Photo Credit: Ryan Parent Photography
Kathleen Provost (Autism Society Canada), Laurie Mawlam (Autism Canada Foundation), Sylvia Sikakane (Geneva Centre for Autism),
Dr. Lise Bisnaire (CHEO), Suzanne Jacobson (QuickStart)
The Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders 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 Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and together we could make change happen. One thing we all agreed on was that this country needed a National ASD Strategy.
Begining in April 2009, and every year since to honour World Autism Awareness Day, CASDA has gone to Parliament Hill in Ottawa and has met with Members of Parliament and Senators to advocate for our cause with a unified voice. Our thanks goes out to Senator Jim Munson for facilitating these encounters. The Alliance was very well received and since then doors have opened to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Health Canada (HC) and the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). CASDA is currently working with these federal government ministries for real change.
We ask you to join us and please consider being a member.
Vision:
All Canadians living with an ASD have full and equal access to the resources they require to achieve their full potential.
Mission:
CASDA is a coalition of organizations and individuals developing a comprehensive National ASD Framework. It is committed to ensuring the implementation of a comprehensive National ASD Strategy that addresses critical gaps in funding and policies, which are preventing individuals with ASDs and their families from exercising their equal rights as Canadians.