Positive Behavior Support in School: Four New Videos
Visit the Positive Behavior Support video release page
Behavior Technician Training for Paraprofessionals
This presentation discusses an innovative and highly successful program being implemented by the Surrey School District to improve the training of school-based paraprofessionals based on the BACB’s Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) credential.
Preetinder Narang, MEd, BCBA & Tina Gunn, MEd, BCBA, provide insight into the design and execution of a multi-component training program and offer practical recommendations to guide behavioral training for paraprofessionals supporting students with autism in both school and community settings. Watch now
How Classmates Can Facilitate Positive Social Behaviors for Children with ASD
Few evidence-based interventions target social-communication skills for children with ASD in the school setting. Dr. Ainsley Boudreau presents the evidence and practical applications for a variation on Pivotal Response Training, in which peers learn new ways to play with their classmates with ASD.
Membership, Belonging, and Development of “Soft Skills” within a PBS framework
In this presentation, Dr. Victoria Knight articulates research on the importance of membership and belonging, along with development of soft skills (e.g., communication, problem-solving) within a PBS framework.
Positive Behavior Support in Schools – Discussion and Question Period
This panel discussion, facilitated by Nathan Ngieng, Director of Instruction for Learning Support Services with the Abbotsford School District, features Preetinder Narang, Tina Gunn, Dr. Ainsley Boudreau, and Dr. Victoria Knight in a lively Q&A and discussion of PBS in schools.Topics include Peer Mediated Pivotal Response Treatment, social skills, and the Surrey School District District Action Team for Autism program.
Thanks to funding from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration (CIRCA) at the University of British Columbia, ACT is able to provide an edited version of the 2018 Setting the Stage for Success: Positive Behavior Support in School, Home and Community conference.
Summer Camps Update, Social Thinking for Young Learners – April 11 & 12, New ACT Fundraiser – Buy Your Ticket Today: Songs on the Water: A Musical Showcase in Support of ACT, Two New Videos on Challenging Behaviors – Free!
Autism Videos @ ACT
Practical Ways to Decrease Challenging Behaviors in School, Home and Community Settings
Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel, respected internationally for her research and clinical practice, discusses various intervention procedures for decreasing challenging behaviors.
Dr. Kern Koegel also provides many example of how challenging behaviors can be avoided in the first place. This presentation will appeal to both professionals and families for its reliance on important research as well as respect for individuals with autism and challenging behaviors.
WTF – What’s the Function?
Problem behaviors are one of the greatest barriers to student learning and is a significant problem for school staff and parents alike. Understanding why they occur is critical to developing preventative and educative solutions in-order-to benefit students and those who support them.
Dr. Richard Stock will dispel myths about why students engage in problem behaviors and teach participants about the four functions of behavior.
Watch now
Thanks to funding from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration (CIRCA) at the University of British Columbia, ACT is able to provide an edited version of the 2018 Setting the Stage for Success: Positive Behavior Support in School, Home and Community conference.
Visit the Positive Behavior Support video release page
New ACT Fundraiser
Songs on the Water:
A Musical Showcase in Support of ACT
June 4, 2019
Vancouver Rowing Club, Stanley Park
Welcome summer 2019 at the Vancouver Rowing Club, with a very special evening of music and friendship to benefit ACT – Autism Community Training. Featured artists include: Melanie Dekker, Yvonne McSkimming, and Mark James Fortin.
June 4th is an opportunity for the autism community and its friends to join with us for a fabulous evening in support of ACT’s free online resources. Organize a table or attend on your own. Either way you will meet old friends and make new ones.
Tickets for the evening are $50 – a $30 tax receipt will be provided. Demonstrate your support for ACT’s free online resources – sponsor a table – contact ACT for details.
ACT thanks the Synergy Collective Society, a community-based organization that blends art with social responsibility to support and create cooperative community programming.
Event Details & Tickets
Upcoming events
Two Social Thinking® Days for Young Children
April 11 & 12, 2019
Vancouver & Web streamed
Kari Zweber Palmer from the Social Thinking Speakers’ Collaborative is back in Vancouver with two days of training focused on younger learners. This is the fourth time ACT has presented this training and it always sells out! Save money and register by April 4th!
Live stream: Watch and participate live from anywhere by registering for web streaming.
Day 1 – Teaching Social Thinking through Stories and Play
Day 2 – What Does Play Have to Do with Classroom Learning? Exploring Social Executive Functioning and Social Emotional Learning for Early Learners
Event Details & Registration
Register by April 4th to save $50!
Please note that this training is geared for children with ASD who have age-appropriate language but struggle with social/emotional engagement. It is also effective for children with ADHD.
You may email ACT before registering if you have questions: [email protected]
Special group rates of $150 per person for 3 or more people watching via web-streaming on the same screen – a great team-building opportunity for schools and clinics to train staff. Contact us to learn more.
Summer Camps are a hot topic!
