Autism Alliance pushes for nuts and bolts of federal strategy

Autism Alliance of Canada is looking to the next government in Ottawa to come up with a clear plan to implement and pay for the country’s first autism strategy.

An Act called the Federal Framework for Autism Spectrum Disorder was passed in March 2023. The following year, a strategy was launched to provide support to people on the autism spectrum, their families and caregivers. Except it didn’t come with a lot of detail, according to Jonathan Lai, executive director of Autism Alliance of Canada. “The problem with aspirational goals is they are just aspirational,” he said. “There are not a lot of details in the document once you peel away the layers about the who, the what and the when.

“And when you’re making policy, it has to be very specific…to make change for families, you need that kind of detail.” 

Such a strategy would address specific needs of autistic people throughout their lives in such areas as diagnosis, economic inclusion, awareness, accessible disability programs and housing. “What we’re calling for now is funding tied with a clear plan,” said Lai.

The Alliance, which was formed in July 2007 shortly after the release of the Senate Committee Report Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis, has about 1,000 members, many of whom were scheduled to gather in Ottawa or virtually at the end of April for an annual summit. The goal is to guide the government to come up with a clear plan in line with its strategy.

Attendees will also provide input on the National Autism Network, a new initiative the government has called for, to centre the experiences of autistic people and caregivers to advise on implementing the strategy. About one million Canadians have been diagnosed with autism, but most provinces don’t keep reliable statistics, Lai said. In British Columbia, one in 30 people are receiving services linked to autism funding.

“We’re seeing the same problem across the country, so we need to come together and have a collective understanding,” Lai said.

The Alliance has released a five-part podcast, called Honest Conversations with host Ally Garber.

For more information: www.autismalliance.ca.