Autism Society Canada

A message from Autism Society Canada during Canadian Autism Awareness Month… ASC is working on many fronts on behalf of the Canadian autism community as we celebrate CAAM 2009 [PDF].

Join ASC in raising awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorders. Learn more and educate others in your community with our Autism Awareness Month brochure [PDF].

Federal Autism Legislation, Bill C-360, a “Step in the Right Direction.” Autism Society Canada hopes the introduction of Federal Autism legislation will pave the way for a National Autism Strategy in Canada [PDF]. ASC Press Release, April 15, 2009.

Autism Society Canada asks: Where is Canada’s National Autism Strategy? Read the ASC Press Release, October 13, 2008 [PDF Eng] [PDF Fre].

Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders Still Waiting For Action: Autism Society Canada has been working for over thirty years to promote a comprehensive federal National Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy – we feel national leadership and commitment on ASD is absolutely vital in order to bring equal access to targeted health, education and social services for all Canadians with ASDs. There are currently glaring gaps in the availability of fully funded treatment and services for children, youth and adults with ASD... Read the ASC Press Release – May 13, 2008 [pdf].

Autism Society Canada (ASC) joins other organizations around the world in welcoming this opportunity to celebrate the unique strengths of our Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) community and to bring world attention to the critical and complex needs of individuals and families living with autism.
[Press Release: PDF | MS Word]

Read Autism Society Canada's October 3rd, 2007 letter to Hon. Tony Clement regarding the upcoming Autism Research Symposium.

Read Autism Society Canada's August 6th, 2007 letter to Hon. Tony Clement regarding lack of action on key National ASD Strategy issues brought forward in the Senate Report.

Autism Society Canada Welcomes New Executive Director. Autism Society Canada is very pleased to announce the recent appointment of our new Executive Director, Kathleen Provost...Link

Common Goals: An Open Letter from Autism Society Canada. April 25, 2007: Autism Society Canada is a nationally incorporated charity founded in 1976 by the regional societies existing at that time. ASC is committed to advocacy, public education, information and referral, and the support of provincial and territorial autism societies. Over the last 30 years our mandate has remained constant: to work toward the necessary changes that will improve the quality of life of Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders across their lifespan. We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our activities…PDF

Autism Society Canada Sees Lack of Urgency in Senate Committee Recommendations on Support of Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders
For immediate release…April 3, 2007 Ottawa – More than three years have passed since Autism Society Canada (ASC) began to call on the federal government to put in place a comprehensive national autism strategy to address the lifespan needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)…PDF

Autism Society Canada Supports a National Autism Strategy
December 4, 2006 Ottawa – For immediate release
OTTAWA - Autism Society Canada (ASC) is pleased that many of the Members of Parliament have recognized the pressing need to establish a national autism strategy. These MPs will be working together in the House this week trying to make this a reality...PDF

Update from ASC to Our Community
November 27, 2006 — This past week has been a big week for autism in Ottawa...PDF

Autism Society Canada Welcomes Announcement from Federal Minister of Health in Support of Canadians with ASDs. For immediate release — November 21, 2006 Ottawa: More than two years have passed since Autism Society Canada (ASC) began our call to the federal government to put in place a comprehensive national autism strategy to address the lifespan needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Among the components of this strategy, ASC has been calling on government to make autism a national priority by initiating ASD surveillance and reporting, by increasing support for ASD research, and by holding a national symposium on autism in Canada… PDF

TST Overland Express Employees and Management Partner with Autism Society Canada. For immediate release: November 17, 2006 Ottawa TST Overland Express , a division of Transforce – a leading Canadian transportation and logistics organization – has partnered with Autism Society Canada to raise awareness and understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders within its company, and with its customers and suppliers…PDF

Largest Collective Voice of the Autism Community in Canada Calls on Government to Take Steps to Establish a National Autism Strategy.
November 7, 2006 Ottawa – More than two years have passed since Autism Society Canada (ASC) began our call to the federal government to put in place a comprehensive national autism strategy. Private members’ bills in the House of Commons concerning autism and a study of funding for the treatment of autism in the Senate are welcome activities to draw attention to the multifaceted needs of our community. They do not replace the need for the federal government to begin to take action to establish a national autism strategy to address the lifespan issues of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)…PDF

Largest Collective Voice of the Autism Community in Canada Calls for Action during Canadian Autism Awareness Month. For immediate release. October 6, 2006 Ottawa – During Autism Awareness Month, Autism Society Canada calls on the federal government to take a leadership role to address the growing autism crisis in Canada…PDF.

