Autism Society Alberta

Amanda

About Amanda

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far Amanda has created 25 blog entries.

Autism Society Alberta Board Director Opportunity

Do you have a background in legal expertise? Are you looking for a fulfilling way to contribute? Check out this great opportunity with Autism Society Alberta!

Description

Autism Society Alberta (ASA) is a provincial organization connecting to its members through regional partners and networking with agencies and associations throughout the province and nationwide.

ASA is dedicated to increasing public awareness about autism and the day-to-day issues faced by autistic individuals, their families and the professionals with whom they interact. The Society and its partners share a common mission of providing information and education, as well as supporting research and advocating for programs and supports for the autism community.

Why Become a Director?

  • Develop and enhance your leadership skills
  • Networking opportunity
  • Support a great non-profit organization
  • Work with a diverse group of people to fulfill a mission you are passionate about

Role of a Director

  • Provide strategic leadership
  • Monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies and strategies
  • Ensure the organization’s financial viability and sustainability
  • Oversight of management – evaluate the performance of the President
  • Be an ambassador for the organization and promote its work in the community
  • Maintain the Board – select, recruit and nurture new board members; develop and review the performance of board members; assess its meetings and own performance as a Board

Terms of Service: One year

Average Time Commitment: Three to five hours per month

Director Qualifications

In 2024, ASA is seeking an individual to join the Board of Directors in the following:

  • Legal expertise

With:

  • Integrity and high ethical standards
  • Demonstrated management and leadership experience or community involvement
  • Capacity to attend no less than 75% of regular board meetings (Board meets every 2 months)

How to Apply: If you are interested in joining the Board, please email president@autismalberta.ca with a brief statement of interest and resume.

Deadline to Apply: Until a suitable candidate is selected.

Autism Society Alberta Board Director Opportunity2024-04-09T16:20:10-06:00

World Autism Acceptance Month

World Autism Acceptance Month – April 2023

Want to take part in the celebration?

Here’s what’s going on throughout the month, in various locations across Alberta!

Calgary (In-person)

Calgary – YYC World Autism Awareness Day (YYC WAAD) in Calgary has grown to be the largest of its kind in Canada! 2024 marks the 11th annual celebration and we are excited to celebrate and raise awareness and acceptance everywhere on April 2nd. The event is free for all ages, and you are invited! You can learn more AND register to attend here.

Fort McMurray (In-person)

Check out our annual autism awareness and acceptance event for 2024 on April 6th!

To register to attend during the sensory hours (10:00-11:00 & 5:00-6:00), click here and scroll down to ‘Autism Awareness/Acceptance Day.’ Otherwise, registration is not required.

Grande Prairie (In-person)

Join the Peace Autism Society as they celebrate World Autism Acceptance Day on Tuesday, April 2nd from 12pm to 4pm at the Eastlink Centre!

Medicine Hat (In-person)

Join the Medicine Hat Autism Society for their 2nd annual Walk for Autism Acceptance! Come and go on April 21st from 11am until 1pm at Police Point Park. Kona Ice will also be on site!

World Autism Acceptance Month2024-03-26T13:55:25-06:00

Connecting Communities

We are excited about our upcoming Autism Alberta’s Alliance Event: Connecting Communities, taking place June 13-14, 2024 at Mount Royal University in Calgary. This two day event will feature our various communities of practice and the work that they’ve been doing. Day one’s theme is “Sharing Possibilities”. Day two’s theme is “Braiding Indigenous Connections in Autism”.

Registration is now open for in-person and livestreamed attendance.

Go here to find out more!

Connecting Communities2024-03-20T10:09:00-06:00

New Housing Roadmap

Our partners at Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Housing Network of Alberta (AHNA) have developed some Alberta specific resources for those looking for housing and working toward independent and supported living. We are excited to be able to share them on our website. You can go through the resources online or download a PDF workbook.

Check out our new Alberta Housing Roadmap here.

New Housing Roadmap2024-03-06T11:05:22-07:00

What is FSCD? And How to Apply

A toolkit about applying for Family Support for Children with Disabilities

FSCD helps parents of children with disabilities with:

  • some of the extraordinary costs related to their child’s disability
  • supports and services for their child to help promote their healthy development

FSCD supports and services are tailored to your family’s and your child’s needs.

Documents you will need

  • Proof of your child’s Canadian citizenship or permanent residency (ex. birth certificate)

  • Diagnosis letter

    • Name of child
    • Name of the professional who diagnosed your child
    • Date of diagnosis
    • Name of diagnosis
    • If in progress, the predicted outcome and/or what the child is being assessed for
  • Other supporting documents (not mandatory)
  • Proof of relationship to child (proof of guardianship may be required in some cases)

Starting the online application

  • Go to the website

  • Create a new account (exception – if you had started an application recently through this new portal, you can simply log back in)
  • You will receive an email to verify your account. Click the button to verify and log in
  • Start the application
  • Scan and/or take pictures of all required documents
  • Upload ALL documents – ID, diagnosis, supporting documents, and possibly proof of guardianship

  • Submit

    • Documents cannot be added once the application is submitted.
    • The application cannot be submitted until all required documents are uploaded
  • Documents cannot be added once the application is submitted.
  • Watch your email for confirmation that your application has been submitted/received

What is FSCD? And How to Apply2024-04-04T13:37:45-06:00

Applying for the DTC & RDSP

So you want the RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan)? You need to follow a few steps, including getting the DTC (Disability Tax Credit), so we will start there.

