We are eagerly anticipating the summer holidays, followed by a vibrant fall season packed with a variety of exciting events: From Executive Functioning Skills to Food Selectivity and Sleep-Related Problems, we aim to offer something for everyone. And don’t miss out on our new Autism tailored, targeted programs.

Plus, we are thrilled to share some amazing news from the Autistic Community, including the Autism Navigator Course, the Girls Without Barriers Project, the EUA Graphics Online Comics Exhibition, and the results of the 2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey.

Happy reading, and ACT wishes everyone a wonderful summer!

Upcoming Events

Executive Functioning Skills with Sarah Ward

Thursdays, September 12, 19, 26 & Tuesday, October 15, 2024
4-Part Series, Web Streaming Live, 3 pm – 5 pm
Presented by Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC-SLP

Recording available for 30 days following each series, for all registrants.

Join Sarah Ward, co-developer of the 360 Thinking Executive Function program, for a four-part webinar series this Fall. The interactive sessions will focus on enhancing executive functioning skills in real-world scenarios and cultivating a supportive network.

View details

Register by June 27 to secure the early bird discount!

Treating Food Selectivity Without Tears

Friday, September 20, 2024
Web Streaming Live, 9 am – 1 pm
Presented by Dr. Kelsey Ruppel, BCBA, LABA

Attendance meets the requirements for 4 BACB CEUs.

Join Dr. Kelsey Ruppel for a four-hour webinar presenting an assessment and treatment approach for food selectivity that is designed to empower children during mealtime situations.

View details

Register by June 27 to secure the early bird discount!

Going to Bed Without Tears: Assessment and Treatment of Sleep-Related Problems

Friday, November 1, 2024
Web Streaming Live, 9 am – 1 pm
Presented by Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami, BCBA-D

Attendance meets the requirements for 4 BACB CEUs.

Join Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami for a four-hour webinar on utilizing a biobehavioral approach to assess, treat and prevent sleep-related challenges.

View details

Register by June 27 to secure the early bird discount!

Your vote matters: Help us decide on topics and format for ACT events in 2025

We want to ensure our events are right for individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals within the Autistic community. Please let us know the topics and format you would prefer for attending ACT events in 2025. Your input is very important to us!

Cast your Vote

NEW: Autism Training Tailored for You

At ACT we are dedicated to providing specialized training to support individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals within the Autistic community.

Our tailored, targeted programs are designed to address specific needs and challenges, empowering you to navigate through various aspects of autism with confidence and competence.

View details

Autism Navigator Jump Start to Coaching in Everyday Activities

We are thankful to the Ministry of Children and Family Development for entrusting ACT to distribute 120 Jump Start to Coaching seats. The map illustrates the reach of this training across British Columbia.
This self-guided course will enable professionals throughout B.C. to coach families in supporting their child’s learning in everyday activities. Dr. Wetherby presented for ACT in 2023, and her presentation generated significant interest. To learn more about Jump Start to Coaching, please reach out to Michelle Schmidt.

Participate in Girls Without Barriers (GWB) Project

DAWN (Disabled Women’s Network) Canada is leading a new research project. The GWB project is about listening to the experiences of the inclusion and exclusion of girls, young women and gender-diverse youth with disabilities across the country.

View details

The Recruitment deadline is June 30.

EUA Graphics Online Comics Exhibition: Now Live!

Hosted by the UBC Comics Studies Cluster, the innovative project “Exams Under Anaesthesia (EUA) Graphics: Equity and Neurodiversity in the Operating Room” has officially launched its online exhibition.
The project aims to bring attention to the complex challenges faced by neurodiverse children, including those with autism, and their families in medical settings.
Powerful and engaging graphic novels inspired by real-life interviews with parents of neurodiverse children in the BC healthcare system!

Visit Exhibition

2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey

The results of the 2023 Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment Survey are now available.
This survey helped better understand the evolving impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Autistic people and the services and supports they access.
The survey and survey report were developed in partnership with autistic people and caregivers.

Read Survey Results

The Great Canadian Giving Challenge

We’re excited to be part of the #GivingChallengeCA this June. Every single dollar you donate to ACT this month will help increase our chances of winning the grand prize of $10,000.
Your support will enable us to continue providing valuable resources and training for individuals with autism, their families, and professionals in our community.
And guess what? For every donation of $10 or more, you will be entered to win one of 40 awesome adventure-themed prizes.

Donate now

News from and for the Autistic Community

We are putting together our September 2024 Newsletter and we want to make sure we include the latest updates and news for the Autistic Community. Would you like to share anything with us? We are all ears! Send us an email at [email protected].

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Our upcoming events all incorporate a distinct family component, from managing distressed behaviour to supporting kids during mealtimes. And, with summer at our doorstep (hopefully!), we are also inviting providers in BC to submit their summer camps to our community events list. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the upcoming Mental Health Week starting on May 6, 2024. See all the details and additional information below!

