale d’Autisme Ontario, a été invitée aujourd’hui sur la chaîne ontarienne CBC Radio One pour parler de l’importance de l’éducation à l’approche des élections provinciales. Écouter l’entrevue, en anglais (commence à 37:30).

Great news! The Building Brighter Futures Fund (BBFF) is now open for applications until July 29, 2022. BBFF provides financial assistance directly to autistic adults in Ontario through a reimbursement of funds spent to access greater participation in their local communities. Program fees for recreation or skill development, respite, professional supports, tuition, or other creative solutions connected to building life plans for autistic adults will be considered for subsidy. Successful candidates will receive reimbursement of up to $500. An individual may receive this subsidy only once. We

Oyez Oyez! Le Fonds Building Brighter Futures est ouverte pour les demandes en ligne jusqu'au 29 juillet 2022. Le Fonds a pour objectif d’offrir directement une aide financière aux adultes autistes de l’Ontario, en remboursant les montants qu’ils ont dépensés pour participer davantage à la vie communautaire. Il sera possible de demander un remboursement des frais engagés pour des programmes de loisir ou de développement des compétences, pour des activités de répit, des services de soutien professionnels, des frais de scolarité ou d’autres solutions créatives se rattachant à l’élaboration de