Author Archives: ACT

ACT is Hiring a Community Liaison Officer

Applications should be submitted to info@actcommunity.ca. We thank all applicants for applying; however, only those applicants shortlisted will be contacted.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please reach out to Dr. Michelle Schmidt, Executive Director at mschmidt@actcommunity.ca.

Work Site: #120B 3823 Henning Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5C 6P3, with some remote work and travel 

Status: Regular Full-Time 

Start Date: As soon as Possible 

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience 

Hours: 0830 to 1630, Monday through Friday, with some flexible scheduling and adjustments as required to meet organization demands 

Applications will be received until March 19, 2023 at 4pm. 

Join ACT’s Team

ACT – AUTISM COMMUNITY TRAINING is seeking interest from exemplary applicants to join its dynamic team as Community Liaison Officer.  Reporting to the Executive Director, the Community Liaison Officer will be a member of a cohesive team of highly skilled professionals. 

As one of seven team members, you have superior interpersonal and communications skills and a high degree of professional credibility.  You have respectful, collaborative relationships with children and their families, colleagues, and the broader community.  You believe in the importance of partnerships and that it takes a village to raise a child. 

You are excited by the opportunity to explore ideas and implement innovative interventions and to take risks, and you inspire and empower others to do the same.  You have dynamic energy and enthusiasm.  You believe that a well-lived life is a life in which you are continually developing.  Your unwavering commitment to excellence, superior knowledge of collaborative practices including in rural, remote, and indigenous communities make you an excellent fit for this role.  

You have experience collaborating with community partners including the Ministries of Education and Child Care, Health, and Child and Family Development.  

You have extensive knowledge of neurodiversity and a genuine appreciation and passion for ensuring that every individual can become the best that they may be.  You are creative and resourceful and can collaboratively solve complex situations.  You use technology extensively for networking and data analysis to identify goals and targets and turn insights into actions through the implementation of evidence-based interventions. 

Purpose of this position

The Community Liaison Officer is responsible for developing and managing the communication between ACT—Autism Community Training and local, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The Community Liaison Officer coordinates with parents and family members, autistic people, and community professionals to learn about needs and concerns, to develop and provide culturally safe training and resources. They assist in scheduling outreach meetings and handling promotional events. A Community Liaison Officer must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in relation to listening and developing plans for responding to community needs.

The Community Liaison Officer establishes rapport based on respect, and shares information, resources and training opportunities with parents, families, and autistic adults as well as professionals. They assist ACT staff in planning, organizing, and facilitating the development of relevant information, resources, and training. The Community Liaison Officer Attends information fairs as an ACT representative, hosting tables and educating the community regarding ACT’s resources.

Collaboration 

The Community Liaison Officer works in collaboration with ACT Staff members, including the Executive Director, Information Resources Manager, Digital Communications Coordinator, Administrative & Training Coordinator, Financial Controller, and Communications Officer to accomplish shared tasks and goals as they arise. 

Minimum Knowledge/Qualifications/Experience 

  • Knowledge of diverse abilities and disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder; 
  • 2 or more years of experience in an outreach/liaison/support role; 
  • Excellent organization, planning and project management skills, including attention to detail; 
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills, particularly telephone etiquette; 
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to organize and manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines; 
  • Ability and willingness to learn and use appropriate strategies (e.g., culturally safe and trauma informed/assumed care); 
  • Ability to engage and provide service to a culturally diverse population; 
  • Ability to establish and maintain rapport with families, autistic people, professionals and other community members; 
  • Takes initiative and can work well independently or as a member of a team; and 
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office 365 suite, including Word, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Forms & Sway; 
  • Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees, to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and staff from other agencies, to maintain confidentiality and to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; and 
  • Exceptional communication skills. 

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher; 
  • Customer Relationship Management experience;
  • Experience collaborating with community partners including the Ministries of Education and Child Care, Health, and Child and Family Development;
  • Experience working in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities;
  • Social media proficiency. 

The hours of work including days off and work location may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements. 

Successful applicants are required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check. 

Why join ACT? 

ACT is Canada’s leading independent, not-for-profit, specializing in providing families and professionals with evidence-informed resources to support the neurodivergent community with the information and training they need. In addition to developing our own resources, we provide an unrivaled information portal that responds to the diverse needs of our community across the lifespan, including the voices of adults, in multiple languages. 

Based in British Columbia, Canada, ACT develops a wide range of positive and practical information on everything from sleep problems and diet to core issues such as diagnosis and aspects of intervention, including information on setting up intervention programs. These resources are free and are available online. 

