Welcome to National Autism News - Announcement of Canada’s National Autism Strategy Expected Soon
Dear members,
Autism Alliance of Canada expects the National Autism Strategy (NAS) will be announced soon based on our most recent conversations with the federal government.
Within our membership and the community at large, there is a lot of anticipation about what will be included in Canada’s first NAS. With priority areas identified in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences’ Report, “Autism in Canada: Considerations for future public policy development,” and the timeline for measures set out in Bill S-203, “Federal Framework on Autism Act,” the NAS is an opportunity to address our collective vision at the Alliance: Autistic people and their families exercising their full rights and realizing their full potential.
Working together from a position of strength and diversity, with over 800 members including Autistic individuals, family members, support providers, and organizational leaders from coast to coast, we have identified shared priorities that we can translate into coordinated action.
Over the past decade, we have communicated the priorities of our members and leveraged our collective expertise to engage with the government. These efforts include developing a Blueprint for a National Autism Strategy in 2019 and a Roadmap towards a National Autism Strategy in 2020, as well as creating a policy compendium tool in 2020 and 2021 focused on four central pillars (Social Inclusion, Economic Inclusion, Evidence-Informed Supports and Governance and Research). Together, we are poised to collaborate with the government to ensure that the NAS makes a real difference.
As we anticipate the launch of the NAS, we are committed to keeping you informed, providing a platform for a shared close reading analysis of the Strategy, and developing mechanisms to gather your perspective as a member of the Alliance. Stay tuned.
Learn how our organization played a role in guiding the development.
Over 100 participants have already registered for the 10th Annual Canadian Autism Leadership Summit!
This year, CALS2024 will be taking place from April 17-19, 2024, at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and via livestream.
As of February 1st, we have released single-day tickets for those who wish to attend for just one day. The preliminary agenda will be posted soon!
Our heartfelt thanks go to our growing number of supporters for contributing towards the Summit!
Stay tuned for further updates on our CALS2024 website!
Ready, Willing & Able, a national partnership of Autism Alliance of Canada and Inclusion Canada, is pleased to welcome proposals for the 2024 Youth Employment Pilot Project for Racialized Communities.
This pilot project aims to highlight and address the unique experiences and barriers faced by Indigenous, Black and other racialized youth with an intellectual disability or on the autism spectrum seeking employment in communities across Canada.
We encourage proposals from community leaders and organizations who are committed to addressing the needs of racialized youth with disabilities in their communities. Proposals should demonstrate an understanding of the unique strengths and barriers related to youth employment in their community and a commitment to working collaboratively with local community partners.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please fill out the proposal form below by March 1st, 2024, 11:59pm EST to be considered for funding.
Submit a Proposal Learn About RWA's Innovative Projects
The Canada Disability Benefit was passed in June 2023, people with disabilities are still living in poverty. An adequately funded CDB can change this.
Bill C-22, The Canada Disability Benefit Act (CDB), is a welcome addition to Canada’s social safety net. Canadians face a historically high cost of living and an affordable housing crisis, and Canadians living with disabilities face additional costs and barriers that contribute to disproportionately higher poverty rates, such as unfunded healthcare expenses, special diets, higher transportation costs, among many others.
But for people living with disabilities to have money in their pockets at a time when they need it more than ever, the government needs to work with the disability community to ensure the program is adequate and barrier-free.
The benefit must be designed in a way that ensures adequate support for individuals that accounts for additional costs associated with living with a disability, ensures no claw backs in support from other programs, is equitable, inclusive of the diversity needs of people with disabilities, and is accessible to those who need it.
Send a letter to your MP to fully fund the Canada Disability Benefit
Independent Living Canada is currently seeking feedback on the accessibility of outdoor, indoor, and virtual festivals and events in Canada.
Independent Living Canada's "Enhancing Social Cohesion by Creating Accessible Festivals and Events for People with Disabilities" project, they will be making recommendations to Accessibility Standards Canada as it relates to Festivals and Events' accessibility.
Their survey is collecting the lived experiences of Canadians with disabilities, and those who support them. This includes but not limited to caregivers, assistants, interpreters, intervenors, family members, government services, employment, health, disability organizations, and allies.
They invite you to share what was good, what worked, and what made it hard, or impossible to take part in festivals and events in Canada. The survey has 12 questions, and should take 5 to 10 minutes to finish.
Click here to participate in the survey
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
The Accessibility Institute (formerly READ Initiative) at Carleton University is looking for neurodivergent adults to provide input that will contribute to the development of a policy toolkit and educational resource that will help make Canada more accessible and inclusive.
Neurodivergent adults who belong to other marginalized communities (for example, Indigenous, people of color, trans/non-binary, queer, non-speaking) are especially encouraged to participate.
Survey respondents will be asked to provide feedback on themes about the barriers and facilitators that neurodivergent people experience. This should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to complete.