Recherche

Au cours de cette table ronde, à laquelle participeront Vivian Lee. Ph.D. (Université Carleton), Jonathan Weiss, Ph.D. (Université York) et Janet McLaughlin, Ph.D. (Wilfrid Laurier), chercheuse et mère, Matthew Ley (animateur) discutera des recherches actuelles sur la façon dont les enfants autistes et les membres de leur famille ont été touchés par la pandémie, mais aussi de la manière dont les familles ont pu y faire face et s’épanouir malgré tout. Les répercussions à long terme de la pandémie seront abordées, ainsi que les moyens de continuer à soutenir les aidants et les familles, alors que nous envisageons l’après-pandémie.

Membres de la table ronde

Dr. Vivian Lee, Ph.D.

Vivian Lee est actuellement professeure adjointe au département de psychologie de l’Université Carleton. Ses recherches portent sur la santé émotionnelle et mentale des enfants et des jeunes autistes ou avec d’autres troubles du développement neurologique. Son travail consiste à étudier les caractéristiques de l’enfant, des parents et du système, ainsi que la relation entre ces facteurs, qui favorisent un développement émotionnel sain ou exacerbent les difficultés de l’enfant et de la famille. Elle s’intéresse également à l’influence de ces facteurs sur le bien-être général des parents et des familles. En outre, elle s’intéresse à la science de la mise en œuvre et aux évaluations de programmes et, en collaboration avec des fournisseurs de soins communautaires en matière d’autisme et des groupes de revendication, elle étudie les effets de la COVID-19, ainsi que de la participation à des interventions psychosociales, sur la santé mentale et le bien-être des jeunes autistes et de leurs aidants.

Dr. Jonathan Weiss, Ph.D.

 Jonathan Weiss est professeur au département de psychologie et psychologue clinicien. Il est titulaire d’une chaire de recherche de niveau 2 de l’Université York sur la santé mentale en autisme et en handicap neurodéveloppemental et est le directeur du LaMarsh Centre for Child & Youth Research. Ses recherches portent sur la santé mentale des personnes autistes ou ayant une déficience intellectuelle tout au long de leur vie. Il mène des études sur la manière dont les personnes avec des troubles du développement accèdent aux soins de santé mentale et s’intéresse à leurs besoins, leur utilisation et leurs expériences en matière de services. Son travail est également axé sur la compréhension et le soutien du bien-être familial lorsqu’au moins un membre de la famille a un trouble du Psycdéveloppement. Il s’intéresse au développement et à l’évaluation des programmes, et en particulier à l’impact des Jeux olympiques spéciaux sur le bien-être psychologique des participants, ainsi qu’aux interventions psychosociales visant à promouvoir la résilience et à améliorer la santé mentale des enfants et des adultes ayant des troubles du développement.

Dr. Janet McLaughlin, Ph.D.

Janet McLaughlin est professeure agrégée en santé communautaire et cofondatrice et codirectrice du Laurier Autism Research Consortium (LARC) à l’Université Wilfrid Laurier. Après le diagnostic d’autisme de son fils en 2012, elle s’est intéressée aux besoins et aux expériences des aidants, notamment à la façon dont les difficultés d’accès aux services influencent leur bien-être. Elle a depuis dirigé deux grandes études provinciales sur ces questions, la plus récente étant un partenariat entre le LARC et Autisme Ontario. Les résultats de cette étude, Families in Flux, ont permis d’explorer l’accès aux services en matière d’autisme, l’éducation et le bien-être dans le contexte de la pandémie de COVID-19. Ses recherches actuelles visent à comprendre les expériences des communautés mal desservies, en particulier les familles autochtones et les familles de nouveaux arrivants. Elle a déjà siégé au Groupe consultatif du Programme ontarien des services en matière d’autisme.

Déni de responsabilité : Les opinions exprimées dans ce webinaire sont celles des conférenciers et des présentateurs et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les points de vue d’Autisme Ontario. Prenez note qu'Autisme Ontario ne donne son appui à aucun produit, thérapie, traitement, stratégie, opinion, service ou individu en particulier. Nous appuyons cependant votre droit à l'information. À nos yeux, il est très important que vous fassiez vos propres recherches afin de prendre vous-même des décisions éclairées.

Lors de ce webinaire interactif, anya et Stephanie aborderont l’identité de genre et l’autisme, en plus de présenter des façons par lesquels vous pouvez soutenir vos enfants autistes queers et de diverses identités de genre.