ACT’s Information and Training resources are funded by the income generated by our live events, and through sponsorship and donations. The resources that we share, or develop ourselves, are evidence-based. We do not enter commercial relationships to promote products or intervention approaches. 

We invite you to join us in supporting neurodivergent people and their families, as well as adults to live productive, satisfying lives within their families and communities. Our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork makes ACT a terrific place to work. 

  • Comprehensive health benefits package, including extended health, dental, and life insurance;  
  • Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities; 
  • 3 weeks holidays annually; and 
  • Hybrid work arrangement. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a comfortable workplace delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure specific measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed. 
 
We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or self-identification as Indigenous.  

We maintain a safe work environment. All employees are expected to manage their responsibilities within a safe milieu, fostering an environment of trust, open communication and respect for clients, coworkers, and themselves always. 

ACT is Hiring an Information Resource Manager

Applications should be submitted to info@actcommunity.ca. We thank all applicants for applying; however, only those applicants shortlisted will be contacted.

If you have any questions regarding this position, please reach out to Dr. Michelle Schmidt, Executive Director at mschmidt@actcommunity.ca.

Work Site: #120B 3823 Henning Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5C 6P3, with some remote work and travel 

Status: Regular Full-Time 

Start Date: As soon as Possible 

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience 

Hours: 0830 to 1630, Monday through Friday, with some flexible scheduling possible, and as required to meet organization demands 

Applications will be received until March 19, 2023 at 4pm. 

Join ACT’s Team

ACT – Autism Community Training is seeking interest from exemplary applicants to join its dynamic team as Information Resource Manager. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Information Resource Manager will be a member of a cohesive team of highly skilled professionals. 

As one of seven team members, you have superior interpersonal and communications skills and a high degree of professional credibility. You have respectful, collaborative relationships with children and their families, colleagues, and the broader community. You believe in the importance of partnerships and that it takes a village to raise a child. 

You are excited by the opportunity to explore ideas and implement innovative interventions and to take risks, and you inspire and empower others to do the same. You have dynamic energy and enthusiasm. You believe that a well-lived life is a life in which you are continually developing.  Your unwavering commitment to excellence, superior knowledge of collaborative practices including in rural, remote, and indigenous communities make you an excellent fit for this role.  

You have experience collaborating with community partners including the Ministries of Education and Child Care, Health, and Child and Family Development.  

You have extensive knowledge of neurodiversity and a genuine appreciation and passion for ensuring that every individual can become the best that they may be. You are creative and resourceful and can collaboratively solve complex situations. You use technology extensively for networking and data analysis to identify goals and targets and turn insights into actions through the implementation of evidence-based interventions.  

Purpose of this position

The Information Resource Manager provides timely, professional, and sensitive responses to a wide range of inquiries from parents and professionals who contact ACT in need of information and resources about disabilities/diverse abilities including autism in communities across British Columbia. 

The Information Resource Manager, plays a leading role in gathering and presenting community and information resources online, maintaining the Autism and Intellectual Disability (AID) Search, BC Community Resources, and other specialized resource pages on ACT’s website. They attend ACT’s workshops, information fairs, and other community events to educate community members on ACT’s training, community, and information resources. 

First Point of Contact for ACT 

  • The Resource & Support Manager is ACT’s main reception person, answering and forwarding calls to other ACT staff members as appropriate. 
  • Manages and responds to questions sent to ACT. 

Information Support 

  • Receives calls and responds to emails requesting information, support, or guidance. 
  • Ensures that parents are aware of ACT’s training programs and web-based resources. 
  • Provides parents with information about community funding sources, services, support, and coaches them, if necessary, on how to access these; or refers them to other resources. 
  • Conducts research where necessary into supportive resources, sources of funding, and next steps post-diagnosis for individuals who contact ACT for assistance, or refers them to other resources.

Curation of Autism Information Resources

  • Researches and evaluates relevant evidence-based online information resources.  
  • Sources evidence-informed information resources on autism and other neurodiversities and prepares detailed, accurate, well-written records for ACT’s primary online information resource, the Autism and Intellectual Disability (AID) Search
  • Identifies BC community resources relevant to autism and other diverse needs (e.g., educational services, summer camps, parks and recreation programs, dentists, and therapists) and prepares detailed, accurate, well-written records for inclusion in ACT’s BC Community Resources. 
  • Connects with organizations across BC, encouraging them to submit upcoming events, workshops, and social/recreations opportunities to ACT’s Community Events page. Reviews and approves submissions for posting. 
  • Collaborates with the Executive Director and Digital Communication Coordinator to gather appropriate information and community resources to create and maintain specialty pages (e.g., COVID-19 and Ministry of Children and Family Development funding framework changes) on ACT’s website.  
  • Maintains or assists in updating other autism or related information resources (e.g., Autism Manual for BC) as indicated. 

