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October is Autism Awareness Month - Announcing ACT Initiatives
In Canada, October is Autism Awareness Month. While at ACT every month of the year is devoted to increasing awareness of ASD and its treatment, we are marking this special month by highlighting our recent initiatives and upcoming events.
RASP Profiles Online
Webcasting
Parent's Manual
Bursary Fund for BCTF Members
Research into Early Screening
2nd Annual Focus on Research Event
Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) Profiles Online!
Selecting a suitable service provider for an under 6 child with ASD is a daunting task. There are many questions to be asked. In an effort to assist parents looking for a service provider who provides the service they are looking for, ACT has developed an online profile that describes, in depth, information about those professionals on the Registry of Autism Service Providers. ACT is currently working with behaviour consultants who wish to submit a profile for parents to view on our site. There are a dozen profiles available now with more being developed currently. To see a sample of profiles please see profile www.actbc.ca/registry_of_service_providers/information_for
_parents/vancouver_coast_region.htm and scroll down the page until you see (view profile). Click on view profile and a sample from a service provider who participated in piloting the profile is available for you to view. |
Webcasting!
In October ACT will begin webcasting. Our goal is to make our presentations accessible to more participants who find it difficult to attend our events in person. Webcasting will allow you to watch our presentations on a computer, from the comfort of your home or office. Beginning in early October you will be able to view last October’s Focus on Research presentation entitled Autism: The State of the Science by Dr. Geraldine Dawson. This will not only give you the opportunity to hear this compelling speaker but will also help familiarize more of our participants with how to view webcasts. Later this year we will webcast Dr. Pat Mirenda’s workshop on Toilet Training: It’s Never Too Late! Webcast now available for viewing |
Manual for Parents of Children with ASD in BC-send us
your contributions!
ACT has been contracted by the Ministry for Children and Family Development to develop a resource manual for parents who have either recently diagnosed children or older children.
This manual will cover a large variety of topics including practical tips from parents to make life
more manageable.
At ACT we know that many parents receive vital practical and emotional support from other parents. Remember what it was like when you first heard your child’s diagnosis? What do you wish you knew then that you know now? Please send us your ideas. We hope to include many perspectives within the manual. You will be credited, with your permission. Please contact us at info@autismcommunitytraining.bc.ca with the subject line Parent Insights, or if you prefer please fax (604.205.5345) or mail (240 - 2250 Boundary Road, Burnaby, BC V5M 3Z3).
We would also love to keep receiving photos from the ACT community | Full Story>
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Making It Work in the Classroom for Students with ASD: Bursary Fund for
BCTF Members
In 2005 ACT was the beneficiary of funds from the British Columbia Teachers' Federation. The BCTF was required to distribute fine monies resulting from their illegal strike. In recognition of BCTF’s decision to give this money to ACT, and in acknowledgement that addressing the educational needs of students with ASD requires specific training, ACT is pleased to announce the development of a bursary fund for BCTF members.
BCTF members who want to attend an ACT workshop will receive a bursary for 80% of their registration fee if they live a significant distance from the event; 65% if it is close to their community. Those living in the Lower Mainland, within the boundaries of the GVRD as noted below; will receive a 65% bursary to attend workshops within the Lower Mainland. Applicants will need to fax proof that they are employed as a teacher in the BC public school system with their registration form.
For up-to-date information on the BCTF Bursary Fund click here
View the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) Map to see if the municipality you live in is defined as part of the Lower Mainland.
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ACT Supports Research into Early Screening
At ACT we are very concerned at the children who are not being referred for an autism assessment at a young age, despite their parents articulating concerns. We are aware that there are many reasons for this. Having been impressed by the community response to the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-year-olds (STAT) developed by Dr. Wendy Stone ( view brochure for more information), ACT Board of Directors decided to support another training. Using $10,000 in funds raised from workshops in 2005, ACT has provided STAT |
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| training to four SLP’s, one IDP consultant and an SFU graduate student. We are extremely pleased this is a co-operative research project involving Vancouver Coastal Health, the BC Autism Assessment Network and the Autism Research Lab of Simon Fraser University.This effort will ensure we determine whether the STAT is effective and worthwhile offering across
the province before making training widely available. |
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2nd Annual Focus on Research Event
Is Autism an Extreme Form of the Male Brain?
Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University
Each October ACT holds a workshop that focuses on autism research. This year, on October 6, internationally renowned British researcher, Dr. Simon-Baron Cohen, spoke at the Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver. See Brochure for more information |
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