Recognizing our funders, donors and sponsors

ACT would like to thank organizations and individuals for their ongoing support, recognized on our funders, donors and sponsors page.

Help us reach our goal!

Thank you for standing by us. Together, we’re building a more inclusive community.

November 18 marks 20 years of ACT’s impACT!

For 20 years, ACT has been a leading not-for-profit providing information and support to the Autistic community.

But we need your help.

Without immediate support from our community, ACT will no longer be able to continue providing the quality resources and training programs that have transformed lives.

This means we’ll have fewer videos on Autism Videos @ ACT to support caregivers and educators, fewer events that bring our community together, and fewer specialized resources to guide families and professionals on the latest in BC resources, autism research, and support strategies.

It also means limited access to essential training opportunities that empower individuals and organizations to provide better care and understanding for Autistic individuals. Your support helps keep these critical services available, ensuring that our community continues to have access to the guidance and tools they rely on every day.

We have launched the SAVE ACT SERVICES campaign to rally support for our organization and to ensure that ACT’s vital work can continue for years to come. We need your support to continue offering our valuable services of supporting the Autistic community. Please consider donating today.

Messages from our supporters

Happy Birthday ACT! Thank you for all your support and congratulations on your achievements

Mary YamashitaDonor & Former ACT Staff

Thank you for your commitment to the neurodivergent community!

Preetinder NarangDonor

Wish I had the means to donate more. The past 7 years, ACT training & research events have been lifesavers for me & my daughter. Her awesome autism support team also receives training at ACT events.

Elizabeth Too Donor

ACT is the organization I consistently refer parents to for resources. You all do an amazing job!

Taylor SandsDonor

Michelle and ACT colleagues work tirelessly to bring evidence-based information and practice to the autistic community – autistic people and those who support them. I had the great fortune to attend an event run by ACT, and the attendees spoke so emphatically about the benefit they experienced from attending. ACT demonstrate huge commitment to all that they do, and are real assets and allies to this marginalised community, whom they serve with great respect.

Rachel Mosely, PhDPresenter at ACT’s 2024 Focus on Research Conference: Mental Health, Suicide, and Autism

I feel proud to be a volunteer for ACT, because the organization provides educational resources and training that make a profound impact on Autistic individuals and their families. I feel that every moment I spend volunteering with ACT brings me closer to making a positive difference in the lives of those affected by autism.

I believe that it is crucial to ensure that our autism community continues to receive high quality support from ACT. As a local organization, ACT continues to provide safe and non-judgmental training and resources, making a positive impact in the lives of those affected by autism.

Sophie WangACT Volunteer

ACT is such a valuable resource for me as a Speech Language Pathologist and to the families I work with. I have attended so many excellent workshops, I actually cannot count them! I use the skills I have learned every day. It is also wonderful to have an organization that offers excellent resources to the families I support. I send my clients and their families to ACT, knowing that they will access excellent, up to date information to support them at any time. We need ACT to continue providing excellent information and training to professionals, autistic people and all those who care and want to help.

Shannon MuirSpeech Language Pathologist, ACT Volunteer & Former Board Member

ACT has been an invaluable resource for my family since my sons were diagnosed with autism in 2009. As my sons approach their adult years, my family’s needs are changing and ACT’s Transition to Adulthood Hub has become an important planning tool in our parent toolbox. It can feel overwhelming and isolating at times, but it’s always heartening to know that ACT has resources to support and guide us.

Karla LeungParent

Dr. Michelle Schmidt is a true leader and advocate who is committed to procuring high-quality education and training to support families, educators, community professionals, and autistic people across Canada. Because of her visionary guidance, she has attracted some of the most prominent experts from the world’s autism community to enrich the learning opportunities offered at ACT.

Anthony Cammilleri, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABAPresenter, FTF Consulting

ACT has been an incredible partner for our families with autism and with helping spread education across British Columbia.

Lauren HershfieldPresenter, The Feeding Group

I am an Inclusive Education Coordinator in the BC public school system who works with educators, parents, specialists, principals, and community members. I value the information and quality experiences that ACT provides. ACT is accessible and inclusive; their information and events are available to all. Their information is current, ACT provides a variety of topics and the information I have received is research based. In particular, the speakers and workshops hosted by ACT have been valuable to my personal practice.

Erin PedersenInclusive Education Coordinator

ACT is highly regarded locally, provincially and nationally and serves as a model for the efficient and effective dissemination of public health information for neurodivergent communities.

Grace Iarocci, Ph.D., R. PsychDirector of Autism and Developmental Disabilities Lab (ADDL)

I have attended many ACT courses that have helped me better understand the Autistic individuals I work with, continue to better my skills as an Occupational Therapist, and reflect on my practice with this population.

Cari Julien, MScOTOccupational Therapist

ACT is an invaluable organization and resource in our community. Their courses and materials have provided me vital knowledge supporting students with autism spectrum disorder. As a public school teacher I am grateful for their training and involvement in our schools.

Alvin ShumTeacher, Vancouver School Board

ACT has been an invaluable part of my journey. As a late-diagnosed autistic adult who found services through ACT’s AID search, and as a former team member, I have seen many times how important ACT’s services and training resources are in helping professionals understand autism through a truly affirming lens.

Rowan GuyMember of ACT’s Autistic Advisory Committee

Getting to work with an organization that employes and empowers Autistic voices has been wonderful. Knowing that Autistic people are involved in making, reviewing and overseeing materials for ACT means that I trust their resources will be good quality and will help the Autistic community directly.

Elsbeth DodmanPresenter and Member of ACT’s Autistic Advisory Committee

ACT possesses a profound understanding of the experiences of autistic people and their families as they strive to thrive in a society that often does not understand them. This guides their every offering, from resources on navigating services, evidence-informed therapies, self-care for carers and community-based training. Time and time again, I watched my colleagues step up to fight for the neurodiverse community, advocating for government supports, access to services and equity for all conditions. The impact of these efforts cannot be understated. Small but mighty, ACT has changed lives.

Stephanie PorterFormer ACT Staff Member & Family Member

More ways you can support ACT

Autism Acceptance at Your School

Are you a school principal, educator, parent or community advocate passionate about supporting the autism community? We invite you to participate in our Autism Acceptance at Your School Fundraiser.

Contact ACT’s Executive Director

Should you wish to discuss your donation or sponsorship in detail, please contact ACT’s Executive Director Michelle Schmidt at 604-205-5467 or [email protected].

Directly by credit card or cheque

ACT accepts donations through Visa or Mastercard by telephone or by cheque. Please make all donation cheques out to ACT-Autism Community Training.

3823 Henning Drive, Suite 120B
Burnaby, BC, V5C 6P3
Telephone toll-free: 1-866-939-5188
Metro Vancouver: 604-205-5467
Fax: 604-205-5345

The United Way

Designate ACT to receive some or all of your United Way donation. Use our full official name, ACT- Autism Community Training Society, the city we are based in – Vancouver – and our charitable registration number – #861691236RR0001. Your contribution is counted towards the United Way’s annual goal, and they in turn send the amount you specify to ACT.

Employer Charitable Funds

Workplace funds such as Team TELUS Charitable Giving and other workplace dollar match employee contributions. Please maximize your gift by tying it to your workplace program.

Donate Securities

A donation of securities or mutual funds is the most efficient way to give charitably. Since capital gains taxes don’t apply, our charity receives the full fair market value when the security is sold, and you get a tax receipt which reflects your larger contribution. This allows you to give more and get more.

You can donate securities here.