Collaboration 

Works in collaboration with ACT Staff members, including the Executive Director, Digital Communications Coordinator, Administrative & Training Coordinator, Financial Controller, Community Outreach Liaison and Communications Officer, to accomplish shared tasks and goals as they arise. 

Minimum Knowledge/Qualifications/Experience 

  • Knowledge of diverse abilities/disabilities including autism spectrum disorder; 
  • 2 or more years experience in an administrative role; 
  • Excellent organization, planning and project management skills, including attention to detail; 
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills, particularly telephone etiquette; 
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines; 
  • Ability and willingness to learn and use culturally safe and trauma informed/assumed care; 
  • Ability to engage and provide service to a culturally diverse population; 
  • Ability to establish and maintain rapport with families, autistic people, professionals, and other community members; 
  • Takes initiative and can work well independently or as a member of a team;  
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office 365 suite, including Word, Excel, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Forms & Sway; 
  • Ability to establish/maintain satisfactory work relationships with the public and other employees, to deal tactfully and effectively with co-workers, public and staff from other agencies, to maintain confidentiality and to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; and 
  • Exceptional communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher; 
  • Customer Relationship Management experience; 
  • Website maintenance skills; and/or 
  • Social media proficiency. 

The hours of work including days off and work location may be subject to change consistent with operational requirements. 

Successful applicants are required to complete a Criminal Records Review Check. 

Why join ACT? 

ACT is Canada’s leading independent, not-for-profit, specializing in providing families and professionals with evidence-informed resources to support the neurodivergent community with the information and training they need. In addition to developing our own resources, we provide an unrivaled information portal that responds to the diverse needs of our community across the lifespan, including the voices of adults, in multiple languages. 

Based in British Columbia, Canada, ACT develops a wide range of positive and practical information on everything from sleep problems and diet to core issues such as diagnosis and aspects of intervention, including information on setting up intervention programs. These resources are free and are available online without a password requirement. 

ACT’s Information and Training resources are funded by the income generated by our live events, and through sponsorship and donations. The resources that we share, or develop ourselves, are evidence-based. We do not enter commercial relationships to promote products or intervention approaches. 

We invite you to join us in supporting neurodivergent people and their families, as well as neurodivergent adults to live productive, satisfying lives within their families and communities. Our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork makes ACT a terrific place to work. 

  • Comprehensive health benefits package, including extended health, dental, and life insurance;  
  • Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities; 
  • 3 weeks holidays annually; and
  • Hybrid work arrangement. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to our goals of creating a comfortable workplace delivering exceptional care. We acknowledge and accommodate unique differences and ensure specific measures are in place so that all prospective and current employees are given an opportunity to succeed. 
 
We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or self-identification as Indigenous.  

We maintain a safe work environment. All employees are expected to manage their responsibilities within a safe milieu, fostering an environment of trust, open communication and respect for clients, coworkers, and themselves always. 

Implementing the Family Connections Centres in British Columbia: Perspectives of Professionals on the Registry of Autism Service Providers

Therapy Centres without Therapists?  

Clinicians expected to staff the newly announced Family Connection Centres (FCCs) across the province are concerned about its effectiveness, a survey carried out by researchers at Simon Fraser University reports. 

Implementing the Family Connection Centres in British Columbia: Perspectives of Professionals on the Registry of Autism Service Providers’ (RASP), is based on a survey of 1,000 clinicians listed on the RASP. It received 485 responses – an unusually high response rate. The results are unambiguous:  

  • Only 9% of respondents “agreed/strongly agreed” that the new Family Connections model will be effective in addressing the needs of all children requiring support.
  • 37% of RASP professionals reported that they were unlikely/very unlikely to work for an FCC.
  • 42% responded that they did not have enough information to decide.  
  • 75% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed that quality of care will be compromised within the proposed FCC model.  
  • 82% agreed/strongly agreed that this new model will lead to cumbersome bureaucracy.  
  • Qualitative analysis of open-ended responses revealed major concerns (e.g., two-tiered system, poorer quality of services, long waitlists).  

In October 2021, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) announced over 40 Family Connection Centres as a more equitable system for children with disabilities requiring therapeutic and support services. The FCCs were announced as a response to criticism of MCFD’s long standing policy of limiting support to services for children with disabilities unless they have a diagnosis of autism. 

The announcement has been met with intense criticism from diverse organizations, especially those representing children with autism, because it entails the ending of individualized funding and expands the number of children who will be served, by at least a third, without making a commitment of significant new funding. This has raised the fears that the centres will be beset with long waiting lists as they will not be able to serve the number of children who require services given the province-wide shortage of clinicians. 

