Autism Speaks Canada

Researchers Across North America Team Up to Find Genetic Markers for Autism

Researchers specifically studying families who have a child with autism and a younger infant

(Edmonton) A medical researcher at the University of Alberta is working with scientists from across North America to find out if there are genetic markers for autism. More than 15 scientists will examine DNA samples from children with autism and their infant siblings to see if the siblings are at high risk.

And if siblings are at high risk for developing autism, could intervention start before symptoms develop?

“If there’s a family of a child with autism, they of course wonder what the risk for the younger infant is,” says Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, a U of A researcher with the Department of Pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, who is the principal investigator for the two-year study.

“We want to know if it’s possible to use genetic biomarkers as a way of giving these families a more accurate estimate of what that sibling’s risk is. If there was a way of using genetic biomarkers to identify infants at high risk before the more overt manifestations of autism were obvious, it would really open the door to provide support and intervention at earlier stages of development.”

According to the Autism Speaks’ Canadian website, autism, part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person’s lifetime. The disorder is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills and social abilities, and also by repetitive behaviors. Autism, which is more common among boys than girls, affects 1 in 88 children.

For the full announcement, please click here.

Autism Speaks Canada Seeks Applications for New Round of Family Services Grants

Grants to fund key programs and support services for charitable organizations supporting autism spectrum disorders in Canada

As Autism Awareness Month kicks off, Autism Speaks Canada announced that it has launched its new round of Family Services Community Grants and is seeking applications from Canadian charitable organizations that provide services which enrich the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The grants will support four key areas of need: education, recreational and community activities, young adult and adult services and equipment/supportive technology.

Over the first two years of the Family Services Community Grants Program more than $1 million in grants has been directed to support programs and services in Canada. In December of 2011, Autism Speaks Canada awarded 26 grants totaling more than $569,000. Twenty-six organizations in eight provinces, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, received funding.

Funding for the Family Services Grants Program is made possible through the support of national and Walk Now for Autism Speaks-specific corporate partners like Toys “R” Us and KRG Children’s Charitable Foundation as well as the tireless efforts of walkers and volunteers who participate in Walk Now for Autism Speaks events across the country.

“The Family Services Grant Program gives us the opportunity to support the extraordinary work of organizations that provide innovative and creative programs that will positively impact the Canadian autism community,” said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director, Autism Speaks Canada. “We encourage organizations across the country to apply for funding and share their ideas.”

“We are particularly interested in projects that address the needs of underserved communities in Canada and those that demonstrate how program successes can be shared with other organizations in Canada and in other countries,” Lanthier states.

Charitable organizations will be able to submit their Letters of Intent on a rolling basis through April 27, 2012. All those accepted to proceed to the full application process will have until June 22, 2012 to submit.

*** DEADLINE EXTENDED - LETTERS OF INTENT DUE MAY 4TH ***

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY:

English Version: Request for Applications Letter of Intent Volunteer Reviewer

French Version: Request for Applications Letter of Intent Volunteer Reviewer

To download English press release, click here.

To download French press release, click here.

CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Vancouver International Airport, and Air Canada "Go Blue" for World Autism Awareness Day

Iconic Buildings, Landmarks, and Corporations to Participate in Light it Up Blue on April 2

(March 30, 2012) Some of Canada’s most recognizable buildings and landmarks, including the CN Tower in Toronto, Niagara Falls and the NAV Canada control tower of Vancouver International Airport will be illuminated in blue at dusk on April 2 in celebration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) as part of the Light It Up Blue (LIUB) initiative. LIUB was founded in 2010 by Autism Speaks, the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization, which each year lights up hundreds of the world’s most iconic buildings and landmarks in blue, the official colour of Autism Speaks.

Other buildings in Canada that will light blue on April 2 include Rogers Centre in Toronto, home of the Toronto Blue Jays; Surrey Place Centre, a facility in Toronto that provides specialized clinical services to adults living with developmental disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorders in the region; the headquarters of Equitable Life in Waterloo; Hamilton City Hall; and in Vancouver, the Olympic Cauldron outside the Vancouver Convention Centre, Rogers Arena -- home of the Vancouver Canucks – BC Place Stadium, and the remarkable Telus World of Science building.

In a great show of support for LIUB, Air Canada is broadcasting a public service announcement during the month of March that encourages passengers on all flights to Light It Up Blue on April 2. The PSA has been shown on more than one thousand flights per day, reaching over one million passengers.

