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Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance

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Sustainable Development

Major group affiliation:
  • Non-governmental organization

Social Development

Affiliation with other organizations: networks, intergovernmental organizations, research institutes
Purpose of the organization: The Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA) was formed July 2007 shortly after the Senate Committee Report “Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis”. During this time the federal government sent a clear message to the autism community: We need to work together with a unified voice. The autism community responded by forming CASDA. The founding members of CASDA all believed that there was more our Federal Government could do for Autism and together we could make change happen. One thing we all agreed on was that this country needed a National Autism Strategy. Beginning in 2009, and every year since, CASDA has worked with Members of Parliament and Senators to create change at the federal level.
Activities relevant to the conference of States Parties to the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: CASDA is involved in the implementation of Canada’s National Autism Strategy and seeks to allow for the progressive realization of the rights of people witih autism in Canada. In this work, we partner with various DPOs in Canada to develop the framework for international and domestic monitoring of the CRPD in the country, including the coordinated compilation of the List of Issues Prior to Report and the Shadow Report. We also work with the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in Canada, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, on this work. The CHRC will be working with us to embed rights-based approaches in the development of the National Autism Strategy. The CPRD (article 40) refers to a COSP to consider matters related to the implementation of the CPRD. Since it’s beginning, the role of the COSP has included civil society organizations in its meetings. The current Director of Strategy and Operations at CASDA has organized, with the Canadian Mission, and presented in a side event about children with disabilities at the COSP. We are working with IDPP (Institute on Disability and Public Policy) and other groups internationally (including the UN High Commission) to organize a session about data, indicators and monitoring for the CPRD, in line with our domestic work in the monitoring of the National Autism Strategy and Canadian pan-disability initiatives.
Confirmation of the activities of the organization at the regional, national or international level: See our website for our strategic plan 2020: https://www.casda.ca/about-us/strategy-plan-2020-2023/ Our website has a list of current activities, including the following: https://www.casda.ca/news/ - Policy development with Kids Brain Health Network, a national network of researchers in brain development - National Advisory Committee on the awareness of the CRPD Optional Protocol in Canadian - Lead organization in the learning network for a national developmental disabilities grant - Research grant partner on multiple disability projects with 5 Canadian universities - Recommendations to the Disability Advisory Committee for the Disability Tax Credit Reform in Canada Revenue Agency - Recommendations for Canada’s Civil Society Report for the CRC (Convention for the Rights of the Child) in regards to children with disabilities
A list of members of the governing body of the organization, and their countries of nationality: Debbie Irish (Canadian) CASDA Chair and Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work Nathalie Garcin (Canadian) CASDA Vice-chair and Clinique Spectrum Jill Farber (Canadian) CASDA Vice-chair and Autism Speaks Canada Rebekah Kintzinger (Canadian) CASDA Director, self-advocate, Pacific Autism Family Network Margaret Whelan (Canadian) CASDA Director Adrian Bohach (Canadian) CASDA Director and Ability Society/Enterprise4Good Amy Lonsberry (Canadian) CASDA Director and Sinneave Family Foundation Cynthia Carroll (Canadian) CASDA Director (past Chair) and Autism Nova Scotia Dave Mikkelsen (Canadian) CASDA Director and Society for Treatment of Autism Heather Driscoll (Canadian) CASDA Director and parent caregiver Leslie Peters (Canadian) CASDA Director and Autism Yukon Sue VanDeVelde (Canadian) CASDA Director and Kerry’s Place Autism Services
Description of the membership of the organization, indicating the total number of members: Types of CASDA Membership (a) Organization Memberships are available to Canadian organizations focused on autism and incorporated as a charity and/or not for profit organization. (b) Ally Members are available to individuals and organizations that would not be considered for organization membership (likely because they are for profit or not focused on autism). List of Organization Members: Autism Society, Newfoundland & Labrador St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada Autism Society of PEI Charlottetown, PE, Canada Autism Nova Scotia Halifax, NS, Canada New Brunswick Association for Supported Services and Employment Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada Montreal, QC, Canada: Autisme sans Limites Clinique Spectrum Giant Steps Montreal Miriam Foundation Productions Spectrum S.Au.S. (Soutienautisme) Candiac, QC, Canada Autism Home Base Durham Inc. Bowmanville, ON, Canada Toronto, ON, Canada: Autism Speaks Breakthrough Autism Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work Giant Steps Toronto/York Region Karma Cares/Karma Job Fair/Karma Country Camp Kerry’s Place Autism Services New Haven Learning Centre Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis Surrey Place Centre The Redpath Centre McMaster University – McMaster Autism Team (MacART) Autism Research Group and Consortium Hamilton, ON, Canada NAN Corporate Services Thunder Bay, ON, Canada Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario Mount Albert, ON, Canada QuickStart Early Intervention for Autism Kanata, ON, Canada Rampton Family Aroha Kemptville, ON, Canada Spero Careers Canada Burlington, ON, Canada Trenton Military Family Resource Centre Trenton, ON, Canada Woodview Mental Health & Autism Services Burlington, ON, Canada Y’s Owl Maclure Co-operative Centre Ottawa, ON , Canada Saskatchewan: Autism Resource Centre Autism Services of Saskatoon Inc. Alberta: Autism Calgary Autism Society Alberta Centre for Autism Services Alberta Enterprise4Good New Heights School and Learning Services Society Society for Treatment of Autism The Sinneave Family Foundation British Columbia: AutismBC Canucks Autism Network Douglas College – Disability Community Studies Department Coordinator Autism Research Group and Consortium Kids Brain Health Network Orbital Learning Inc. Pacific Autism Family Network The Penticton Centre for Exceptional Learning Autism Yukon Organization Membership (Operating budget less than $1 million) Whitehorse, YT, Canada NWT Disabilities Council Yellowknife, NWT, Canada
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