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 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
Social Thinking Training
ACT has negotiated a special rate with our generous partners at Social Thinking® for Canadians to purchase access to their recorded training programs in Canadian dollars. Registrants will have access between April 15th and June 15th, 2021.
With the Social Thinking Methodology, you gain evidence-based strategies to help people age 4 through adulthood:
- Self-regulation
- Social-emotional learning
- Executive functioning
- Social problem solving
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
ACT offices closed Friday, April 2, and Monday, April 5Get 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.
Combating Compassion Fatigue
In this 13-part workshop we explore the “costs of caring” and its potential physical and emotional toll, followed by consideration of research supported strategies that can empower families and build their resistance to ward off compassion fatigue.
Watch hereSearch the Autism Information Database
Search over 1,400 vetted information resources related to ASD, including online articles, videos, and websites.
Upcoming Events View all Events
Turning the COVID-19 Crisis into Opportunity: Rethinking family supports to build resilience
April 16, 2021
Web Streaming Only
Presented by Professor Grace Iarocci & Vanessa Fong, PhD Candidate, Simon Fraser University
Moderated by Professor Anthony Bailey, Chair of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of British Columbia
Parent Panel: Lori Gauthier, Carey Henry, Bo Sang Lee & Deborah Pugh
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, April 20 - Wednesday, April 21
News from ACT on Facebook
“The biggest challenge is going to be when we die, he is going to have to live with someone else, and it is a big worry about how that is going to happen.”
This article about a Vancouver Island family looks at problems many others will identify with, including the barriers that often prevent autistic adults from finding meaningful work and appropriate housing.
Langford parents seek a comfortable future for their son with autism - Victoria News
www.vicnews.com
Joyce and Clarence Lazaruk moved to the Island with their son Tyler, 37, to be closer to familyOh my goodness - this could be our story. Thank you for sharing. We worry constantly about what will happen to our son when we’re gone. We live in a rural community with limited opportunities. 😢
Yes , we all think about it , terrified too
That is a big worry for sure.
My biggest worry! X 2
Sheila Bell of interest.
Our family is in the same boat 😨
My nightmare every day!
We have just started this transition with our son, slowly, no rush, so it hopefully will be successful for him and them💕
“My grandson is autistic, and the goal is to eventually have this book become a tool for educators, parents, grandparents, caretakers and so forth, to use as a stepping stone to discuss the challenges these individuals have."
A retired pediatrician on Vancouver Island has written a children's book whose starting point is an incident in the life of her autistic grandson.
Sooke author shines light on autism in new children’s book - Saanich News
www.saanichnews.com
Beverley Elliott hopes book can be used as tool to bring awareness and understanding around autism"In B.C., about 200,000 people qualify as clinically extremely vulnerable. Next door in Alberta, which has a smaller population and a lower proportion of disabled residents, according to Statistics Canada, about 945,000 people with underlying conditions have been prioritized for vaccination. A statement released this week by the disability advocacy groups Dignity Denied and BCEdAccess raises the alarm about how B.C. has decided who makes the cut."
You can read the statement by Dignity Denied and BCEdAccess here: dignitydenied.ca/our-statement-on-covid-19-vaccine-access-for-disabled-people/
People with disabilities say B.C.'s COVID-19 vaccine priorities leave them unprotected | CBC News
www.cbc.ca
Advocates say the current criteria exclude a wide range of people who are more likely to become seriously ill or die from COVID-19, and they've been kept in the dark about how B.C. has arrived at its ...Ironically, a lot of those disabilities may have been caused by vaccines in the first place.
"This is not something that can be eradicated or cured. It’s genetic, and we are proud.”
A Port Moody artist who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 28 is creating a line of pins, face masks, clothing and tote bags to promote autism acceptance and neurodiversity pride.
Port Moody artist raises the bar for World Autism Month
www.tricitynews.com
A Port Moody artist is using World Autism Month to shed light on a genetic disorder.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