Advocacy & Government Relations

Autism Speaks in the United States began two years ago with a handful of employees in a tiny makeshift office. Through historic mergers with the Autism Coalition for Research and Education (ACRE), the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR), and, most recently, Cure Autism Now (CAN), Autism Speaks is now one of the largest foundations dedicated to autism in the world.

In the United States, Autism Speaks has lobbied hard and successfully for passage by the federal government of the landmark Combating Autism Act. The organization significantly raised autism's profile through its Ad Council campaign and a variety of media appearances on television, radio, and print.

Programs, services and products launched by the Family Services department, including a Family Services Database, the Autism Video Glossary, First 100 Day Took Kit, Community School Tool Kit, Community Grants, to name a few, have made a significant difference in the day-to-day lives of families, educators, and service providers across the United States.

State by state, Autism Speaks has assisted in lobbying state governments for passage of insurance reform bills to enhance funding for evidence-based treatments for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

As a direct result of the leadership of Autism Speaks, the first World Autism Day was declared by the United Nations on April 2, 2008. This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days, and each year, will bring the world's attention to autism, and along with it, compassion, inclusion and hope.

Moving Forward in Canada

Canadians should see these incredible successes as examples of what can be achieved in a short period of time by coming together as one strong voice.

Governments will listen.
Policy can be changed.
Services and supports can be stronger and easier to access.
Awareness can be raised.
Answers can be found.

With the leadership of the Board and staff of Autism Speaks Canada and the grassroots support of volunteers across Canada, we can make this happen.

We must make this happen.

Autism Speaks… It’s Time to Listen. Canadians are listening.

In the coming months, the Board of Directors of Autism Speaks Canada will be setting its advocacy and government relations strategy and will seek help from Canadians from coast to coast to effectively make our collective voice heard.

Canada needs a National Autism Strategy to address the needs of the entire autism community from coast to coast. Availability of and access to funding, services and supports vary significantly between and within each province.

When you have a loved one affected by autism, access to immediate, effective programs and services that are evidence based should not depend on where you live or how much money you have.

We urge you to read “Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis” – a report of the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.

Then contact your local Member of Parliament and ask him or her to support the recommendations contained within the report for the development of a National Autism Strategy. To access a list of MPs, click here.