Stephanie est une travailleuse sociale cisgenre qui travaille depuis des années auprès des jeunes, des adolescents et des adultes autistes, ainsi que de leur famille.

anya est une personne non binaire qui travaille dans les domaines de la consultation et de l’éducation depuis des années, en particulier avec les jeunes et les adultes queers et de diverses identités de genre, ainsi qu’avec les familles de la communauté 2SLGBTQIA+. anya aborde le sujet avec sincérité et authenticité afin de soutenir davantage le cheminement des familles vers la compréhension et l’affirmation de leurs enfants.

Ensemble, anya et Stephanie vous permettront d’acquérir le vocabulaire et les compétences dont vous avez besoin pour élaborer des stratégies qui aideront vos enfants à être eux-mêmes.  Une période sera également réservée pour les questions et les discussions.

Ce webinaire est destiné aux parents et aux aidants de jeunes autistes, ainsi qu’aux professionnels travaillant avec de jeunes autistes.

Membre de l’équipe de présentation  : Stephanie Moeser, T.S.I., M.T.S. 

Stephanie Moeser est une travailleuse sociale qui vit et travaille à Peterborough, en Ontario. En tant que professeure à temps partiel au Fleming College, elle enseigne dans les programmes de santé mentale et de toxicomanie, de travail social et de services de développement.  Originaire de Toronto, Stephanie a concentré son travail clinique sur le soutien aux personnes ayant un trouble du spectre de l’autisme et à leurs familles. Dans son cabinet privé, Stephanie offre un soutien en matière de santé mentale dans les domaines des relations, du bien-être et des questions liées à la gestion des problèmes de santé mentale, tels que l’anxiété et les troubles de l’humeur. Elle s’est spécialisée dans le soutien aux étudiants autistes qui suivent des études postsecondaires, ainsi qu’aux filles, aux femmes et aux personnes trans et non binaires du spectre.  

Au fil des ans, Stephanie a fait des présentations sur le thème du bien-être et des autosoins à des parents, des aidants, des personnes vivant avec un handicap, des professionnels de la santé mentale et des professionnels paramédicaux. Le mois dernier, elle a animé une série de webinaires sur ce sujet pour Autisme Ontario. Stephanie accorde énormément d’importance à la nécessité de parler des sentiments et d’intégrer la compassion active dans sa propre vie, en particulier pendant cette période difficile. 

Membre de l’équipe de présentation : anya gwynne

Membre de deuxième génération d’une famille colonisatrice résidant à Nogojiwanong, anya gwynne est une personne queer et non binaire qui s’adonne à l’écriture, à la parentalité et à l’animation. Au cours des 15 dernières années, anya a mis à contribution des fournisseurs de services, des éducateurs et des membres de la communauté pour offrir des espaces accueillants aux personnes 2S/LGBTQIA+ et pour améliorer les services leur étant destinés, ce qui a donné lieu à des possibilités d’apprentissage et d’échange authentiques. anya a mis sur pied un programme qui tient compte des traumatismes et a animé divers groupes.  anya ressent une grande reconnaissance envers sa chance de travailler sur l’Île de la Tortue avec des jeunes et des communautés intergénérationnelles, ce qui lui permet de voir de ses propres yeux des histoires de résistance et de changement. 

Déni de responsabilité : Les opinions exprimées dans ce webinaire sont celles des conférenciers et des présentateurs et ne reflètent pas nécessairement les points de vue d’Autisme Ontario. Prenez note qu’Autisme Ontario ne donne son appui à aucun produit, thérapie, traitement, stratégie, opinion, service ou individu en particulier. Nous appuyons cependant votre droit à l’information. À nos yeux, il est très important que vous fassiez vos propres recherches afin de prendre vous-même des décisions éclairées. 

We understand during this time many things have changed, including our daily routines. We also know that all individuals benefit from stability. In this 30-minute webinar, we aim to provide some practical strategies for caregivers of children and youth with autism to use at home. We will discuss some ways to build routines, teach independent play, and follow independent activity schedules. As every household is different, the goal is for caregivers to select the best strategy to use with their children and youth.

Additional sessions in this series:

1. Self Care Skills During COVID-19 with Janice Theodoropoulos
2. Fostering Safe Social Connections During COVID-19 with Carly Eby & Michau van Speyk
3. Ways to Play: Ideas to create activities for kids with Harley Lang

Presenters:

Joan Broto is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) who completed her MA and Ph.D. from Teachers College, Columbia University in Teaching as Applied Behavior Analysis and Special Education. Joan’s experience includes working with children and youth with autism, learning disabilities, and behaviour disorders since 2000. Joan is currently a Clinical Supervisor at Launch Behavioural Health and provides clinical supervision for ABA programs in the Greater Toronto Area. Joan has taught graduate courses at Brock University and Western University, and provides supervision to graduate students who are pursuing certification in behaviour analysis. Joan currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA), as the secretary and chair of the Education and Advancement Committee, and on the Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Advancement of a Strategic Science of Teaching (FASST).

Dawn Marciello is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) with over 15 years of experience in the field of Applied Behaviour Analysis. Dawn completed her Masters of Applied Behaviour Analysis at St Cloud State University and is also a graduate of the Consecutive Education Urban Diversity Program at York University. During her career, Dawn has taken on a variety of roles including Instructor Therapist, Special Education Teacher, Senior Therapist and Clinical Director. Her work has centred on children and youth with autism and other developmental disabilities.  Dawn is currently in the role of Clinical and Educational Director at Exceptional Learning Centre.  Additionally, Dawn is a current board member with the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA), acting as the treasurer elect and chair of the Organizational Development Committee.

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) services are typically delivered face-to-face, and often with close physical proximity. Pandemic related restrictions have been in place for over a year, which has had a tremendous impact on ABA services. This panel will include discussion from multiple perspectives including self-advocate, caregiver, and service provider. Panelists will discuss lessons learned so far, benefits and challenges of telehealth, and how services are continuing to be offered and received in these challenging times.

Speakers:

Shiri Bartman, M.A., C. Psych. Associate., BCBA (Clinical Director, Shining Through Centre)

Shiri Bartman is a Psychological Associate registered with the College of Psychologists of Ontario and is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). She has worked with children and young adults diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability, learning disabilities and behavioural disorders for over 20 years. Shiri has worked in both the public and private sector providing direct service, clinical supervision, staff training, assessment, counselling, and consultation both in Canada and Internationally. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) in a variety of positions over the last ten years. Shiri is part time faculty at George Brown College and teaches a variety of courses in the Autism and Behavioural Science Program. Shiri is currently the Clinical Director of Shining Through Centre and works closely with families and staff to ensure high quality programming and best practices at each campus.

Dr. Rosemary Condillac, C.Psych, BCBA-D (Associate Professor and Department Chair and Graduate Program Director in Applied Disability Studies, Brock University)

Dr. Rosemary Condillac is an Associate Professor and Department Chair and Graduate Program Director in Applied Disability Studies at Brock University which houses the largest ABA graduate program in Canada. She also serves as the ABAI VCS coordinator for the BCBA course sequences embedded in their ABA Master’s Degree Programs. Dr. Condillac conducts research in ABA, supervises her graduate students’ research, and teaches ABA ethics and professional conduct at the graduate level. Dr. Condillac has worked in the fields of Autism, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and ABA for over 30 years in different roles including direct care professional, behaviour analyst, researcher, psychologist, and professor. She received her PhD in School and Child Clinical Psychology at the University of Toronto in 2002. She is a Past President of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA). She remains an active member of the ONTABA Advisory Committee, is Lead on Professional Regulation on their Education and Advancement Committee; and is contributing to their government funded project to develop Ethics and Jurisprudence training materials. Dr. Condillac has authored, “What would you do?” ethics advice column for The ONTABA Analyst newsletter since 2017, answering questions and responding to pertinent shifts in policy and practice in Ontario, Canada.

Avianna Foster, B.Sc. (H) (M.A. Student Applied Disability Studies, Brock University)

 Avianna graduated from the University of Guelph in 2016 with Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology: Brain and Cognition. She completed her undergraduate thesis on the effects of peer modelling on street children’s crossing behaviour in a virtual environment. Following graduation, Avianna continued to work as a Research Assistant. In this role, she acted as the lead researcher on a longitudinal study regarding how parental safety practices change as infants go from just being able to sit up on their own, to being able to walk and move around independently. Currently, Avianna is a Master of Arts Student at Brock University in the Applied Disability Studies program with a specialization in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). Her thesis work is focused on assessing the quality of behaviour support plans developed by behaviour analysts. Avianna’s experience working in ABA has included applied experience working with children and adults with disabilities. Previously, Avianna worked as a Behaviour Therapist in a group home setting with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Currently, Avianna works as an Instructor Therapist providing ABA services to children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Andrea Haefele (mother of child with complex needs)
Andrea is an elementary educator and currently on secondment as a Health & Physical Education curriculum consultant for the Ontario Physical Health Education Association.  She is also a mother of 2 children. Her son Petie is 9 years old and is a young carer to a sibling with a disability. Bella is 12 years old with complex needs that includes: severe autism spectrum disorder, Pitt Hopkins syndrome, cortical vision impairment and global developmental delay. Andrea is a strong advocate for people with disabilities and has spoken at many professional learning networks such as the hospital for SickKids, the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and Jumpstart Charities. Andrea’s passion is in special education and quality physical education for people with disabilities and is excited to share her journey with you today! 