Autism Speaks enlisted the help of Owen Saunders of Pelham Manor, New York, to write the song for the PSA in 2011; Saunders was 11 years old at the time. Saunders’ 5thgrade music class from Prospect Hill School sang the chorus of the song and recorded it under the guidance of music teacher Eric Katz. Sue Cirillo produced the song and 12-year-old Harriet Palmer sang lead vocals. The group of classmates that sang the chorus of the song included a child with autism. Bernard Gauvin helped recruit students in Canada to record the song in French for showing on Air Canada flights. Gauvin sought the help of Canadian singer-songwriter Chris Riopel of Monkey Dog Productions to translate, arrange and produce the French version of the song. Megan Groleau-Boisé, a 12-year-old aspiring pop singer, sang lead vocals, and the chorus was sung by her brother and four friends.

“Working on this project has been a rewarding experience for everyone involved,” said Sue Cirillo. “It was wonderful to see the kids join together to participate in something that was both a lot of fun and helpful to their community and classmates. We all look forward to staying involved in future projects with Autism Speaks."

The PSA can be viewed here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aidkOQFAaZY (English) and here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwZcd99sz60 (French).

“On behalf of the Canadian autism community, I would like to thank Air Canada for supporting Light It Up Blue this year,” said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada. “Travelers not only from Canada but from all over the world were exposed to this incredible campaign to raise awareness of autism.”

Autism Speaks has awarded over $1 million in Family Services Community Grants over the past two years to agencies and organizations in Canada that work directly with children, youth and adults with autism.

Air Canada joins other corporate partners in the bid to raise awareness and funds to support the work of Autism Speaks. Home Depot is selling blue light bulbs and lanterns in stores across Canada to make it easier for families to light their homes up blue. The Annual Toys”R”Us puzzle piece campaign, which has raised over $1.3 million in its first two years, continues through the month of April in stores across Canada. Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us stores offer customers an Autism Speaks puzzle piece in exchange for a $1 donation.

The broadcast and production crew at Rogers Sportsnet is demonstrating incredible support for WAAD by having radio and television personalities, including special guest Brad "Mayday" May, wear the signature blue puzzle piece pin on April 2 as well as discuss autism and WAAD on shows throughout the day including on “Brady and Lang in the Morning,” “Hockey Central at Noon,” and “Tim and Sid” in the afternoon.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelming support for our work to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders,” Lanthier said. “This increase in attention will help us raise the funds that we need to find the missing piece in the autism puzzle.”

LIUB will take place on April 2 when more than 2,000 landmarks and structures in over 30 countries will join Autism Speaks to light up the world blue and raise awareness of autism, a global public health crisis that affects approximately 70 million people around the world. Iconic landmarks around the world – including the Empire State Building, the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, Tokyo Tower in Japan, and Table Mountain in South Africa -- will light up in bright blue to help kick off Autism Awareness Month in April and celebrate World Autism Awareness Day.

For more information on LIUB, please visit http://www.lightitupblue.org/.

FOR A PDF OF PRESS RELEASE, CLICK HERE

Harper Government invests in autism treatment and care

OTTAWA, March 27, 2012 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced funding for the Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Treatment and Care Research Program. The purpose of the Chair is to support a new investigator bringing innovative approaches to the treatment and/or care of autism spectrum disorders. The CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction in partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance, Health Canada, NeuroDevNet and the Sinneave Family Foundation are offering this funding research opportunity.

"Our government is committed to continuously advancing research in the field of autism," said Minister Aglukkaq. "We are pleased to partner with Canadian organizations and believe it will help stimulate research and, ultimately, improve the health of people with autism."

The announcement took place at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Autism Intervention Program Offices in Ottawa. The Minister was joined by Member of Parliament Mike Lake, and Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Colin Carrie, both of whom have children with forms of autism. Also joining the Minister was Scientific Director of the CHEO Research Institute Dr. Martin Osmond and Scientific Director of NeuroDevNet Dan Goldowitz.

"Significant gaps exist in applied research that focuses on autism diagnosis, treatment and care," said Dr. Goldowitz. "We hope that this Chair opportunity will attract interest from the best science minds across the globe who see the potential that this position will provide in making a real difference in the lives of children, youth, adults and their families who live with autism every day."

Investigators working in Canada and those willing to relocate to a Canadian research institution are eligible for the Chair. Investigators not currently conducting research in the field of autism spectrum disorders must demonstrate how they would bring new approaches to the treatment and/or care of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The Chair's application form is available on CIHR's website.