Autism Support Charity of the Year 2025 – Canada & Award for International Autism Advocacy & Service 2025 on provincial systems and allow individuals and families to access the services they need until they gain access to provincial funding. At its core, Autism Canada is deeply committed to connecting individuals with essential support networks, beyond the realm of financial aid. Each year, its Family Support staff handle thousands of calls, guiding autistic individuals and caregivers toward local resources that empower them to not only manage daily challenges but thrive within their communities. Recognising the equally vital need for specialised advocacy in healthcare settings, Autism Canada has also co-created a guide to help autistic individuals navigate their cancer diagnosis. This resource provides crucial self-advocacy tools, ensuring that those facing one of life’s most difficult challenges can access the care and understanding they deserve. But that’s not all – Autism Canada has developed a literacy programme consisting of more than 30 training modules, from Recognising Behaviours to Inclusivity in Retail Spaces. These courses are designed to change the way autism is viewed, to prevent incidents surrounding health and safety for autistic individuals, and to create a physical environment of acceptance and belonging. The programmes are all developed and primarily taught by Autism Canada’s neurodivergent employees, in conjunction with the autistic community. This allows for first-hand understanding of the illustrated experiences and allows the trainer to engage with the audience in meaningful, knowledgeable, and insightful ways. “We fully embrace the concept: Nothing About Us, Without Us. ” “Autism Canada is unique in that we don’t approach just one aspect of autism in the national sphere,” Jamie explained to us. “It’s not advocacy and policy change or supporting the autistic community – it’s all of it. We go where we are needed and we try very hard to answer to the needs of those individuals, whether it’s creating a guide, developing a literacy programme to educate a new sector, or attending a federal policy meeting. Most people would tell us to limit ourselves, but there is so much work to do, and so many neurodivergent people struggling to live in the country that we can’t pick and choose. We don’t work for the people who will benefit in 20 years, we work for the community of today and tomorrow.” Of course, like any non-profit organisation, Autism Canada faces financial challenges – from inflation and increases to the cost of living lowering the donations it receives, to the number of employees dedicated to its programmes and the costs of national advocacy. The organisation receives no funding outside of grants and serves a population of over 40 million people across 13 provinces and territories, each with their own unique rules and programmes surrounding autism. It maintains few paid staff members, most of whom are covered by grants, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to locate the funding to cover administrative costs and salaries. At present, Autism Canada is facing the unique obstacle of growing to meet the rising demand for its services across the country. This mission must be achieved without new grant sources for additional staff members to cover the expansion, and all donations being directed towards funding programmes such as CAP. Alongside this, Autism Canada has observed that organisations with more connections and larger budgets for advertising consistently attract the most funding, regardless of their ultimate mission. “We will get there,” Jamie told us determinedly. “We are getting there – we just have to find the voice to make ourselves heard, so that we can get the attention we need from the individuals who see that we are out there making a difference, despite these challenges. We are now one of the only national organisations working towards change; our work won’t end any time soon and our passion and dedication are a testament to how far we have come as an organisation, and what we can accomplish with our beliefs.” “We don’t speak on behalf of the community we serve; we are part of the community, and our lives are affected by the policies we are striving to change, right along with those we are speaking with. ” Autism Canada meets each obstacle with resolve and innovation, an approach driven by its exceptional team, who embody everything the organisation stands for. Each member of the team is either neurodivergent or the caregiver of neurodivergent individuals and bring with them a passion and understanding of their work that is unrivalled. Autism Canada is one of the few organisations led by autistic individuals – both its Executive Director and Board Chair are diagnosed autistic – and it is the team’s collective goal to shift the narrative from the limits created by autism to what autistic individuals can achieve. The Autism Canada team may be small, but it is mighty and, though the demand for its services continues to grow rapidly, the team is unwavering in their dedication. Each day, they invest the effort and time required to maintain Autism Canada’s momentum with regard to education and advocacy, demonstrating an admirable, unrivalled commitment to the organisation. This dedication has led to meaningful change across Canada, providing autistic individuals and their families with vital resources, support systems, and advocacy that has earned it the Award for International Autism Advocacy and Service 2025. Looking ahead, Autism Canada is preparing to expand its efforts even further, with ambitious plans for the future that will enhance the reach and impact of its initiatives. One of its most exciting developments is a first-of-its-kind National Support Line, to be launched by the end of 2025. The National Support Line will provide one-on-one support to autistic individuals, as mental health support geared towards the autistic community is, at present, virtually non-existent. This is a unique and vital tool for individuals to provide connection, to talk through a problem, or to just find someone willing to listen to them. Autism Canada is also developing a further list of self-advocacy guides, using the structure of its current guide for navigating a cancer diagnosis. These guides will be developed in cooperation with individuals who have experienced these situations first-hand. Alongside this, the organisation will be launching a Peer Support Programme, allowing autistic individuals the opportunity to connect, develop strategies together, and to develop meaningful relationships with others in shared experiences. At its core, Autism Canada stands as a beacon of advocacy, education, and support, working tirelessly to create a more inclusive and accessible society for autistic individuals and their families. As it looks to the future, the organisation is set to further strengthen its role as a vital resource for the autistic community, ensuring that autistic voices remain at the heart of advocacy. Recognised as Canada’s Autistic Support Charity of the Year 2025, Autism Canada will continue to shape a future where inclusivity, understanding, and empowerment are not just ideals, but realities. Contact: Jamie McCleary Company: Autism Canada Web Address: www.autismcanada.org
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