Advocacy and Navigation

Staff are available to assist families and individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder to prepare for meetings with professionals, government, and schools involved in the diagnosed individual's care and education. Services include:

• Providing families with information
• Helping prepare families for meetings
• Attending meetings with families as needed

Types of meetings where support may be required include:

• Working with staff at a diagnosed child's school
• Applying to government/other agencies for respite support
• Other situations specific to a person's autism spectrum diagnosis where support is required

Connects individuals with autism or an intellectual disability, and their caregivers, with information and resources.

Resources available include:

• Video guides on scholarships, funding, relationships and general health issues
• Webinars
• Peer support and advice videos
• Lending library: borrow free books, audiobooks, and ebooks
• Live chat with staff

Email via website

Adults with intellectual disabilities (protégés) are paired with a volunteer advocate who:

• Offers friendship and support
• Meets regularly
• Helps to make sure their partner's needs are heard and realized
• Watches to make sure their partner's rights are respected
• Crisis advocates are available to be partnered with individuals going through particularly difficult times

Provides support with advocacy, including:

• Support to fill out Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) application and other income security applications
• Self-advocacy resources

Helps with complaints related to a person's disability that occurred while travelling on the national transportation system. Includes:

• Airlines operating within, to, or from Canada
• Rail, ferry and bus carriers that operate between provinces or territories or between Canada and the United States
• Airports, rail stations and ferry terminals located in Canada
• Services that are integral to the transportation services provided by a carrier or terminal located in Canada

Complaints are assessed and may be dealt with through facilitation, mediation, adjudication or arbitration.