It is time to plan for summer camps! Parents are welcome to search ACT’s BC Community Listing for camps. We have 100 listed but you can narrow down the results by adding the name of the community where you live.
Are you a camp provider? You can submit your camp here!
If any listing is out of date please let us know or send us an update using the handy alert function on each record.
New videos released, February BC Community Events, ACT’s Research Listing updated, Autism in the News
Two new videos, part of the
Women and Girls with Autism series
The Experience of Women with ASD – A Panel
This panel was considered a highlight of our 2018 conference. This is your opportunity to learn from the fascinating insights provided by these four remarkable autistic women. Introduced and moderated by Dr. Rene Jamison, University of Kansas Medical Center.
Iris Gray was diagnosed with ASD in 2005. She organizes two peer support groups for autistic adults in Victoria. One of them is specifically for autistic women. Ms Gray works as a freelance transcriber and editor.
Nicole Provost is a 23 year old physics student from Abbotsford BC and is the founder of the ‘Mayday Club Youth Choir’ – most members are teens on the autism spectrum.
Vivian Ly is an autistic self-advocate and the Executive Director of Canadian Autistics United, a grassroots disability rights organization that works to improve the lives of autistic Canadians through self-advocacy. Vivian is a strong proponent of “Nothing about us, without us.”
Ryann Calkins grew up on a cattle ranch in central Alberta, moving to BC in her mid teens. She has worked as a lifeguard and swimming instructor for six years. She is in the process of finishing her degree at UBC Okanagan studying languages.
Watch now
Understanding the Needs of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum
In the second part of his keynote, Dr. Mandy provides a developmental perspective of the characteristics of autism in females. In addition to examining the widespread practice by women and girls of “social camouflaging” their autism, Dr. Mandy discusses their mental health needs – with a focus on eating disorders. The presentation ends with a discussion of how women and girls can be better supported, including a question and answer period.
Watch now
Thanks to funding from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration (CIRCA) at the University of British Columbia, ACT is providing an edited version of the Women and Girls Conference held in April 2018. More presentations will be available over the next month.
ACT lists workshops and conferences held in B.C. related to autism and other special needs held by community organizations and agencies. Have an event you’d like to submit for your organization? Submit here.
Upcoming BC Community Events
February Events
PEERS© in the Valley
Monday, February 4 – Thursday, May 30, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Abbotsford
Teaching STEM (including coding and robotics) to students with ASD
Tuesday, February 5, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Vancouver
Autism Conference
Friday, February 8 – Saturday, February 9
Richmond
AutismBC Northern Region Family Support Group – Sibling Support
Wednesday, February 13
Prince George
UBC PEERS: Social Skills Intervention for Teens with ASD
Thursday, February 14 – Friday, May 31
Vancouver
Culturally Responsive Group-Based Positive Behaviour Support Workshop for Chinese Families of Children with ASD
Saturday, February 16 – Sunday, February 17
UBC, Vancouver
A special opportunity for Mandarin-speaking families at a UBC-sponsored workshop.
Free Foster Parent Information Sessions – Become a full or part-time caregiver to a child or youth who needs mentoring.
Tuesday, February 26
Vancouver
ACT’s Research Listing
ACT is committed to encourage collaboration between legitimate researchers, autistic individuals and their families. You can find many other projects listed on ACT’s Participating in Autism Research page.
Researchers are invited to submit research projects using this online form.
Sound Sensitivity Study
Are you a parent to an adolescent (aged 13-18 years) on the autism spectrum? Does your child experience issues with sound sensitivity that impacts daily life? SFU Researchers (Dr. Elina Birmingham, Dr. Grace Iarocci) want to hear from you! Recruitment is ongoing for individuals with ASD aged 13-18 years and their parents.
If you are interested in participating, please contact research coordinator Kari Gustafson, [email protected].
Autism in the News
Get the latest on ACT’s Facebook page
Special needs students routinely excluded from school activities – Delta Optimist
Special needs funding at risk — Coquitlam teachers – TriCity News
“But, you don’t seem autistic!” – McGill Tribune
These moms are building a forever home for their adult autistic children – Washington Post
Florida School Staffers Charged With Using Dark Room, Whistle to Torment Autistic Kids – Daily Beast
An Open Letter To My Autistic Son’s Teacher – Huffpost
Eric Lider: Coaching kids with special needs – KATU2
Maine woman is helping to change autism one jar of salsa at a time – NBC News Center Maine
Why We Need Schools That Better Support Kids on the Autism Spectrum – Yahoo News
Autism Parent, Times Two: When More than One Child in the Family has ASD – IAN
You Can’t “Culturally Appropriate” a Weighted Blanket – Slate
Early risers are not necessarily healthier, wealthier or wiser – CBC Radio
New Video Series – Women & Girls with Autism, 20,000 Pounds of Herring Sold, Special Needs Community Events, Autism in the News
ACT’s 2018 Focus on Research Conference provided two days of fascinating insights into the complexities of identifying and treating women and girls with autism. Researchers are increasingly recognizing that autism affects women and girls differently than males. Delays in diagnosis are common, reducing access to services, with implications for long-term mental health and employment prospects.