Focus on Change: An Open Letter from Autism Society Canada - June 23, 2006. Over the last 30 years our mandate has remained constant: to work toward the necessary changes that will improve the quality of life of Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders across their lifespan. We would like to take this opportunity to update you on our activities and our community… English PDF.

ASC's Election Press Release: The president of Autism Society Canada, Jo-Lynn Fenton, has sent a letter to Paul Martin, Stephen Harper, Gilles Duceppe, Jack Layton and Jim Harris, the leaders of the five political parties, asking their position on important issues facing our community... English PDF and
French PDF

ASC Press Release, November 17, 2005 Ottawa: One year has passed since children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and their families were denied the support they were looking for at the Supreme Court of Canada in the Auton case. In this past year, there has been no action by the federal government to address the pressing and multifaceted needs of the autism community in Canada...
English PDF or French PDF

October is National Autism Awareness Month:
English PDF or French PDF

Largest Collective Voice of the Autism Community in Canada Calls for Federal Leadership during Autism Awareness Month: September 28, 2005 Ottawa: On the eve of Autism Awareness Month, Autism Society Canada calls on the government of Canada to take a leadership role to address the growing autism crisis in Canada: English PDF or French PDF

Largest Canadian Collective Voice of the Autism Community Calls on the Federal Government to Improve Treatment, Services, and Support:
Feb 23, 2005 Ottawa - People with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and their families need the government of Canada to take a leadership role to ensure that people with ASDs reach their full potential as participating members of their communities: PDF

Supreme Court of Canada Overturns Lower Court Decisions in Autism Treatment Case: November 19, 2004 Ottawa: PDF

An Open Letter to the Autism Community: October 30, 2004 Ottawa - As an organization with a 28-year history of dedication to improving the services and opportunities available to people with autism and their families, Autism Society Canada would like to take this opportunity to let our community know more about who we are and the work that we do... read the rest of our open letter, click here: PDF

Autism Society Canada Intervenes in Auton Case at Supreme Court of Canada: June 10, 2004 Ottawa: PDF

Canadian Autism Research and Strategy Agendas released in White Paper from Autism Society Canada: June 1, 2004: PDF

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Key Community Reports

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders --- Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Grown Up: A Chart Review of Adult Functioning [PDF]. Samantha Marriage, Annie Wolverton, Keith Marriage. The Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 18:4 November 2009.

Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report. Timothy Buie, MD et al., Pediatrics, Vol. 125, Supplement January 2010.

National Report Card 2009:Inclusion of Canadians with Intellectual DIsabilities [PDF]. Canadian Association for Community Living.

National Autism Centre's Evidence-Based Practice and Autism in the Schools Educator Manual [Free Registration Required].

National Autism Centre National Standards Project [Free Registration Required]: "The National Standards Project answers one of the most pressing public health questions of our time — how do we effectively treat individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)?"

Assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders: A national clinical guideline. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. July 2007.

Interactive Autism Network (IAN) Research Reports:
April 2009: Family Stress - Part 1 | May 2009: Family Stress - Part 2 Work Life and Finances

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism, Expert Think Tank summary report.

Defining Spoken Language Benchmarks and Selecting Measures of Expressive Language Development for Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Helen Tager-Flusberg et al, Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research, Vol. 2, June 2009.

Policy Forum: Autism Across the Lifespan. Montreal, February 5–6, 2009 [PDF]. Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (CEECD) and the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs (CECASN),

The Landscape of Literacy and Disability by Ezra B.W. Zubrow, Marcia H.Rioux, Christina K. Spielman. Mihaela Dinca-Panaitescu, Gail Kunkel and Allyson Marsolais (ISBN 978-0-9737126-3-6). This is a report that definitively shows, using easy-to-read maps, the wide discrepancy of literacy between those with and without disabilities. To purchase the book for $50.00 (shipping included) please send order information and payment to: Canadian Abilities Foundation 340 College Street, Suite 401 Toronto, Ontario M5T 3A9 Fax: (416) 923-9829 Email:able@abilities.ca

Office of the Auditor General of Ontario – Annual Report 2008.

The Health of Canadians – The Federal Role. Final Report. Volume Six: Recommendations for Reform (2002). The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

Special Issue of Autism on Early Detection and Screening. Available free until January 31, 2008 via Sage Journals Online. | Download single PDF of journal articles.

