KBHN Conference panel presentation screenshot: Dr. Jonathan Lai (Autism Alliance of Canada), Dr. Jennifer Zwicker (KBHN, University of Calgary), Jessi Lewis (KBHN, University of Victoria), Jessica Baraskewich (KBHN, University of Calgary), Vanessa Fong (KBHN, UBC), and Dr. Kim Ward (KBHN, Society for Treatment of Autism)
KBHN’S Partnership with the Autism Alliance Canada directly benefits Canadians through policy contributions to the Government of Canada’s National Autism Strategy
Since 2020, Kids Brain Health Network (KBHN) has partnered with Autism Alliance of Canada — formerly CASDA, to award Policy Development Practicum Fellowships. Over the past two years, our Fellows collaborated closely with the community to facilitate dialogue and develop actionable policy recommendations addressing critical issues for persons on the autism spectrum, their caregivers and families, and service providers.
“Our partnership with KBHN has led to the creation of a series of evidence-informed policy briefs that have brought the perspectives and experiences of Autistic people, support persons and community leaders to the forefront,” says Dr. Jonathan Lai, Executive Director of Autism Alliance of Canada. “Bound in two Policy Compendia over two years, these resources inform decision-makers to challenge the status quo by providing recommendations on practical opportunities that will bring impactful changes to current autism and disability policy systems.”
Forming working groups to address five key areas of focus, outlined by Autism Alliance of Canada’s Blueprint for a National Autism Strategy, the 2020-21 cohort addressed access and affordability; employment; research and governance; housing; and, information. The 2021-22 Fellows focused on three themes proposed by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) in their Assessment on Autism: social inclusion; diagnosis, supports and services; and, economic inclusion.
Speaking about the Policy Development Practicum Fellowship, assistant professor from Zayeb University, Wasan Nagib says: “The magnitude of knowledge on practical solutions that exist in the field and the broad spectrum of engaged stakeholders made the experience really outstanding.”
“Collaborating with the other co-chairs and members of the social inclusion working group, we were able to provide actionable steps the governments could take to improve the quality of and access to evidence-informed services and supports,” adds Vanessa Fong, a postdoctoral student from the University of British Columbia.
Through the KBHN-Autism Alliance of Canada’s Policy Development Practicum Awards, and supported by the KBHN Training Program, our Fellows helped support the federal government in taking actionable and effective steps in its early work to implement Canada’s National Autism Strategy. This past spring, Bill S-203 regarding a National Autism Strategy passed through the Senate of Canada, and is now passing through the House of Commons.
In November 2022, the Public Health Agency of Canada hosted a National Autism Conference, bringing together Autistic people, families, support persons, Indigenous Peoples and advocates from all territories and provinces. Discussions, collaborations and knowledge-sharing from this conference will inform priority action areas for the National Autism Strategy. “The National Autism Conference highlighted the important role the KBHN-Autism Alliance of Canada partnership plays in shifting knowledge to policy and practice,” says Dr. Jennifer Zwicker, Deputy Scientific Officer for KBHN. “With a panel of community leaders and policy fellow trainees, key evidence-based recommendations to inform the National Autism Strategy were made in the areas off social inclusion, diagnosis, supports and services, and economic inclusion.”
“Various government branches, politicians and community leaders have found the work of our Policy Development Practicum Fellows to be a valuable resource,” says Dr. Lai. The 2022-23 KBHN-Autism Alliance of Canada Policy Development Practicum Fellowship is currently underway, this year distilling lessons learned from other countries who have already developed National Autism Strategies or policies. The Fellows are conducting an international scoping review to identify all national-level autism policies for countries that are signed or ratified to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The fellows will produce a public report and academic publication identifying priority areas and gaps for policy makers to help inform the development of future National Autism Strategies in Canada and across the world.
Read the policy compendia:
These resources can be used to advocate for autism policy and to stay informed about concrete ways to guide the development of an impactful and robust National Autism Strategy:
- Autism Alliance of Canada 2021 Policy Compendium: Social Inclusion, Diagnosis, Supports, and Services, & Economic Inclusion. Autism Alliance of Canada [online report], September 2022
- CASDA (2020) Policy Compendium: The Development of a National Autism Strategy through Community and Stakeholder Engagement
