Happy New Year from Autism Alliance of Canada. Welcome to National Autism News
Happy New Year! As we anticipate an exciting year ahead, we feel privileged to count you as a valued member of Autism Alliance of Canada.
In 2021, we revised and simplified our membership structure to prioritize access and inclusion. Since then, over 800 individuals and organizations have joined Autism Alliance of Canada as a member. Each of you share the common belief that share the Government of Canada needs to implement a robust National Autism Strategy. From across the country, we convene, catalyze, and collaborate to achieve our collective vision: Autistic people and their families, exercising their full rights and realizing their full potential.
We thank you for your ongoing support of our Mission, Vision and Principles. We are stronger together. We encourage you to share our most recent membership package with your peers, colleagues, and friends, so that we can work together as we press forward with our advocacy for a strong and sustainable National Autism Strategy.
Check out our "2023 Year in Review"
We have recently launched the nomination and election process for new members to join our Board of Directors for the year 2024.
At the 2024 Annual General Meeting, Autism Alliance of Canada’s Board of Directors will have open space for up to 2 new Directors. Nominations for these open Director positions will be accepted from Organization and Community members of the Alliance.
We are looking for individuals that are eager, passionate and committed to the Alliance with governance experience and interested in assuming a leadership role on the Board int he future. We particularly encourage applications from the following regions: Saskatchewan, the Maritimes, and the North. Also, we are interested in welcoming applications from Indigenous persons, as well as members who live in rural regions of Canada. We are also open to applications who beyond these parameters with other relevant skill sets.
The deadline to submit an application is February 2, 2024.
Check out the 2024 Director Nomination and Election Process
Participate in the Survey: "Bridging the Housing Data Gap for Autistic Adults in Canada" Deadline: January 15, 2024
Autism Alliance of Canada's Data-to-Policy Fellow, Alisha Stubbs, is currently leading a study to better understand how data on housing is collected by organizations. If you are an Organization Member of the Alliance, we invite you to complete a survey on if and how your organization collects data on housing.
The primary objective of this survey is to address a substantial gap in recorded housing data for Autistic adults in Canada. This concern has been consistently raised within the community, emphasizing the urgency of our collective efforts.
This survey aims to shape a National Autism Strategy by directing resources where they are most needed. By participating, you actively contribute to improving housing data collection and influencing positive changes for the Autistic community.
We're eager to gain your insights into the diverse living arrangements of Autistic people in Canada. Thank you for taking the time to take part in this initiative.
Participate in the survey today!
Planning for the 10th Annual Canadian Autism Leadership Summit (CALS2024) is in full swing! We are delighted to welcome you to join us at CALS2024 from April 17-19, 2024, at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa and via livestream. Interested in participating? Take a note of the important dates below.
Call for proposals: Community Showcase
Deadline: January 14, 2024
Click here to submit a proposal for the Community Showcase.
Call for artists: Third Annual Jim & Ginette Munson Autism Leadership Award
Deadline: January 15, 2024
Click here to submit a piece of art to be awarded to recipient of the Third Munson Award.
Call for nominations: Third Annual Jim & Ginette Munson Autism Leadership Award
Deadline: January 15, 2024
Click here to submit a nomination for the Third Munson Award.
Registration period for early bird rates
Early bird registration ends January 31, 2024
Click here to register to CALS2024!
Registration period for regular priced and one-day tickets
Regular rates and one-day tickets sales start February 1, 2024.
Check out our CALS2024 website for more info
Interested in supporting the upcoming Canadian Autism Leadership Summit? Join our community of supporters helping us to create a more inclusive Canada.By supporting the Canadian Autism Leadership Summit, you play a pivotal role in embracing inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. Your contribution will help the community to empower Autistic Canadians and their loved ones to realize their full potential and contribute to a more inclusive society. It is an opportunity to make a real impact by bringing the experiences of underrepresented groups to the forefront.
Check out our Partnership Package to learn how we can partner for the upcoming Summit!
Once a year, the Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) team gathers in person to share learnings about how we are working together, from coast to coast to coast, to build a more inclusive workforce across the country.Last month, we were pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the entire RWA team to celebrate milestones, discuss successes, work through challenges, and to learn from one another.We also took this chance to connect with our colleagues at Inclusion Canada, the organization that Autism Alliance of Canada partners with to co-deliver the RWA initiative across Canada.We look forward to our continued work together to help Canadian businesses become more inclusive for job seekers and employees who are on the autism spectrum or have an intellectual disability.A big thanks to our local RWA delivery partners for their contribution towards building a more inclusive workforce across the country:
Autism Nova Scotia
Autism Resource Centre
Canucks Autism Network
Community Living Ontario
Giant Steps Montreal
Inclusion Alberta
Inclusion BC
Inclusion Canada NL
Inclusion NB
Inclusion Nova Scotia
Inclusion NWT
Inclusion Saskatchewan
Inclusion Winnipeg
Inclusion Yukon
Kerry's Place
La Société québécoise de la déficience intellectuelle
Nunavummi Disabilities Makinnasuaqtiit Society
PEI Association for Community Living
Society for Autism Support and Services
Learn more about Ready, Willing, & Able
The Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) has recently announced the launch of the 2024 Health System Impact Fellowship Competition. The Health System Impact (HSI) Fellowship offers embedded research opportunities for PhD trainees and postdoctoral researchers in health services and policy research and related fields. It includes two streams:
Doctoral (PhD): $50,000 per year for up to 1 year. ($45,000 stipend plus $5,000 professional development training and research allowance
Postdoctoral: $155,000 total for 2 years ($77,500 per annum). ($70,000 stipend per year, plus $7,500 professional development training and research allowance per year)
Autism Alliance of Canada is passionate about the development and training of Health System Impact Fellows. As a host organization, we work closely with academic partners to provide a stimulating mentorship and training experience for the fellows. We proudly host trainees accepted into this program, giving them opportunities to address real-world system challenges in Canada.Our goal is to increase the capacity of upcoming researchers and policy-makers who can bring about significant changes for Autistic people across Canada.
Learn more about the 2024 Health System Impact Fellowship Competition
Learn more about how Autism Alliance of Canada collaborates with the HSIF
Are you a practitioner or professional in Ottawa who has supported Autistic adults' mental health?To participate in this study, participants must be:
A practitioner or professional who has experience supporting an Autistic adults* mental health in Ottawa.
Comfortable completing an online questionnaire and engaging in a 60 to 90-minute recorded Zoom interview
At least 18 years old
Comfortable in the English language
*Autistic adults include self-identified, diagnosed, and undiagnosed.
This study will ask participants to fill out an online demographic and work experience questionnaire via Qualtrics and to participate in an audio-recorded one-to-one semi-structured interview via Zoom for approximately 60-90 minutes, where they will be asked questions about structural, organizational, practitioner, personal, and individual barriers to supporting Autistic adult mental health, and strategies, adaptations, and considerations they find useful. All those who participate in interviews a $10 e-gift card from a pre-determined list. This research has been cleared by Carleton University Research Ethics Board A Clearance #119805.
If you would like to participate in this research project, or have any questions about the research, please contact Margaret at margaretjansevanrens@cmail.carleton.ca.
Happy New Year from Autism Alliance of Canada!