Forgotten: Ontario Adults with Autism and Adults with Aspergers. Autism Ontario, October 15, 2008: Recommendations for supports and services for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. [PDF]

Canadian Institute for Health Research publishes Report on the National Autism Research Symposium (held Nov 8-9, 2007, Toronto). Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, May 6, 2008. [HTML] [PDF]

Bridging to Adulthood: A Protocol for Transitioning Students with Exceptional Needs from School to Community is now available from Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. This document replaces Manitoba Transition Planning Process Support Guidelines for Students with Special Needs Reaching Age 16 (1999). It is intended for transition planning partners, including Manitoba Family Services and Housing, designated agencies, Child and Family Services Authorities and Agencies, Manitoba Health and Healthy Living, regional health authorities and their programs and services, Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth and educators in Manitoba.

Screening, Assessment and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Young Children, Miriam Foundation 2008: Canadian Best Practice Guidelines [PDF] | Parent's Guide [PDF] | Physician Toolkit [PDF] | English Poster [PDF]
Visit Autism Central for more information, and to obtain hard copies of documents.

Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders, developed by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s Learning and Developmental Disabilities Initiative, (Revised July 1, 2008). [PDF]

Effective Educational Practices for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Ministry of Education, Ontario. This resource guide is designed to support educators in elementary and secondary schools in Ontario in planning and implementing effective educational programs for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. PDF: Chapter 1: Foundations | Chapter 2: Teaching and Learning | Chapter 3: Communication and Behaviour | Chapter 4: Tools and Techniques | Chapter 5: Appendices

Collective Voice of the Autism Community in Canada Calls on Government to Take Steps to Establish National Autism Strategy. Ottawa, Nov. 5, 2007: The Conservative Government has provided its response to the Standing Senate Committee recommendations on Autism in its Response to the Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis, tabled on October 17th, 2007… a growing stakeholder Alliance calls on the Canadian government to embrace the recommendations of its Senate and to show the leadership we so badly need to address this crisis as other countries have done...

New American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Reports Help Pediatricians Identify and Manage Autism Earlier. San Francisco, October 29, 2007: Two new clinical reports from the AAP will help pediatricians recognize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) earlier and guide families to effective interventions, which will ultimately improve the lives of children with ASDs and their families. The first clinical report, Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, provides detailed information on signs and symptoms so pediatricians can recognize and assess ASDs in their patients. Educational strategies and associated therapies, which are the cornerstones of treatment for ASDs, are reviewed in the second AAP clinical report, Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The federal government has responded to the Canadian Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs recommendations in their report "Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis" – tabled in the Senate on October 17, 2007. French-PDF English-PDF

The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology Final Report on: The Enquiry on the Funding for the Treatment of Autism, Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families In Crisis, Chair: The Honourable Art Eggleton, P.C., Deputy Chair: The Honourable Wilbert Joseph Keon, March 2007

Report of the Advisory Committee of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Presented to the Autism Society Canada Board of Directors, February 4, 2007

Supporting Inclusive Schools: A Handbook for Developing and Implementing Programming for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Manitoba Education, CItizenship and Youth, 2005. A planning and programming resource for school teams who support students with ASD. PDF: Acknowledgements and Content | Ch. 1: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Ch. 2: The Student w/ ASD | Ch. 3: Planning for the Student w/ ASD | Ch. 4: Teaching the Student w/ ASD | Ch. 5: Instructional Strat. for the Student w/ ASD | App. A: DSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria | App. B: Asperger's Syndrome | App. C: Behavioural Support for Student w/ ASD | App. D: ASD Inventory | App. E: Human Sexuality Edu. & Student w/ ASD | App. F: Forms | Bibliography | Suggested Readings

Provincial and Territorial Funding Programs for Autism Therapy, Parliamentary Information and Research Service, Canada, 2006.

Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Ministry of Education, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2003.

Prevalence of the Autism Spectrum Disorders in Multiple Areas of the United States, 2000 and 2002. Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network.

Charter for Persons with Autism, Autism Europe. Adopted as a written declaration by the European parliament on May 9, 1996.

The Rights of Ageing People with Autism, Autism Europe. A position paper on ageing persons with Autism.

Autism: The Demand for Advocacy (info pamphlet). The National Autistic Society, United Kingdom.

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Disclaimer
Autism Society Canada (ASC) provides numerous links from this website to sites maintained by other groups. These links are provided purely to assist our visitors in finding further information and in good faith. The presence of a link at ASC’s website does not necessarily imply that ASC supports, endorses or recommends a method, treatment, product, resource, remedial centre, website, or program – nor does the absence of a link imply a that ASC does not support it. Visitors requiring medical or therapeutic advice should seek it from a professional. Our purpose in this website and in other material provided by ASC is to inform and support visitors by providing access to a wide range of available information related to Autism Spectrum Disorders. ASC cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss caused by any inaccuracy in this site, or in linked sites/pages.