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Upcoming Events

We are happy to inform you that all ACT registrations are eligible for Autism Funding coverage.

Taking Steps to Overcome Restrictive Eating and Transform Mealtimes

Wednesdays, May 22 – June 19
5-Week Program, Live on Zoom, 12pm -1pm

Presented by
Lauren Hershfield (OT), and Elise Fairey (RD)

This online parenting group will teach parents and caregivers how to best support their child with restrictive eating, facilitate positive food interactions, and work towards expanding their diet and less stressful mealtimes. This program has a maximum capacity of 30 people.

Limited Spots available. Registration ends May 17.

Managing Distressed Behaviour for Parents, Families and Caregivers

Saturday, June 1, 9.30 am – 3.30 pm
KPU – Langley Campus

Presented by
Allison Balfour, Sharon Power, and Heather Lavigne

This in-person course is designed to guide you from beginner to advanced levels and to emphasize practical, non-confrontational approaches for preventing and assisting individuals at risk of or experiencing significant distress and exhibiting challenging behaviors. The course will be facilitated by certified instructors and has a maximum capacity of 15 people.

Limited Spots available. Registration ends May 30. Web-Streaming will not be available.

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Summer Camps

Every year, ACT posts accessible summer camps in BC to our Community Events page. This page is viewed hundreds of times every month by parents from around the province. To be included in our listings, your camp should have a substantial accessible component, preferably geared towards autistic kids or youth. Below are some good examples of such camps.

Camps in Various BC Areas

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Mental Health Week is May 6 – 12, 2024

We all have the capacity to be compassionate. This year’s CMHA Mental Health Week is centered on the healing power of compassion. In a world plagued by suffering, CMHA emphasizes that kindness is equally intrinsic to our humanity. Join from May 6 to 12, 2024 to explore how compassion connects us all.

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Video recording now available on Autism Videos @ ACT

SLP and OT Support for Autistic Children & Families

We are excited to inform you that our latest series of videos on “SLP and OT Support for Autistic Children & Families” is now available.

We would like to express our gratitude to Kate Chase, PhD, SLP, BCBA and Emily Lee, OT, BCBA from Nurture Learning & Development for their insightful presentations.

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Help ACT Spread the Word!

Join here to become a Friend of ACT. This free program keeps you updated with the latest events and resources from ACT. It also provides a 10% discount on a single ticket for all events.

Know someone who could benefit from our events and resources? Share on your networks:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

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News from the Autistic Community

We are putting together our June 2024 Newsletter and we want to make sure we include the latest updates and news for the Autistic Community. Would you like to share anything with us? We are all ears! Send us an email at [email protected].

We are happy to announce that Eva-Maria Rauter has recently joined the ACT Team in the role of Administrative Events and Marketing Coordinator.

Eva-Maria is originally from Austria. Before she moved to Canada in 2024, she worked for a large healthcare organization in Switzerland for seven years. In her last role as Chief Networking Officer, Eva-Maria was responsible for managing impactful mental health-focused events and building extensive professional networks.

She is strongly committed to enhancing the support services for people affected by autism and mental illness, and their families. Eva-Maria holds a Master of Arts in Social Science & Social Work from Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, a Certificate of Advanced Studies (Social Work, mental health focus) from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Klagenfurt. Eva-Maria is very excited to join ACT and contribute her passion and expertise to the Autistic community.

We are already looking forward to our upcoming events in spring 2024. Don’t miss the chance to participate and register today!

Every year, thousands of researchers from around the world dedicate their time and effort to produce scientific papers on autism. These papers are a testament to the unwavering commitment of the scientific community to understand and address the challenges faced by individuals with autism.

ACT’s team is dedicated to curating a selection of the most insightful and impactful papers focusing on specific topics and local researchers. We believe that this approach will help us to better understand the nuances of autism and develop more effective interventions. Stay up-to-date with the latest findings and insights.

Areas of Autism Research you can explore

Our gratitude goes to everyone who donated to us in 2023! We are very grateful for our volunteers who spent their time to support ACT’s work – we could not have done it without you!

A special thank you to our board of directors, supporters, event speakers, our members, and newly formed Autistic Advisory Committee and Indigenous Advisory Committee. 

“I appreciate the concerted effort of the many individuals at ACT that organize events and keep a key role in advocacy in our community. It is a well done job!”

-Community Professional

“I value ACT conferences and workshops that address pertinent issues and provide opportunities to meet with others facing similar challenges.”

-Professional & Parent / Caregiver

“I appreciate ACT not forgetting about the broad spectrum of needs by children on autism spectrum.”

-Parent / Caregiver

“Thank you for all your hard work!”

-Parent / Caregiver

Your donations support our free events & resources

We are so grateful for your support as a donor or a volunteer. ACT’s supporters are the reason we can continue our work throughout the year.

We know that many of you are facing challenges due to the economic situation, and we want to make it easier for you to join us. That’s why we are offering:

• Free events
• Free videos
• The AID Search
• More access to bursaries.

Thank you for being part of our community!