Below you’ll find some of the work we are doing to bring national attention to autism.
Key Publications
Click HERE for to open a sorted table of all CASDA publications in a new tab or click below for specific documents.
- Roadmap to a National Autism Strategy (2020)
- Blueprint for a National Autism Strategy (2019)
- FAQ Documents
- Autism Language Guide (2020)
- Infographics
- Written Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the Upcoming Federal Budget (2020)
Our Current Projects
- Ready, Willing & Able
- Policy Working Groups
- PanCANS Survey
- Canadian Disability Coalition Leadership Group
- Public Health Agency of Canada Advocacy
- Dental Policy Forums
- Employment Scan on Service Systems for Autistic Canadians
- A Distinct Indigenous Autism Strategy
- CAOT Professional Issue Forum
- Webinar Series
- Click here to view a comprehensive list of our past projects
Key Publications
Roadmap to a National Autism Strategy
Launched in Spring 2020, CASDA has developed a proposed timeline for the government to work together with the autism community to develop and implement a robust National Autism Strategy.
Learn More
Blueprint for a National Autism Strategy
Launched in Spring 2019, the Blueprint for a National Autism Strategy calls on the federal government to take a leadership role in supporting autistic Canadians, as well as their families and caregivers.
Learn More
FAQ Documents
Over the years CASDA has created a number of FAQs to answer your questions. Below you will see a comprehensive list of our published FAQs over the years and a link to learn more about how CASDA is working to answer your questions. Click here to learn more.
May 2020 | September 2019 | April 2019
Autism Language Guide
Due to the large impact that language can have in shaping our understanding of the world around us, and how it influences how people perceive themselves and others, CASDA has published an Autism Language Guide. Based on the literature and the preference of the autistic members of CASDA, we have created a Guide on Preferred Language for members of the autism community, ie. policymakers, researchers, health care workers and caregivers.
Click here to learn more about the Autism Language Guide.
Click here to download the Autism Language Guide.
Infographics
Over the course of the years, CASDA has created a number of Infographics highlighting key information in a more accessible manner. Below you will find links to our infographics from over the years. Simply click on the name of the infographic and a new page will open with the image.
| Where is the Government on a NAS? | Outlines funding and actions by the Canadian Government that are in line with the values of a National Autism Strategy. |
| PanCans Survey | Highlights the findings of the Pandemic Canadian Needs Assessment (PanCANS) survey, of which gathered information on the impacts of COVID-19 on Autistic Canadians and their families. |
| KBHN-CASDA Policy Working Groups | Provides a brief overview of the KBHN-CASDA Policy Working Groups, a joint project between KBHN and CASDA established this year. |
| Timeline of Autism in Canada | Outlines federal initiatives and partnerships in relation to Autism since 2006. |
| Snapshot of Projects | Provides an overview of CASDA’s key past projects (the Blueprint to a National Autism Strategy, the National Needs Assessment Survey and the Canadian Autism Partnership Project). |
Budget Consultation Submission for the 2021 Federal Budget
On August 7th, 2020, CASDA published a written submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for their pre-budget consultations. These will be tabled in the House of Commons in December 2020 and will be taken into consideration by the Minister of Finance in preparation of devising the 2021 Federal Budget.
In our written submission, CASDA focused on the next steps in developing a National Autism Strategy as outlined by the Roadmap to a National Autism Strategy. You can access the full document here.
Our Current Projects
Ready, Willing & Able
Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) is a national initiative active in 20 communities across Canada, with a branch in all 13 provinces and territories. This program is co-delivered with Inclusion Canada in a National Partnership.
RWA is designed to increase the labour force participation of people with an intellectual disability or on the autism spectrum.
Learn More
Policy Working Groups in the 5 Blueprint Areas
Read MoreFollowing the webinar, “Informing Canada’s Autism Strategy: Lessons From Across the Globe,” CASDA established Policy Working Groups. Lead by CASDA Board Members who co-chair this work with graduate student trainees, these Policy Working Groups are responsible for providing expert and stakeholder perspectives on a series of policy briefs. Each of the five groups – covering an area of the Blueprint, work to identify key Canadian policy levers to advance a National Autism Strategy. These Policy Working Groups were formed by an open call to CASDA members with lived experience along with key experts and KBHN members.
Click on the image below to expand the visual.
Pandemic Canadian Autism Needs Assessment (PanCANS) Results
Read MoreDisseminated in May 2020, the PanCANS survey was quickly received by the Autism community, and in no time at all, 1066 individuals across Canada participated. With 21% of respondents identifying as Autistic individuals, the survey focused on the individual experience. Information gathered from this survey will be used to inform CASDA policy briefs.
Click here to view the PanCANS Results Infographic.
Canadian Disability Coalition Leadership Group
Read More
Public Health Agency of Canada Advocacy
Read More
Dental Policy Forums
In partnership with the Canadian Society for Disability and Oral Health.
Employment Scan Service Systems for Autistic Canadians
CASDA is doing an employment scan of all employment programs/services that autistic people are eligible for across Canada to identify gaps in current government support. Starting August 2020, we will be sending this questionnaire to both government representatives and organizations receiving funding from these programs.
Developing Distinct Indigenous Autism Strategies
We are working with AFN and our Indigenous members to support their development of parallel strategies.
CAOT Professional Issue Forum
Read MoreThe primary objective of the Forum was to begin co-creating a shared occupational therapy vision focusing on four different communities: occupational therapists, autistic individuals, colleagues and policymakers. Attendees included 57 delegates, with over a quarter having lived experience.
Next steps include a joint policy paper written by CAOT and CASDA.
