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Autism is characterized by clinically significant:
- Difficulties in social interactions and back-and-forth conversations
- Unusual sensitivities in sound, sight, smell and touch
- Difficulty in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships
- Repetitive behaviour or speech
- Fixated interests that are very intense
- A need for sameness or difficulty adjusting to change.
Children demonstrate a lack of interest in other people, do not engage in pretend play and often have meltdowns. Please use the Link to the DSM 5 from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to get a full criteria of diagnosis.
The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised (M-CHAT-R) is a scientifically validated tool for screening children between the age of 16 and 30 months old that assesses risk for autism. This is a series of questions for parents to answer about their child.
The primary goal of the M-Chat is to detect as many cases of ASD as possible. However, no screening tool is perfect. So, if your child does not assess to have autism using the M-CHAT-R, see a paediatrician. And if you are still not getting anywhere, join the ASN Parent Facebook Group to find a good paediatrician.
In BC and in most other provinces, a diagnosis of Autism can lead to funding for Individualized Therapies and Treatment. . Funding is currently $22,000 for children under 6 years old and $6000 for children between 6 and 19. So, the earlier you get a diagnosis, the more funding you can access and the sooner you can start an intervention. Early behaviour intervention can greatly improve your child’s ability to reach their full potential. Learn more about funding in BC through ASDFUNDING.COM, a website maintained by a parent for parents.
The Waitlist for public assessments is prohibitively long, so a private assessment is recommended to maximize your child's time with funding. Private assessments are often eligible for coverage through your benefits.
If money is a barrier, apply for a VARIETY GRANT. These grants are available for a temporary time for children 4 years and younger and are income tested. They have helped many families get faster assessments.
Early intervention for autism is crucial because it takes advantage of the brain's high adaptability in the early years, leading to better developmental outcomes. By addressing communication and social challenges early on, interventions help improve skills, manage behaviors, and promote independence. Involving families and providing individualized approaches contributes to long-term positive outcomes, prioritizing safety and facilitating positive mental health.
As a parent, it is important that you become a savvy consumer of autism services. There are good and bad service providers. There are therapy approaches that are proven effective and others that have no science behind them.The goal of the Autism Support Network is to empower parents to know how to recognize quality therapy and quality service providers.
Watch our Web Series Videos
Before you begin we suggest watching our web series of Welcome to Autism videos to help you get the best start for your child.
Or Read ASN’s Therapy Section
Here you will find a reduced version of the Welcome to Autism video series. You will find links to several helpful documents and resources.
Visit Autism Information Services
Visit the Autism Information Services website for step-by-step instructions for Autism Funding from the BC government.
Look through Autism Funding in British Columbia
Autism Funding in BC is a website designed by a parent to help other parents navigate all things related to funding, running a home-based therapy program, how to access other funding and tax issues.
Join our closed parent Facebook group
In this PARENT ONLY facebook group, you can get feedback on Behaviour Consultants, meet other parents in your area, or just ask questions.
Join Our Mailing List
Join our mailing list to receive notifications about our free educational presentations and local initiatives.
Read the ASAT Savvy Consumer section
Check out ASAT Savvy Consumer (Association for Science in Autism Treatment) and also check out the ASAT site for the latest research and relevant articles.
AUTISM SUPPORT NETWORK BC
To join our mailing list, please fill out the form with your information: