Autism Ontario is proud to announce our 2022 Gerry Bloomfield Award recipients: The Canadian Journal of Autism Equity (CJAE) and Suzanne Jacobsen. These recipients have made outstanding professional contributions to the field of autism, and we are honoured to be able to recognize the critical role they have played in the lives of autistic individuals and their families. This year’s Gerry Bloomfield Award recipients were celebrated at Autism Ontario’s Annual General Meeting on September 24th, 2022.
Professional Award
Congratulations to this year's recipient of the Gerry Bloomfield Professional Award, The Canadian Journal of Autism Equity - Editorial Board. Established in December 2020, the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity (CJAE) is an open-access e-journal focused on critically engaging with a variety of equity discussions within the autism community and public policy. Seeking authorship primarily by first-voice autistic people or people with lived experience with autism and intersectionality, the Journal seeks to offer a platform to amplify marginalized voices and share these perspectives with decision-makers and Canadians alike. The CJAE Editorial Board is composed of five autistic individuals passionate about equity, specifically equity as it relates to the autism community:
- Dr. Mackenzie Salt, CJAE Editorial Board Member and Editor-in-Chief
- Dr. Cameron Winter
- Gerald Beaulieu
- Terri Robson
- Ryan Collis
Volunteer Award
Congratulations to this year's recipient of the Gerry Bloomfield Volunteer Award, Suzanne Jacobsen. Suzanne Jacobson has been outstanding as a volunteer leader with important accomplishments in the field of pre-diagnostic services for autistic children or children at high risk for autism. As a grandmother of two autistic children, Suzanne was impressed with how difficult it was to obtain a diagnosis and navigate the system. Consequently, she started her own charity in 2009 called QuickStart Autism to assist other families. Their mission is to assist children reach their full potential by helping the children obtain early intervention at the first signs of autism. They provide funding for a caregiver-mediated program in addition to diagnostic assessment. Suzanne and her partners were also recently selected to implement a fully funded OAP version of QuickStart called QuickStart Early Years, of which she is the Executive Director.
About the Gerry Bloomfield Awards
The Gerry Bloomfield Award for outstanding professional contributions to the field of Autism Spectrum Disorders or to Autism Ontario is awarded in recognition of the critical role played by professionals in the lives of people on the autism spectrum and their families. It may be awarded to an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have contributed to improving the quality of life for a person or persons on the spectrum through: improving programs, improving research, and/or establishing guidelines and policies. The Professional Award may also be awarded to someone whose efforts have had direct influence in making a significant change in the lives of autistic people and their families.
The Gerry Bloomfield Award for outstanding contributions to Autism Ontario by a volunteer may be awarded to an individual or group of individuals whose efforts have contributed to improving the quality of life for a person or persons on the autism spectrum. This may be through: promoting public awareness and understanding, advocating on behalf of Autism Ontario, and/or supporting the families and communities through outstanding work at the Chapter level.
The Volunteer Award may be awarded to someone whose efforts have created a greater profile for an Autism Ontario Chapter or the organization with the community at large. The recipient(s) should be a past or present member of Autism Ontario and should have demonstrated integrity, commitment, and loyalty over a sustained period to the lives of people on the autism spectrum.