By the Muskoka Autism Group
On April 4, seven of our communities in Muskoka Parry Sound, participated in Autism Ontario’s Raise the Flag campaign. Many families and service providers gathered at their local town halls to bring awareness to autism. Over 1,000 communities and schools across Ontario held ceremonies and small gatherings to show support for the more than 100,000 people living with autism across the province. By simply raising a flag and showing support, our community can create a dialog about autism.
Autism Ontario is the largest collective voice for the autism community in Ontario. Through its 25 chapters and provincial office, Autism Ontario advocates for individuals on the spectrum and their families, provides services and programs and helps raise awareness. We want communities to see the potential of our children and adults with autism.
Early Intervention is important to the development of all children on the autism spectrum but waitlists for diagnosis, treatment, specialists (i.e. pediatricians), speech and occupational therapy, just to name a few, can take many years. In order to support families, it is important for communities to become more aware of the supports needed to raise a child with autism and guide parents towards existing programs while striving to put in place supports that communicate understanding, acceptance and inclusion.
As autism is a lifelong neurological disorder, we must be responsive to the needs of our children as they transition into youth and adults. Many children with autism do not qualify for all available supports as they reach the age of 18 and are left on their own. Youth and adults with autism have the same dreams as anyone else! They want to work, go to college or university and have affordable housing. These are the issues parents are facing as their children grow older. There are major gaps in service, leaving our youth and adults without adequate supports and dependent on their families and inadequate resources.
Raising the flag for autism awareness in Dwight
We, as a community, must work together to learn more about how we can support children, youth and adults living with ASD and their families.
A sincere thank you to all who came out and to our communities for broadening our voices.
For more information:
Raise the Flag campaign: www.raisetheflagforautism.com
Autism Ontario: www.autismontario.com
Muskoka Autism Group: [email protected]
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