Recreation and Safety Resources from the Autism Information Database

Over the summer we have been enriching ACT’s Autism Information Database (AID) with hundreds of new resources sourced internationally – thanks to the efforts of our two summer students, Nicole Provost and Patrick Dwyer – both of whom have first hand experience of what works and what doesn’t for people with autism.

Use the AID – a simple keyword search!

Did you know that a simple keyword search will open a world of evidence-informed resources – all carefully screened by ACT for families and community professionals? For access to over 1,200 information resources, ranging from Toilet Training to Mental Health see: www.actcommunity.ca/aid-search/

Safety Resources

• This Autism Speaks Blog (U.S.) gives some useful insights – Nine Safety Tips for Autism Parents.
• A comprehensive analysis of safety as it affects people with autism from the Organization for Autism Research (U.S.): Journey Through Autism: A Guide to Safety.
• An Autism Speaks (U.S.) introduction to water safety: The Importance of Water Safety: Tips and Tools.
• A website with excellent resources and tool kits on a major safety concern: Autism and Wandering, produced by the Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response and Education (AWAARE) Collaboration (U.S.).
• Trained police officers are often crucial in times of emergency. The National Autistic Society (UK) has just updated an excellent resource: Autism – A Guide for Police Officers and Staff.

Travel Resources

• A wonderful resource from the Canucks Autism Network and YVR – I Can Fly with YVR Video Series (for other great Canucks/ YVR resources just search the AID using the key word “Canucks”).
• For adults with autism who are planning their own travel, provided by Autism West Midlands (UK), A Guide to Travelling by Plane for People with Autism.
• Airport Social Storieswritten by the Carol Gray, the originator of this important approach.

Recreation Resources & the Canucks Autism Network

ACT has been scouring world websites for quality resources – the very best on recreation and autism are to be found right here in British Columbia – thanks to the Canucks Autism Network! CAN’s resources provide community recreation staff internationally with the key resources they need to include children with ASD. Given the importance of teaching swimming to children with ASD (the most significant cause of accidental death for children with autism is drowning related to wandering), CAN’s commitment to providing effective swimming instructions will certainly save lives. Here are some great resources from CAN, and from further afield:

• A quick overview for promoting inclusion from CAN: Tips for Including a Child with Autism in an Inclusive Sport/Recreation Program.
• Ready Set Coach – An introduction to including people with autism for recreational instructors – an ACT video featuring Dr. Stephanie Jull, CAN Program Manager.
• Research has demonstrated that video modeling is a great tool for teaching individuals with autism. For videos of various sports, including swimming see Canucks Autism Network Video Models.
• For the bigger picture on preparing young people for a happy health adulthood, see Thriving in Youth with ASD – What does it Take, an ACT video presented by Dr. Jonathan Weiss.
• CAN’s Fall Registration Program (pdf) opens for registration on Monday, August 14 (noon) to Friday, August 18 (noon). Become a CAN member for $25 annually.

Resources for the BC Autism Community

Looking for summer camps or swim lessons in your community? Search ACT’s Community Resources Database by your postal code to find out what’s happening in your area of British Columbia: www.actcommunity.ca/aid-search/community/

Find BC Resources

Special Needs Community Events

There are a number of fun community events on the schedule posted by various organizations: see www.actcommunity.ca/special-needs-community-events/

ACT’s Summer Training Program

A few seats left for Sarah Ward – Cutting Edge Strategies for Executive Function Skills – Sidney

It has been a very busy July for ACT (the CBT training with Jonathan Weiss was a huge success). Both POPARD courses have been full for weeks. There are a few seats left for Sarah Ward’s presentation on Executive Function Skills in Sidney (just 10 minutes from the ferry terminal). 

August 2nd is the regular rate deadline! Please call the ACT office to register in person. Toll-free: 1-866-939-5188; local 604-205-5467 or email [email protected] for more information.

Parent Bursaries for Live & Web Streamed Events – Register Now!
Did you know that parents can attend many of ACT’s events, either in person or via web streaming, for only $35 a day (which can be covered by autism funding)? For more information about MCFD’s bursary program see www.actcommunity.ca/eventbursaries.

ACT is hosting a number of live and online training this summer and fall. Register soon to ensure your seat and take advantage of early bird rates and bursaries.

Live Web Streaming Now Available for Three Upcoming Events
At ACT we know that it is a challenge for some to come to Vancouver to attend an event in-person, so we have been working to make more of our events available for you to watch from your own device via live web streaming. We have three great presentations available for registration.

• Aug 24 & 25 – Integrating ABA Methods
• Oct 20 & 21 – Visual Support Strategies
• Nov 16 & 17 – Two Social Thinking Days

Comments from Past Web Streaming Attendeese

• “Thank you for the chat opportunity, resources, webinar modality – I could hear and see very well.”
• “The webinar worked really well and made it easy for me to attend.”
• “Thank you for the opportunity to view this conference via webstreaming. It is such a great way to increase community education!”

MCFD-funded Event Bursaries for Parents of Children with ASD

MCFD has provided ACT with funding for a bursary program for parents and caregivers of children with autism to attend ACT events at reduced registration rates ($35 a day*) until March 31, 2018. Seats will be filled on a first come, first registered basis. Each parent is eligible to receive one in-person event bursary up until March 31, 2018. Additional bursaries are available to register for web streamed events. *Learn more about how to register using the MCFD event bursary program.

ACT Bursaries for Professionals and Para-professionals

ACT continues to offer bursaries for para-professionals and professionals to improve accessibility to both our live and web streamed events. Please apply early and before you register for the event.

Participate in Research!

Survey for Parents Living in the Greater Vancouver Regional District

Parents of a child or children with autism and who live in the Greater Vancouver Regional District are invited to complete a 10 minute online survey about parent information needs and perceptions. This research will help ACT get a better understanding of the needs of those who use our resources and is being conducted in partnership with Royal Roads University. All submissions are confidential.

More information and survey here

Sound Sensitivity Study

Are you a parent to an individual with ASD? Does your child experience issues with sound sensitivity that impacts their daily life? We want to hear from you! We are surveying parents about their child’s experiences dealing with sound sensitivity. The survey will take under 30 minutes to complete (approx 15-20 min). As a thank-you for your time you will be given the option of being entered in a draw to win a $100 gift card to Amazon.ca.

View the sound sensitivity survey here