Question Period Note: AUTISM

The Government of Canada is committed to improving the health and well-being of autistic Canadians and to supporting caregivers. The Government is also committed to working collaboratively with provinces, territories, families, autistic Canadians, and stakeholders toward the creation of a national autism strategy.

Key Messages
• The Government of Canada is committed to helping and supporting the needs of all Canadians with disabilities, including autistic Canadians, as well as those who care for them and provide much needed support.
• Budget 2021 provided $15.4 million over two years, starting in 2021-22, to work collaboratively with provinces, territories, families and stakeholders toward the creation of a national autism strategy.
• The national autism strategy will be developed through a broad and inclusive engagement process that will include an evidence and scientific review undertaken by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Government of Canada Initiatives: the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is leading the development of a national autism strategy, and is investing $1.46 million for the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) to lead the consultation process.
The consultation process, launched in February 2021, was broad, inclusive, evidence-based and provided all Canadians the opportunity to inform the development of the strategy. In recognition of the breadth of issues to be considered to develop a strategy that reflects diverse needs, the CAHS applied a social determinants of health lens in their approach to gathering evidence and structuring the dialogue by focusing on 3 key themes: social inclusion, economic inclusion and evidence-based interventions.
Budget 2021: the $15.4 million announced in Budget 2021 ($8.4 million residual balance of Budget 2018 and $7 million of new funding) includes funding to support strategy development ($4.1 million), address gaps in autism spectrum disorder surveillance ($2.2 million), and assist with the development of IT infrastructure to support data collection ($0.7 million).
PHAC Investments: Budget 2018 provided $20 million over five years to support two new initiatives:
1) The Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Knowledge Exchange Network (AIDE Canada) ($10.9 million/5 years) provides access to online resources, including an inventory of services, supports, employment opportunities and local programming for families across the country. Six AIDE Canada locations across the country provide a point of access for Canadians to obtain resources and supports on autism. AIDE Canada also released a COVID-19 Resource Hub to share up-to-date, trusted information related to COVID-19 specifically tailored to, or relevant for, Canadians on the autism spectrum, their families and caregivers; and
2) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategic Fund is providing $9.1 million over 5 years for community-based projects that pursue innovative program models, help reduce stigma, and integrate health, social and educational components to better serve the complex needs of Autistic Canadians and their families.
PHAC provided $102,189 to the Canadian Paediatric Society to develop autism Guidelines for early detection and screening, diagnosis, and post-diagnosis follow-up (released October 2019).
PHAC Surveillance Activities: PHAC is working with F/P/T/I partners, researchers and autism stakeholders to address the recommendations made in the 2018 National Autism Surveillance System report to move beyond reporting solely on prevalence and include all jurisdictions, all age ranges (children, youth and adults), co-occurring conditions as well as other important demographic and equity indicators.
CIHR Investments: In the past two years, there has been an investment of close to $32 million in research to increase the understanding of autism, as well as the capacity to treat it effectively.
CIHR-funded researchers are also developing innovative technologies for children with autism and their families. For instance, an interdisciplinary team led by Dr. Francois Bolduc from the University of Alberta is creating an artificial intelligence-based interactive ‘chatbot’ that will allow persons with autism (and other neurodevelopmental disorders), their families, health professionals and teachers to better navigate the healthcare system by identifying personalized interventions and resources.
Through Canada’s Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research, CIHR and its partners are investing in CHILD-BRIGHT, an innovative pan-Canadian network that aims to improve life outcomes for children with brain-based developmental disabilities and their families. The network’s many projects include:
• “Ready 2 Work”, an online vocational/employment readiness platform developed alongside self-advocates who operate vocational programs for young people with autism; and
• “MEGA TEAM”, which is evaluating whether a take-home video game can improve executive functioning in children with autism.

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC): In April 2020, Minister Qualtrough announced the establishment of the COVID-19 Disability Advisory Group, comprised of experts in disability inclusion. This Group provided advice on the real-time lived experiences of persons with disabilities during this crisis; disability-specific issues, challenges and systemic gaps; and strategies, measures and steps to be taken. Areas of particular focus have been: equality of access to health care and supports; public communications and accessibility; support for civil society and the not-for-profit sector; support for populations at highest risk; and finances and employment. The Advisory Group built on previous work advising the Minister, and continues to provide expert advice on disability inclusion within Government priorities and on implementation of Government programs and policies.
In the September 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada announced the Disability Inclusion Action Plan to improve the economic inclusion and quality of life for Canadians with disabilities. As part of this action plan, the government is developing a robust Employment Strategy for Canadians with disabilities. This Strategy will take a holistic and intersectional view of the experiences of persons with disabilities in the workforce and benefit all persons with disabilities.
Employment Support (through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities Program): To improve employment outcomes for persons with intellectual disabilities and autism, the Government of Canada’s Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities has invested over $30 million since 2010 in the Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) project. RWA is a national employment program for persons with intellectual disabilities and autism that is delivered through a partnership between the Canadian Association for Community Living and the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance.
Senate Bill S-203 – An Act Respecting a Federal Framework for Autism Spectrum Disorder: On November 24, 2021, the Honourable Leo Housakos introduced Bill S-203, “An Act Respecting a Federal Framework on Autism Spectrum Disorder” in the Senate. The purpose of the Act is to bring forth the development of a federal framework designed to support autistic Canadians, their families and their caregivers. The Act outlines requirements for the development of a federal framework, including measures to be provided, such as financial support for autistic persons, support for caregivers, online resources and best practices, a national research network and a national awareness campaign. The Act also sets out requirements for consultation, a national conference, and regular reporting to Parliament on implementation of the federal framework. This Bill is at Second Reading in the Senate (since November 30, 2021).
Provincial support: All provinces provide autism-specific funding for a range of services and supports with current investments focused on interventions, services and education supports for pre-school and school-aged children. While the three territories do not have any autism-specific funding, they do have supports for broader disability services, which includes autism.

Key Facts
• Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by communication difficulties as well as social and behavioural challenges. Each person on the autism spectrum is unique, and the term “spectrum” refers to the wide variation in strengths and challenges.