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CHANGE IN CANADA’S AUTISM COMMUNITY
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THINGS ARE CHANGING FOR THE CANADIAN AUTISM COMMUNITY
Greater awareness of autism is creating more inclusion
WENDY LISOGAR-COCCHIA
Autism is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in Canada: One out of every 50 Canadian youth has a diagnosis. Autism – which touches every region, class and culture – is a common and serious developmental disorder that profoundly affects the way you feel, communicate and learn. And across Canada, 79 per cent of neighbourhoods are home to one or more children with autism.
The facts surrounding autism can be grim. Autism does not cause death, but individuals with autism die an average of 36 years younger than individuals in the general population because of other conditions and circumstances. Accidental drownings are 40 times higher in the autism community. About one third of children with autism remain minimally or completely nonverbal throughout their lifespan, speaking few or no words.
These vulnerabilities, and uninformed responses to autistic traits, can lead to devastating consequences for autism community members. Yet most professionals have no training on autism or on how to interact successfully with this community.
Furthermore, when it comes to inclusion, although most autistic individuals want to work, only 14.3 per cent of autistic adults are employed.
Autism doesn’t come with a manual for families, but many in the autism community do have parents and siblings who never give up. I understand this because of my first-hand experiences as a mom in the autism community, and as co-founder of Pacific Autism Family Nework (PAFN), along with my husband and business partner Sergio Cocchia.
Despite a growing understanding of the needs of this community, there is little or no government support available for autistic individuals or their families in many regions across the country.
But new and better things are on the horizon. For over 12 years, the PAFN has been working with police, firefighters, paramedics, hospital staff and other professionals to improve awareness, education and understand related to autism. To date, our organization has trained over 15,000 first responders on how to recognize and effectively help autistic individuals.
In part through our advocacy, some of Canada’s biggest businesses are starting to pay attention to the autism community. This fall PAFN and Vancouver International Airport launched a joint initiative to make air travel more accessible for autistic people and their families. The initiative includes professional training for airport staff, skills building and communication assistance for travellers, as well as a supported work program in a newly launched airport coffee shop.
There is power and mutual benefit to supporting autistic individuals in the workforce, and I fundamentally believe employing someone with autism is one of the best decisions an organization will ever make. To that end, PAFN has developed a suite of employment-focused programs for individuals with all different skill levels. This includes programs for supporting youth employment, inclusive workforce engagement, adult pre-employment skills and education and training for autistic individuals with high-support needs.
Together with our in-house partners, PAFN helps over 160 individuals daily through four locations in B.C. We focus on the helping people throughout their lifespan, and offer programs that span from an inclusive preschool, to a first-of its-kind program that tackles the challenges of autistic adult palliative care. Our programs also extend across the country through our national initiative, AIDE Canada, which is a free online resource.
Working in this space is challenging, but even the small things that we do to be kind can make a huge difference for our kids and our families. As we collectively consider ways to support and develop greater inclusion, diversity and equity in our businesses and communities, I urge you to consider how we can support neurodiverse individuals and the families they rely on.
Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia is CEO of Century Plaza Hotel and cofounder of Pacific Autism Family Network.
DESPITE A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THIS COMMUNITY, THERE IS LITTLE OR NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR AUTISTIC INDIVIDUALS OR THEIR FAMILIES IN MANY REGIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment: expanding to deliver more care to everyone who needs it
WHAT WE DO
The Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation’s calling has always been to solve complex issues to improve patient outcomes. While this aim has remained unchanged since our founding over forty years ago, we are constantly evolving to bring high-level services to an even larger number of people across all of British Columbia.
Part of our continued commitment to world-class care to all who come through the hospital’s doors involves support for one of the largest health care redevelopments in British Columbia’s history. This $1.49 billion project presents an unprecedented opportunity, and challenge, to elevate critical care at a hospital that serves one third of our province’s population in the largest and fastest growing health region in BC.
Rising to this challenge could not be more vital as Royal Columbian is a major critical hospital and referral centre for cardiac care, trauma, neurosciences, mental health, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care. No other hospital in the province provides all of these services, at this level of care, on one site.
By 2030, the key population our hospital serves will grow to 2.2 million. As our population increases and ages, it is imperative that we prepare for a future that will see significantly increased demand for the services we provide. The redevelopment of Royal Columbian is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that our clinicians and frontline healthcare providers have both the facilities and innovative technology to offer optimal patient care for decades to come.
With construction set to continue through 2026, the coming years will see the opening of a new acute care tower, emergency department and enough new beds to increase capacity by more than half allowing us to care for more people than ever before. The acute care tower will house a centralized interventional and surgical “super floor,” creating more space for the specialized work Royal Columbian provides to treat heart attacks and stroke.
All of these major improvements are being made in service to an even larger vision: ensuring uncompromising care to every single person who needs it. We’re making this vision a reality with support from people who understand the significance of our work and share our deep-seated passion for helping those who need our care, throughout the province.
Everything we do, we do for everyone.
A certain kind of caregiver is called A certain kind of caregiver is called to this work. A certain kind of donor understands its importance. And everyone at Royal Columbian rises to every challenge because it’s who we are, and what we value.
Help us help BC.Help us help BC. RCHfoundation.comRCHFoundation.com
Variety BC is now funding private psychoeducational assessments
WHAT WE DO
Since 1966, Variety - the Children’s Charity has been making a difference in the lives of children with special needs across the province. Variety recently announced that in addition to their core grant areas of adaptive & mobility equipment, specialized therapies, tutoring & tuition bursaries, mental wellness counselling and private autism assessments, they will now be funding private psychoeducational assessments.
“Families are having to wait more than two years through the public system for their child to be assessed which is too long for a child who is struggling in the classroom to have to wait,” said Josh Pasnak, Interim CEO, Variety BC. “A psychoeducational assessment and the learning strategies that are developed from it impacts the child’s entire life so early intervention is vital to help the child succeed and reach their full potential.”
For information on how you can support Variety by becoming a Corporate Partner, contact Leslie Hoffman at 604.268.3892 or leslie.hoffman@variety.bc.ca.
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Family Services of Greater Vancouver supports and empowers vulnerable people
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Our expert counsellors and support workers walk alongside more than 10,000 people each year to empower them to make meaningful change in their lives.
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