Clinicians on the RASP include Behavior Analysts, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologist and Physical Therapists who provide therapy to children with a wide-range of disabilities, in addition to autism. This makes the survey relevant to the issue of how these new centres will attract staff given wide-spread shortages of these professionals in both the private and public sectors and the higher wages in the private sector. 

Dr. Grace Iarocci, Professor of Psychology at SFU and Director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab who led the research explains:

“The current system does need extensive reform as all disabled children need skilled support but creating physical centres does not address the human resource shortage that has been created because of lack of public funding to train and pay clinicians – especially Indigenous clinicians whose communities are particularly underserved.” 

Deborah Pugh, Executive Director, ACT – Autism Community Training highlights the fears among families:

“The concern is that these centres will warehouse all children with disabilities together, regardless of their individual needs, negating decades of developing individualizing supports in communities allowing families to make choices that fit their child. Indigenous leaders have highlighted this concern which is particularly difficult for families who have experienced the legacy of residential schools, but it is shared widely by families who have experienced rejection from government systems – especially public schools.” 

To speak with Dr. Grace Iarocci and for more information on this report, contact Vanessa Fong at addl@sfu.ca 

For more information on ACT – Autism Community Training, contact Deborah Pugh, at dpugh@actcommunity.ca 

Analysis identifies serious flaws in MCFD’s proposed tools for determining how children with disabilities qualify for support

In late 2021, BC’s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) announced sweeping changes to how it intends to provide funding and services to children and youth with disabilities. Since that time, parents, advocates, and service providers have raised questions and concerns about various elements of the proposed new system. This includes the needs-assessment tools the new system will rely on to decide which children with disabilities should receive support. Caregivers are expected to fill these in online.

An analysis by Dr. Pat Mirenda, Professor Emerita, University of British Columbia, supports concerns that these proposed tools have not been properly assessed by MCFD, in terms of their fit for ensuring that children have access to services. 

To date, MCFD has not provided details of how it intends to use these pediatric evaluation tools, known as PEDI-CAT and Vineland-3. The only jurisdiction where this combination has been used internationally is Australia, where a study revealed that the PEDI-CAT tool disqualified 25% of children whose parents were concerned and whose pediatricians referred them for assessment. The Vineland-3 tool disqualified 4% of children.

In a recent letter to MCFD, a collective of organizations who work with and support families of children with disabilities, including ACT, noted that more consultation is needed to ensure that over reliance on these assessment tools will not cause harm or exclude children and families from the supports and services they need.

The British Columbia Disability Collective is a group of BC-based organizations, as well as clinicians, researchers, and businesses with hundreds of years of combined experience supporting tens of thousands of children and youth with disabilities and complex needs. They thank Dr. Mirenda for her analysis of a complex issue.

Read the full analysis  


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Inclusive Rally in Victoria

Wed, February 9, 2022

11:30AM- 1:30 PM PST
BC Legislative Building, Victoria

Join parents, advocates, caregivers and service providers of the most vulnerable children in BC on February 9th in person on the lawn of the BC Legislature in Victoria, as well as virtually for those that cannot attend in person. This is an Inclusive Rally to keep the pressure on the BC NDP and the Minister of Children and Family Development to Stop, Consult and Listen to all concerns with regards to the elimination of individual autism funding, the At Home Program and moving to a hub/centre-based system. There has been extensive criticism of the new framework by families, Indigenous leaders, opposition parties, disability groups and the media.

It is the position of the rally organizers that if MCFD really wants to help children with FASD, Down syndrome, ADHD and other disabilities, then the Minister should engage in meaningful consultation and give the choice of individual funding. 

Details & RSVP Here  


MCFD Announces CYSN Family Connection Centre Sessions


Please join the Ministry of Children and Family Development for small group sessions to discuss and explore the journey of children and youth with support needs and their families in the family connections centres. To maximize time for discussion and answer as many questions as they can, they will email you some pre-recorded materials to watch in advance.

LIMITED SPACES ARE AVAILABLE. REGISTER TO SECURE YOUR SEAT.
 

How to Register:
Families can register here
Service Providers and Sector Partners register here

Remembering Dr. Karen Raye Kester

blankACT has sad news to share with the autism community. Dr. Karen Kester, who volunteered at many of ACT’s events, died late in 2021. Karen was a highly respected behavior analyst who supported many children and their families over the years and whose kindness in working with vulnerable families was particularly appreciated. She recently finished her doctorate at UBC, specializing in helping children with anxiety.

This is a great loss for her friends and family, and for those families who have relied on her. Visit her obituary page here

ACT thanks everyone who has donated in her memory.