Free Web Stream Series
ACT has developed a free Spring series of presentations by speakers who will inspire and inform. These free live web streamed events provide information for families and caregivers.
April 7 - June 9: Self-care for Carers – a Mindful Compassion Program
April 16: Turning the COVID-19 Crisis into Opportunity: Rethinking family supports to build resilience
April 23: Supporting Early Social & Communication Development through Parent Coaching
June 3: Improving Family Mealtimes, One Bite at A Time
June 4: Autism and Sexual Health: Access, Education, and Intervention
COVID-19 Resources
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.
- Watch Practical Tips for Helping Families Reduce Stress
- Resources for Families Waiting for Assessment
- View upcoming live web streams and presentations you can watch any time
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!
Guides to 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 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
New! Registration open for Self-Care for Carers | Combating Compassion Fatigue videoGet 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.
Autism, Anxiety and COVID-19
To mark World Autism Day with a practical initiative, ACT invited three respected mental health clinicians, who have presented for ACT on autism and mental health, to answer questions on ‘Anxiety and COVID-19’.
Watch hereSearch the Autism Information Database
Search over 1,400 vetted information resources related to ASD, including online articles, videos, and websites.
Upcoming Events
Self-care for Carers – a Mindful Compassion Program
April 07, 2021 - June 09, 2021
Wednesdays, April 7 - June 9, 2021, 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
A 10 Week Small Group Program for Caregivers of Neurodiverse Family Members via Zoom
This will be an accepting, non-judgmental group dedicated to support and build the emotional resilience in family members caring for individuals with ASD or other diverse needs. This includes parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, adult siblings, etc.
Turning the COVID-19 Crisis into Opportunity: Rethinking family supports to build resilience
April 16, 2021
Web Streaming Only
Presented by Grace Iarocci, PhD and Vanessa Fong, PhD Candidate
Simon Fraser University (SFU)
This presentation will feature a detailed analysis of a survey conducted by researchers at Simon Fraser University on the effect of the pandemic on BC families of children with autism, looking at quality of life, mental health, and service delivery.
Supporting Early Social & Communication Development through Parent Coaching
April 23, 2021
Web Streaming Only
Presented by Pat Mirenda, PhD, BCBA-D; Paola Colozzo, PhD, RSLP; Veronica Smith, PhD; Wendy Ungar, PhD and other members of the PACE Coaching team.
The findings of this recently concluded 3-year research project, carried out in partnership with child and family development agencies across BC, has important implications for supporting parents and communities with effective early intervention for toddlers with special needs.
Improving Family Mealtimes, One Bite at A Time
June 3, 2021
Web Streaming Only
Presented by Lauren Binnendyk, PhD, BCBA-D
This workshop is designed for parents struggling to add more variety into their child’s diet.
Autism and Sexual Health: Access, Education, and Intervention
June 4, 2021
Web Streaming Only
Presented by Landa Fox, MA, BCBA, Certified Sexual Health Educator
This full day presentation will cover a broad range of topics in the area of sexual health and the various ways this intersects with supporting autistic individuals.
Featured Videos
View all videos
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.
SHARE Zoom Group: Sexual Health and Relationships (Ages 15-25)
Tuesday, March 16 - Wednesday, March 17
News from ACT on Facebook
“If this defence pops up again, we’ll start the whole process of stigmatizing people on the spectrum again. But you have to keep fighting the good fight — the answer is more education and more acceptance.”
Here are some takes on the legal implications of the judgement in the Toronto van attack trial, and how it might affect the general public's attitudes toward autism.
Alek Minassian decision opens door for verdict of not criminally responsible due to autism
globalnews.ca
The judge who found Alek Minassian guilty of murder and attempted murder has set Canadian precedent by considering autism a "mental disorder" under the Criminal Code."Although all neurodivergent people are different, many of us struggle with eye contact, speaking off-the-cuff or reading the room—necessary skills in a traditional interview setting, but not always the most relevant to the job we're competing for. Interviews that instead focus on our performance on the skills and tasks that will be the meat of the job are much more likely to offer a neurodivergent person a chance to show their skills, and for the interview team to see them."
People with autism succeed in IT jobs when companies hire for capabilities not credentials
www.techrepublic.com
Two IBMers hired through a national neurodiversity program have filed patents for their work with the company.Have you heard of Weird Pride Day? Apparently March 4, 2021 is the first ever Weird Pride Day. According to the website linked below, it's a day for people "to embrace their weirdness, and reject the stigma associated being weird. To publicly express pride in the things that make us weird, and to celebrate the diversity of humankind."
"There should be another option. This shouldn’t be a fiscal issue. It’s a care and compassion and decency issue, and it’s been a pervasive problem for far too long."
This article looks at a situation faced by many families: lacking the supports that would allow them to care for disabled loved ones in the family home, and facing extremely long waitlists for what they consider the less desirable option of a group home, they fear their only choice may eventually be institutionalization in a long-term care home. What are your thoughts?
The Long-Term Care Issue We’re Not Talking About
www.chatelaine.com
When long-term care homes become the only option, what do families with disabled loved ones do when they have nowhere else to turn?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