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ACT is a registered not-for-profit society. We are a province-wide information and referral service created to support families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. We offer families and professionals 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 programs for their children. Need support and information? Call us at 604.205.5467 / 1.866.939.5188 or email info@actcommunity.net!

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
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ACT's ACT Workshop Event Updatelogo

{Workshop Cancellation Policy}

What is ABA and Why is it Important in the Treatment of Autism?
Suzanne Jacobsen, Ed.D., BCBA
August 7, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>


Transitioning from High School to Work – Preparing Students with Autism for Adulthood
Vicki Lundine, M.Ed. & Catherine Smith, M.Ed.
August 8, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>

Finding a Way: To coincide with the Transitioning to Adulthood event, Philip Wright, author of The Hardcore Dancer: From Autism to Manic Depression and Back will be on hand from 10:00-2:30pm to sign copies of his book. The cost is $30.00, with $5.00 donated to ACT – Autism Community Training. Please bring cash or cheques for Philip's book, as he will not be able to accept credit cards.

ACT will have a book table selling a different range of books. Unlike Philip, we can accept credit cards, but not cheques!


SMILE: Structured Methods in Language Education | Details>
This workshop is now sold out.

POPARD’s Autism Spectrum Disorders Course | Details>
This workshop is now sold out.

Practical Autism Treatment - From Theories to Realities
A Case Management Survival Guide

Jill Calder, M.D., Clinical Director of Rehabilitation Services, Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Region
August 27, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>

Social Thinking: New Two-day workshop!
Day 1:
Looking Into the Mind of ASD and Like Disabilities
Day 2: Teaching Beyond the 'Think Social!' Curriculum: Addressing Preschool, Anxiety, 'Superflex' and emerging perspective takers
Michelle Garcia Winner M.A., CCC - SLP & Stephanie Madrigal MA,CCC-SLP
August 28 & 29, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>

Naturalistic Strategies in Autism Treatment: The Latest Research on Pivotal Response Training
Laura Schreibman, Ph.D. Clinical Director, ABA Learning Centre, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Director of the Autism Research Project, University of California, San Diego
September 20, 2008 - Victoria | Details>

How to Use the ABLLS-R as an Assessment & IEP Development Tool
Dr. Suzanne Jacobsen, R.Psych & BCBA
September 26 & 27, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>

2008 Focus on Research Event
Social Interaction, Sensory & Information Processing, and Genetic Discoveries in ASD – What is the Research Telling Us?

Dr. Nancy Minshew, Director, Center for Excellence in Autism Research, Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
Friday, October 3, 2008 - Vancouver | Details>


ACT Autism Training Webcasts

Take advantage of ACT webcasts to gain access to practical training from the experts, and up-to-the-minute research from the convenience of your own computer or internet connection.

Toilet Training for Everyone: It's Never Too Late!
Pat Mirenda, Ph.D., BCBA
Available Now | Webcasts Overview>

The Child with Autism in the Family; Family Stressors and Siblings' Needs
Sandra Harris, Ph.D., E.D. of the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Center.
Available Now | Webcasts Overview>

Mental Health Conditions and Autism - A workshop on Identifying, Monitoring and Treating Common Psychiatric Syndromes
Vikram Dua, MD; Co-Director of the BC Autism Assessment Network and the Provincial Autism Resource Center; Assistant Clinical Professor, University of British Columbia.
Available Now | Webcasts Overview>

Focus on Research Event – Early Intervention Approaches for Infants, Toddlers and Preschool Children with Autism
Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., Director, University of Washington Autism Center, Professor of Psychology
Sally J. Rogers, Ph.D., Director, M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California, Davis
Available Now | Webcasts Overview>

Building Social Relationships: A systematic Approach to Teaching Social Interaction Skills to Children and Adolescents on the Autism Spectrum
Scott Bellini, Ph.D. Assistant Director, Indiana Resource Center for Autism
Available Now | Webcasts Overview>

ACT webcasts require a high-speed internet connection and a computer that is no more than a few years old. Before you register for a webcast, it's a good idea to verify that this test video will run with the computer and internet access you have available.


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News

ACT posts news reports and other sources on this website for the information of our readers only. ACT neither endorses nor condemns this material. We urge readers to consider this information with a critical eye and to form their own opinions about its validity or applicability to their situation.


Have you seen this girl? Kidnapped
child, 4, with ASD thought in BC | Details>


MCFD Parents' Handbook

  MCFD Releases Revised Parents' Handbook and Webpage | Full Story>

  Important information about the use of Weighted Blankets from Autism Society Canada. | Full Story>


B.C. to deny services based on IQ: Province adds 70 IQ criteria to CLBC regulations | Full Story> (Vancouver Sun).

Read a BCACL press release on this issue, and a copy of the provincial government's Order in Council; (both .pdfs).

The Press Weighs In

It was wrong months ago -- and it is still wrong today, Pete McMartin, Vancouver Sun | Full Story> (offsite link)

Developmentally disabled teen prompted new IQ requirement, Wendy McLellan, The Province | Full Story> (offsite link)

Youth advocate lashes IQ-based denial of care, Lindsay Kines, Times Colonist | Full Story> (offsite link)


An article in the BC Medical Journal discusses Gaps in BC's Healthcare System for those with a Developmental Disability and a Mental Health diagnosis. | Full Story> (offsite link)

BCACL petitions court opposing IQ-based CLBC criteria for Adults | Press Release> (.pdf; offsite link)

The great autism rip-off How a huge industry feeds on parents desperate to cure their children. | Full Story> (offsite link)

ACT salutes appointees to Autism Speaks' Scientific Advisory Committee, with a special nod to Canada's Steve Scherer, Ph.D. and to recent ACT presenter Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D. The full list is available here: | Full Story> (offsite link)

Georgia Straight: Families wait in limbo for autism assessments | Full Story>. Read the ongoing coverage of this story in the Straight's Letters column | Details> (offsite links).

Adoptive Families Association of BC launches campaign to find families for difficult to place children | Full Story>

Douglas College announces online Behavioural Interventionist Foundations Course (BIF)  | Details>

Protests lead to 1 year's Grace for Programs Cut at Douglas College | Full Story>

Douglas College announces brand new credential—Advanced Citation in Disability & Applied Behaviour Analysis | Details> and flyer> (.PDFs)

Recent ACT Initiatives

ACT Releases:
  2007 RASP Report | Full Story>
  2007 Training Report | Full Story>

ACT's 2008 summer camp list has been posted. | Details>

Explaining Autism in the classroom
DVD/VHS Tapes now available | Details>

Formal Complaint Resolution Process Developed for RASP Complaints | Details>

More News>

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REGISTRY OF SERVICE PROVIDERS
For Children Under 6
· The RASP
· Application Process
· Complaint Resolution Process
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RESEARCH

UW Autism Study to Treat Infants without Symptoms
A study commencing at the University of Washington is designed to explore the effects of very early autism intervention by treating children who may display few or no obvious symptoms, but who do have a sibling diagnosed as on the spectrum. | Full Story>

16 to 21 year olds needed for visual perception study.
Young adults with high functioning autism can earn a $50 honorarium by taking part in a visual perception study being conducted by UBC PhD student Elina Birmingham. | Details >

Get Involved in Autism Research!
At the Autism & Developmental Disorders Lab at Simon Fraser University, we are looking for youth between the ages of 12-18 years of age and their parents to participate in a research study on social competence. 
| Details >

Youth and Young Adults with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism, age 16 to 21, families and professionals invited to participate in project studying resiliency in youth and young adults with AS or HFA. | Details >

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