Autism Speaks Canada

Autism Speaks Announces over $1.1 million in funding in Community Grants Across North America

8 Provinces are represented in list of grantees across 26 Organizations in Canada

27 organizations in the United States will also benefit from grants totalling $588,514 addressing key program and service needs.

In December of 2011, the Board of Autism Speaks Canada approved 26 Grants for 2011 totalling over $569,000. Over the first 2 years of the program more than $1 million has been directed to support grants in Canada

Twenty-six organizations in eight provinces from Newfoundland and Labrador across the country to British Columbia will receive funding in this round. Education, Recreation/Community Activities, Young Adult/Adult Services and Equipment/Supportive Technology are the four key areas of need addressed in Canadian grant program.

“The Canadian grant review committee places additional focus on grant submissions to ensure that the needs of underserved communities are at top of the priority list. Committee members continue to be inspired but challenged to make final decisions not only because the creativity in the use of grant money is remarkable but also, the need is so extreme,” noted Jill Farber, Board Member of Autism Speaks Canada and Chair of the Review Committee. "Requests in the area of Young Adult/Adult Services was particularly striking this year in the submissions received and shows us that a clear void exists in how we are addressing the needs of this age group”, Farber went on to state.

“We are incredibly grateful for the passion of the thousands of volunteers across Canada who walk to raise funds for research and our family services grants program. Their dedication coupled with the support from national and walk-specific corporate partners like Toys"R"Us, Peoples/Mappins Jewellers, KRG Children's Charitable Foundation, Spin Master, Mega Brands, Home Restaurants, Scotiabank (BC), Landscape Structures is what enables us to fund these and other important initiatives. Local walk sponsors, “ said Suzanne Lanthier, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada.

In this round $65,162 was directed to the key area of Recreation and Community Activities, $127,350 to Equipment & Supportive Technology, $200,418 to Education, $176,105 to Young Adult/Adult Services with many grants addressing more than one key area.

The development of an ASD Law Enforcement & Harm Reduction Registry in partnership with the University of New Brunswick and the Saint John Police Force; support for Autism Ontario’s Library for Canadian Adults with ASD and their supporters/caregivers; the refurbishment of a gross motor fitness room at Camp Winston that serves the ASD community from across North America; and the support/development of a city-wide resource lending library and service centre with computers, access to software, copiers and laminators in Montreal operated by the Miriam Foundation are just a few examples of the reach of the grant program in Canada this year.

A complete list of grants are listed below. To receive a copy of paragraph summaries of the grants awarded in 2011 or 2010, please email autismspeakscanada@autismspeaks.org. To view grants awarded in US, please go to www.autismspeaks.org/family-services.

YOUNG ADULT/ADULT SERVICES

CORE Association - Medicine Hat, AB

ASDreams Group

$ 10,600.00

Phoenix Academy of Learning Society (PALS), Vancouver, BC

Vocational Training for Adults with ASD

$ 25,000.00

OHEYS Autism Programs – Winnipeg, MB

Summer Jobs and Sports Program

$ 20,000.00

Autism Resources Miramichi - Miramichi, NB

ARMs Employment Preparedness
$ 20,805.37

Autism Ontario – Toronto, ON

Library for Canadian Adults with ASD
$ 24,700.00

Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services – Burlington, ON

Life Community Integration Skills Group

$ 25,000.00

Studio sans Limites – Montreal, QC

Therapeutic art studio for adults with ASD
$ 25,000.00

Autism Society of Montreal – Montreal, QC

Rock-Camp-Bol
$ 25,000.00

EDUCATION

Grasslands Public School – Brooks, AB

ASD Training for Teachers

$ 26,060.00

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre – Red Deer, AB

Annual Autism Collaboration Meeting – Community Needs Assessment & Strategic Plan
$ 16,858.00

Autism Community Training (ACT) – Burnaby, BC

Supporting the development of community level parenting organizations in underserved areas of BC
$ 25,000.00

University of New Brunswick – Saint John, NB

ASD Law Enforcement & Harm Reduction Registry
$ 25,000.00

Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador – St. John’s, NF

Community Needs Assessment & Strategic Plan Development for Services Across Lifespan
$ 25,000.00

Provincial Autism Centre – Halifax, NS

Autism Support Worker Manual; Trainer's Workshop Manual
$ 25,000.00

North York General Hospital – Toronto, ON

ADOS Reliability Workshop
$ 7,500.00

Autism Dog Services – Lynden, ON

Manual Development & Production
$ 25,000.00

York ASD Partnership –York Region, ON

York ASD Partnership Training Review & Assessment

$ 25,000.00

EQUIPMENT & SUPPORTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Community Connections Society of Southeast BC – Cranbrook, BC

Materials for Resource Centre

$ 25,000.00

Assistive Technology Centre Society – Lunenburg, NS

Assistive Technology in Early Intervention Programs

$ 23,577.75

Camp Winston – Kilworthy, ON

Gross Motor Refurbishment

$ 21,200.00

Crestview Elementary School – Laval, QC

Smart Tables to Enhance learning through technology
$ 25,000.00

Miriam Foundation – Montreal, QC

The Materiatech Resource Lending Library

$ 25,000.00

CORE Association – Medicine Hat, AB

iPads for enhanced communication

$ 7,573.00

RECREATION/COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Hutton House – London, ON

Aquatic & Fitness Program

$ 19,253.44

Kids CAN & Oakwood Academy – Port Credit, ON

Recreation Programs for Youth

$ 15,000.00

Thames Valley & Fanshawe College – London, ON

The More We Get Together: Expanding Social Skills services for Preschoolers

$ 6,908.96

Max Keeping Foundation with Making Waves Canada – Montreal, QC

Recreational Activities for Individuals with ASD

$ 24,000.00

Upcoming Conference!
"ON THE JOB:
Advancing Vocational Opportunities for Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders"

FEBRUARY 2-3, 2012 in Toronto.
More information can be found at www.sickkids.ca/cme

Autism Speaks Canada is offering travel/expense subsidies to stakeholders from across Canada. Click here for more information on how to apply or email: slanthier@autismspeaks.org to receive an application.

Featuring Keynote Speakers:

Randy Lewis, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Logistics of Walgreens. A parent of a 23-year old son with autism, Mr. Lewis was instrumental in transforming Walgreens' Distribution Centres and employment opportunties to include persons with disabilities.

Thorkil Sonne, creator of Specialist People Foundation, based in Denmark. A for-profit company, Specialist employs adults with ASD in software testing, serving clients such as Microsoft and CSC.

The Autism Speaks Bracelet Kit is the gift that can keep on giving. Whether you’re buying it for a birthday, a thank you gift, a special day, or for yourself, by purchasing this kit you’re giving back to Autism Speaks Canada in more way than one!

Autism Speaks Canada