AutismBC

"What I’ve learned from Chloe (and my other children) is that autism does not define her. She is autistic, and it impacts her to be sure, but it doesn’t hinder her. She can play hockey as well as anyone else, and she actually tends to learn things faster than others because she is so focused during practices. Being autistic has become a superpower for her with hockey."  — Shayna Kershaw, AutismBC Interior Coordinator As #womenshistorymonth comes to a close, we’d like to highlight this interview with Chloe Kershaw about her love of all things hockey. From a wobbly two-year-old just getting on the ice to a sought-after goalie at 12, Chloe has had her ups and downs with the sport but ultimately proves one thing: autistic girls can do anything! Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gg_atsn3

#TBT to Mini Golf in Sooke! In June of last year, we invited our Victoria-area adult members to embrace their inner children and join us for a morning of mini golf! Participants adventured through Blenkinsop Adventure Mini Golf’s vibrant course and chased that elusive hole-in-one. We are so thrilled to be able to host events like this where autistic adults can come together, have fun, and make connections! Thanks to Sooke Autism Support Society for co-hosting! Want to get in on no-cost fun like this? Sign up for a free membership at https://lnkd.in/ddd9nHv2

APRIL 2, 2025: Come skating with AutismBC and Autism Okanagan for Autism Acceptance Day! This free event is open to the Interior BC autism community and a great opportunity to celebrate autism and our growing partnership. Enjoy an afternoon on the ice, connect with others, and share some cake. Plus, a few former professional hockey players will be there to show their support for our community. We’re excited to bring everyone together to be our authentic selves and celebrate autism — we hope to see you there! More info and registration here: https://lnkd.in/gxdbZdcx #worldautismday #autismacceptancemonth #autismacceptance

🎁The first #gratitudegiveaway is here! Read on to learn more! As part of AutismBC’s Gratitude Giveaways, we are pleased to offer 19 complimentary tickets to the 2025 Lives in the Balance Annual Summit, generously donated by us and the event organizers. The summit will take place on April 11, 2025, with the theme Current Thinking in Autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). The event will feature keynote presentations from Dr. Shelley Moore, Dr. Barry Prizant, Dr. Judy Eagan, Sophie Leman (an individual diagnosed with Autism/ADHD with a PDA profile), and Dr. Ross Greene. This summit offers a valuable opportunity for our membership to grow and expand your knowledge.  This giveaway is open to all members across the province. HOW TO ENTER: Click the link in our bio to sign up for a free membership by tomorrow and stay tuned for the email with instructions on how to enter. Already a member? Just check your inbox tomorrow! Many thanks to Lives in the Balance! https://lnkd.in/ddd9nHv2 #PDA #autismacceptancemonth #worldautismday #giveaway

This Autism Acceptance Month, we’re launching something special to celebrate our 50th anniversary—Gratitude Giveaways! Throughout April, we’re giving back to our amazing community with exciting prizes as a way to celebrate you—our members. For 50 years, you’ve shared your experiences, supported one another, and helped shape AutismBC’s journey toward neuroaffirming ideals. Your voices, stories, and engagement have made our community what it is today. This is our way of saying thank you for being part of this journey! With the support of our sponsors, we've come up with loads of giveaways spread out over April. From equipment to event passes, education, and more there is something for everyone! Keep your eyes peeled for your chances to enter! 🤫 Pssst... Sign up for a free membership today and you'll have a head start on entering the giveaways! https://lnkd.in/ddd9nHv2 #gratitudegiveaway #autismacceptancemonth #worldautismday #50yearsofignitinghope

What is the difference between Autism Funding Unit (AFU) and the Family Connection Centres (FCCs)? Now that 4 pilot FCCs have opened across the province, you may be wondering what they offer and how it differs to AFU. We put together this chart for an at-a-glance reference. Did you know? If you currently have AFU, you can still use the FCC’s development stream (see our last FCC post for details). You can also leave AFU and try the FCC exclusively, and go back to using AFU, once. For more info on the present state of FCCs, visit https://lnkd.in/gmHuXN8C

"The Pokemon Club is extremely important to our family. My son LOVES Pokémon and having a space with other autistic kids who share the same special interest is the best thing in the world to him. As a parent, I really appreciate having a space where my son can meet and interact with other autistic kids. Oftentimes, school can be such a lonely place when you are surrounded by people who view you as different. This is the one place that my whole family can go and feel at ease and just have a good time. So, this club has been very very special for our family. And [the host] Tila does an amazing job and is great with the kids." – Parent of a Pokémon Club Participant AutismBC Socials like Pokémon Club are designed to give autistic kids a chance to socialize while engaging in shared interests. We’re so glad that it has an impact like this on the participants and their families. The next Pokémon Club is on April 5. Registration is required. https://lnkd.in/gPdN-B4w

Calling all autistic individuals and parents/caregivers of autistic children, youth and adults! We want to hear from you! AutismBC is conducting a survey to better understand how we can support autistic individuals and their families in our community, especially in interactions with police. Your feedback will help us advocate for better understanding, training, and support for first responders. - The anonymous survey takes about 5-10 minutes, and you may exit anytime. - Please ensure you support yourself while completing it, as some questions may feel overwhelming or upsetting. - Your responses will help us create meaningful resources and training for first responders. Deadline: April 4, 2025 Take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/gUG8zFYT *If you have already completed this form through PAFN, please do not fill it out again. Thank you for your participation—your voice matters!

Four Family Connection Centres (FCCs) have now opened across the province. These pilot projects were introduced to judge their success in the communities while keeping autism funding (AFU) in place for families with autistic children. The FCCs were created to be a “one-stop shop” for families. The thought was families needing services would go to the FCC and they would help them find all the services they may need, as opposed to the current system where the family must find the services on their own. There has been a lot of confusion over the FCCs, with some families worrying that they will be forced to transition from AFU to FCCs this month (March 2025) if they live in one of the pilot communities. That is false and dates back to a since-changed plan from 2019. For more on the FCCs, read our new resource blog: https://lnkd.in/gmHuXN8C #CYSN #FCC #AFU #autism #BCPoli

We're Hiring a Development Manager! Join our team and help us drive growth and impact in a purpose-driven organization. If you're a strategic leader with fundraising experience, apply today! https://lnkd.in/gkJaAmrp