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 |