Thanks to funding from the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration (CIRCA) at the University of British Columbia, ACT is able to provide an edited version of the entire conference, which will be made available over the coming weeks.
Improving the Recognition of Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum
The first presentation in the series is by Dr. William Mandy, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at University College London. He shares his research into the characteristics of autism in females, the implications for diagnosis, and ways of improving recognition, with a focus on practical ways of improving clinical and educational practice.
Drawing on his extensive clinical experience, Dr. Mandy offers a compassionate perspective on the barriers faced by women and girls when they are not offered the self-awareness and family understanding that can accompanies a diagnosis. Also covered are myths about autism; new research into gender ratios and the impact of “camouflaging” on diagnosis of women and girls.
Upcoming Videos – February
ACT will be releasing the entire 2018 Focus on Research Conference on Women and Girls with Autism over the next several weeks. Stay updated on their release through these emails or visit Autism Videos at ACT.
Understanding the Needs of Girls and Women on the Autism Spectrum
Dr. William Mandy, University College London, UK
The Experience of Women with ASD – A Panel Presentation by Women with ASD
Introduced and moderated by Rene Jamison, University of Kansas, USA
Special Challenges Faced by Mothers with ASD
Introduced and moderated by Dr. Grace Iarocci, Simon Fraser University
Girls Night Out: Lessons learned from a unique intervention for girls with ASD
Presented by Dr. Rene Jamison and Dr. Jessica Oeth Schuttler
University of Kansas
Sex Matters: The secondary impact of low prevalence for girls and women with autism
Presented by Dr. Rene Jamison and Dr. Jessica Oeth Schuttler
University of Kansas
Setting Priorities for Future Research
Panel presentation introduced and moderated by Dr. Anthony Bailey, University of British Columbia
Visit the Women and Girls with Autism video release page
ACT lists workshops and conferences held in B.C. related to autism and other special needs held by community organizations and agencies. Have an event you’d like to submit for your organization? Submit here.
Upcoming BC Community Events
Featured Events
Culturally Responsive Group-Based Positive Behaviour Support Workshop for Chinese Families of Children with ASD
Saturday, February 16 – Sunday, February 17 – UBC, Vancouver
A special opportunity for Mandarin-speaking families at a UBC-sponsored workshop.
Behaviour Interventionist Training Workshop
Saturday & Sunday, January 19 – 20 – Vancouver and Victoria
Real Talk Tough Cookies Event
Thursday, January 24 – Burnaby
Over $20,000 raised at the
ACT Herring Sale
The weather was brilliant, the fish fresh and the volunteers friendly on January 12th at the 2nd Annual Herring Sale for Autism, held in Steveston. A steady stream of customers were entertained by the antics of a giant fish mascot and some very boisterous (real) sea lions!
Many thanks to the generosity of the owners of Oceanside Fisheries, Anne McCaw and Mike Rekis, who donated over 20,000 pounds of herring – raising $20,000 to support ACT’s work. Particular thanks to all the volunteers who so graciously transported 20 lb bags of icy herring to the waiting cars of our customers!
Autism in the News
Get the latest on ACT’s Facebook page
8 best books about autism – Independent
Twenty-One Years After Her Autism Diagnosis, Haley Moss Is Admitted to the Florida Bar – Daily Business Review
Autism, giftedness and using ‘specialness’ as a force for good – The Record
Victoria school district tracking how often special needs students are asked to miss class – CBC News
Depressed and Then Diagnosed With Autism, Greta Thunberg Explains Why Hope Cannot Save Planet But Bold Climate Action Still Can – Common Dreams
You can’t say inclusive education doesn’t work. We haven’t even begun to try – Globe and Mail
Autism didn’t stop Michael from writing a book, even though he can’t read or write – The Standard
A viral video of a teacher abusing an autistic boy highlights how society misunderstands autism – Salon
Teen with autism overcomes job hurdles by cornering market in cleaning smelly bins – ABC News
Advocates for students with disabilities call on Ontario to stop school exclusions – Globe and Mail
Educating Grayson: Are inclusive classrooms failing students? – Globe and Mail
Feeling fidgety in class? Go stomp, jump or hop down this school’s sensory hallway – CBC News
ACT’s 2nd Annual Herring Sale is this Saturday!
To kick off fundraising in 2019, ACT – Autism Community Training will benefit from a ‘Herring for Autism Sale’, sponsored by Oceanside Fisheries, on Saturday, January 12 in Steveston, Richmond, the heart of the Lower Mainland’s fishing industry. Herring is a delicacy in many cuisines and used as baitfish in sportfishing.
Visit the Herring Sale event page for herring recipes, event details, information on how to volunteer, and online pre-orders.
Visit the Richmond Sentinel for coverage of the Herring Sale.
Check out the Herring Sale facebook event page to get the latest updates!