Alec Pemberton (Self-advocate)
Alec Pemberton was diagnosed with autism at approximately 18 months old and received IBI therapy as young as 20 months old. He is now 22 years old and will soon graduate from the Behaviour Science program. Over the past year, students had to move their lessons and placements online. Because of this, Alec has witnessed, from a Zoom screen, how ABA is being applied in the new setting and how new ABA therapists must adapt to a new learning style. He also understands how difficult it is for the family to adapt to a new set of circumstances and massive change in routine. Some of his hobbies include improv acting, swimming, and comedy.

Carobeth Zorzos, M.A., C. Psych., BCBA (Director, Launch Behavioural Health)

Carobeth is Director of Launch Behavioural Health, a multidisciplinary clinic providing evidence based services to children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Clinical Psychologist who has worked with children, adolescents, and adults with Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders since 2001 in a wide variety of settings, including home and centre based applied behaviour analysis (ABA) programs, schools, residential treatment programs, long term care facilities, inpatient mental health settings, children’s aid societies, and rural and remote Indigenous communities.

Philip Lerner (Self-Advocate)

Philip Lerner is 20 years old and currently a full-time undergraduate co-op student at the University of Waterloo, studying for a BMath Honours Statistics and a computing minor. His last co-op position was with NRC-IRAP (Innovation Assistance Program) as a Research Data Analyst. He received ABA therapy when I was 2.5-4 years old. He was put onto a waitlist; however, his parents decided to receive ABA services from a private provider. From his recollection, he enjoyed the process, and his therapist is still currently in touch with his family. Philip kept his autism a secret until he was 16, and then the "Autism Doesn’t End at 5" campaign started. At that point, he realized that he didn’t want to just stand by while essential therapy was taken away from more people just like himself. Now, he is the director of the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC), and co-chair of the OAC Adult Services Working Group.

In this webinar, we will discuss a a strength-based approach that recognizes how special interests can facilitate, instead of hamper, participation in work, school, volunteering, connecting with others, and more. We will share and discuss real-world examples and successes of leveraging special interests from Naomi's clinical practice.    

We will also have an opportunity to hear from Alex Breton, an autistic adult who leveraged his special interest in Dungeons and Dragons to find job opportunities.

For more information on this topic, please see the additional resources attached below.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn about autistic interests and what can make them different.
2. Learn strategies for engaging with your child's special interests.   
3. Understand how to connect special interests to activities of daily living, self-care, work, and school.   

This webinar is designed with parents and caregivers of autistic children and youth in mind. Professionals are welcome to view.

Speaker: Naomi Hazlett, BSc., MScOT, erg. 

Naomi Hazlett, BSc., MScOT, erg. is a registered occupational therapist with the l'Ordre des ergothérapeutes du Québec. She currently works at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, teaches at Concordia University, University of Toronto, and Centennial College, and has a private practice. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Science and Psychology and Masters of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto. Her lived experience includes neurodiversity, mental illness, and chronic pain.

Panelist: Alex Breton, Self-Advocate 

Alex Breton was diagnosed at age 2.5 with pervasive development disorder, and after further testing at age 4, he was diagnosed with Asperger's. He found living with Asperger's to be a challenge, as he struggled with being bullied at a young age and into high school due to difficulties in understanding social relationships and making friends. At age 21, he decided to pursue an education and had a career in early childhood education for four years, here, he hoped he could help kids in the same situation as him. He gravitated towards working with Autism Ontario’s summer camps and evening programs to further pursue his goal to help others on the Autism Spectrum. With his work experience, he has found it easier to connect with people on the spectrum and feels very rewarded working alongside others on the spectrum.  He is currently assisting in the Dungeons and Dragons program with the Toronto Region of Autism Ontario as a Dungeon Master with plans to take an autism and behavioural course in September 2024. 

Disclaimer: Opinions reflected in this webinar are those of the speaker(s) and presenter(s), and do not necessarily reflect Autism Ontario’s views. Please note Autism Ontario does not endorse any specific therapy, product, treatment, strategy, opinion, service, or individual. We do, however, endorse your right to information. Autism Ontario strongly believes that it is important to do your own research and make your own informed decisions.