COVID-19: Specialized Resources, Practical Advice, and ACT's Advocacy
ACT is gathering information to support families during the COVID-19 crisis, including resources specific to those who are neuro-diverse and useful general resources. Our COVID-19 Resources page will be updated as new resources come in.
ACT's Guides to Autism Videos & Resources
Download the ACT Videos & Resources Guide for the latest updates on ACT’s videos, events, and resources. We have specialized guides for:
Special Needs Resources Guide for Schools Guide to Mental Health Resources
ACT Videos & Resources Guide for Parents and Professionals
B.C. Resources
Looking for autism & special needs resources specific to British Columbia? Visit the new B.C. Resources page to find community agencies, recreational activities, service providers, support groups, education & employment, community events, the autism manual, new diagnosis hub, transition to adulthood, and much more!
ACT turns 15 - Report to Donors
As of January, it will be 15 years since ACT opened our office to support the autism community. In 2019 alone, we have helped 133,000 visitors find answers to their questions via our unparalleled online resources; ACT's free videos were watched 32,000 times.
ACT's resources are funded by donations and sponsorship from members of the autism community. If you are in a position to donate to ACT and would like to know more see ACT's 2019 Report to Donors (pdf).
Find Autism Information
Find practical autism resources in the Autism Information Database (AID). We've made it even easier to find resources and tools for parents and professionals with a new subject listing. Free and relevant world-wide.
You can also find 自閉症社區訓練協會 (ACT in Chinese), ACT in Punjabi, Online Mental Health & Autism Project: Looking Beyond Autism, and Autism Research.
Latest News
Recommendations for MCFD and MSD to support individuals with disabilities and their families during the COVID-19 emergencyGet the latest updates in your email. Subscribe to our newsletter for news, resources, and events:
ACT is committed to respecting your privacy. We do not share information with any other organization or individual. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read ACT’s Privacy Policy for more details.
Web streaming an ACT Event
ACT’s web streaming is LIVE online video broadcasts, in real time, of autism training events. Participants can ask questions of the presenter, and chat live with ACT staff for technical support and presentation resources.
Web Streaming DetailsSearch the Autism Information Database
Search over 1,400 vetted information resources related to ASD, including online articles, videos, and websites.
Special Needs Community Events
ACT lists workshops and conferences in B.C. related to autism and other special needs that are provided by local agencies and organizations.
News from ACT on Facebook
“I know the pitfalls of posthumous diagnosis, but I’m convinced my mother was autistic.” When a child is diagnosed with autism, it can sometimes lead to recognizing autistic traits in other, older family members, as it did for the author of this article. Has that been your experience?
My son was diagnosed with autism at five. Did he inherit it from my misunderstood mother?
www.theguardian.com
When my son was diagnosed, I was told the condition was hereditary. Suddenly my late mother’s ‘eccentric, bossy’ personality began to make senseAs schools remain closed, thousands of educational assistants in Alberta are to be laid off, in a move the provincial government says is temporary.
Alberta education cut expected to lay off thousands during pandemic | CBC News
www.cbc.ca
The Alberta government has temporarily cut funding for K-12 school transportation and support staff as students transition to at-home learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.In BC schools are being opened for students who have essential service parents and education staff will babysit them
"Emerging research suggests that autistic adults are at high risk of a broad array of physical and mental health conditions, including diabetes, depression and heart disease. They are also about 2.5 times as likely as their neurotypical peers to die early. The reasons for these grim statistics may range from missed medical appointments and medication doses to a lifetime of social slights and discrimination. Many autistic seniors also bear the consequences of having been undiagnosed for most of their lives."
Much of our focus at the moment is on the current health emergency caused by COVID-19. But this article reminds us that even in the best of times autistic adults have lifespans that are often shorter than those of typically developing individuals. It also looks at efforts that are being made to improve that situation.
www.spectrumnews.org
For many autistic adults, the golden years are tarnished by poor health, poverty and, in some cases, homelessness. Their plight reveals huge gaps in care.At ACT we are aware that the current health environment is deeply worrying for many families in our community, as well as autistic adults, and the professionals who support them.
ACT is gathering information on this page to support families during the COVID-19 crisis, including resources specific to those who are neuro-diverse and useful general resources. As more become available, they will be shared via this page and on ACT’s Facebook page. We welcome your submissions to info@actcommunity.ca.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): Resources for the Autism Community
www.actcommunity.ca
At ACT we are aware that the current health environment is deeply worrying for many families in our community, as well as autistic adults, and the professionals who support them. ACT is gathering info...自閉症社區訓練協會 | ACT in Chinese
ACT 自閉症社區訓練協會，
是加拿大卑詩省內針對家有自閉症兒童的家庭提供諮詢及轉介服務的非營利機構。
ACT in Punjabi
ACT has been able to both create and identify valuable resources for the Punjabi-speaking community in British Columbia.
View Punjabi-language Resources