DTC Application

KEEP A COPY FOR YOUR RECORDS

Once they have assessed your file, they will send a Notice of Determination in the mail letting you know that you have been approved or declined. If you’re declined, look at the reasoning and you can either file a formal objection within 90 days or re-apply. The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) changes its criteria so you may be approved later down the road.

If you’re approved you can start the process of setting up the RDSP.

RDSP Application

Click on the links below:

Click on the link below:

You can contribute more or less than that, but these amounts will allow you to maximize the grants you will receive.

Applying for the DTC & RDSP2024-04-04T12:49:16-06:00

Autism Alliance of Canada: CALS2024

From Autism Alliance of Canada’s Website:

We are thrilled to welcome you to CALS2024, taking place from April 17th to 19th, 2024, at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa and livestream. This coming April, we aim to:

  • Inform: Gather experts with updates on the National Autism Strategy (NAS) and the development of national disability policy for Canada that addresses the diverse needs of Autistic people and their families.
  • Implement: Identify policies, programs, services and supports with the potential to strengthen the impact of the National Autism Strategy.
  • Innovate: Explore valuable processes, promising and emerging practices, ideas, and research that can advance our collective work.

For more information on how to register for this important event, go here.

Autism Alliance of Canada: CALS20242024-01-16T09:59:28-07:00

Transition to Adult Services in Alberta

Disclaimer: Information is accurate as of December 2023

Steps in Order

  1. Age 16: Apply for PDD (Persons with Developmental Disabilities)
  2. Age 17: Apply for Guardianship and Trusteeship
  3. Age 17.5: Apply for AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped)

PDD (Persons with Developmental Disabilities)

Red icon of two people arm in arm

  • Birth certificate, Permanent Residency Card, Passport
  • Assessments such as a psychoeducational assessment that shows the full-scale IQ
  • Letters or documentation about the disability from a doctor or specialist
  • Documentation from any other programs they have participated in (such as FSCD, AADL, or AISH)

  • Create a MADI (My Alberta Digital ID) account in the guardian or parent’s name.
  • Go to the My Alberta Supports page .
  • Click on “Apply for PDD”
  • Complete the application
  • You may need to go back into the My Alberta Supports PDD Application to upload the documents required

Guardianship and Trusteeship

Two icons of open hands. One holds a person, one a coin.

Guardianship

Trusteeship

AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped)

Yellow dollar sign

  • 18 years of age

  • Living in Alberta
  • Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Not in correctional facilities or mental health facilities such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
  • Must have a medical condition that is likely to remain permanent.
  • Your medical condition must be the main factor limiting your ability to earn a living, not other factors such as your education level.
  • Non-exempt assets cannot be worth more than $100,000

  • Photo ID

  • Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • ID for spouse and/or children, if applicable
  • Proof of Alberta address
  • Work history
  • Family Doctor’s name, address and phone number
  • Name, address and phone number of any specialists seen in the past two years
  • If currently on Income Support, a recent statement
  • Confirmation/statements of all income sources for yourself and your spouse (if applicable)
  • Confirmation/statements of all assets for the applicant (young adult) and their spouse (if applicable)
    • At least 30 days of bank statements from all accounts
    • Vehicle value
    • House – recent mortgage statements or assessments
    • Investment statements
    • Trust account statements
    • Land/Farm – statements of value for land, machinery, etc.
    • Own a business – property assessments, balance sheets, tax returns, etc.

  • Fill out the AISH applicant form online or download, print and fill out a paper copy.
  • If the applicant has already been approved for PDD, you can submit the approval letter in lieu of the medical report.
  • If the applicant has not been approved for PDD, you will also need to submit a Medical Report that a physician has filled out. The application can be found here . It can be uploaded as part of your online application, or you can ask the doctor to fax/mail the report in.
    • Doctors may charge to fill out the AISH Medical Report

Transition to Adult Services in Alberta2024-04-04T13:29:31-06:00

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On Sunday, December 3rd, we recognize International Day of Persons with Disabilities. From today through to December 4th, there are many events being held across our province in recognition of this day. Some of the events you may find our Family Resource Coordinators at are:

International Day of Persons with Disabilities2023-11-29T09:06:06-07:00

Share your thoughts on the Canada Disability Benefit

Message from the Government of Canada:

“The Canada Disability Benefit Act received Royal Assent on June 22, 2023, after being passed unanimously by the House of Commons and being passed by the Senate.

The Government of Canada is taking the next step in implementing the Canada Disability Benefit, with our launch of the Canada Disability Benefit Regulations Online Engagement Tool, which will give all Canadians, but especially Canadians with disabilities, the opportunity to have their say in the development of the benefit’s regulations. The engagement tool provides an overview of the regulatory areas under the Canada Disability Benefit Act, and space to comment on each of them. The engagement tool is accessible and available in American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise. See the news release for the launch of the engagement tool here.

The Canada Disability Benefit is a cornerstone of Canada’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan and has the potential to transform the lives of working-age Canadians with disabilities currently living in poverty. The benefit aims to reduce poverty and support the financial security of working-age Canadians with disabilities by supplementing, not replacing, existing federal and provincial and territorial supports.”

Share your thoughts on the Canada Disability Benefit2023-11-20T15:14:57-07:00
Autism Society Alberta white logo

Uniting Alberta’s Autism Community

3639 26 Street NE,
Calgary, Alberta, T1Y 5E1

Autism Society Alberta does not support, endorse or recommend any method, treatment, product, remedial centre, program, service or professional for individuals with autism or disabilities. It will, however, endeavour to provide impartial information.

© 2024 Autism Society Alberta

Charitable Registration #891015190RR0001

Web Site Management:
webmaster@autismalberta.ca

Skip to content
Go to Top