Mission
The Centre for Autism Services Alberta is a non-profit organization that provides comprehensive and innovative services to children, youth and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders through consultation, collaboration, intervention, education and support.
Vision
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders achieve their full potential.
Introduction & History
The Centre for Autism Services Alberta (formerly Family Linkages Foundation of Alberta) is a non-profit registered charity that strives to maximize the potential for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Centre has been providing hope and support to children and families affected by ASD in the Greater Edmonton Area since 1997.
If your child needs Specialized Services, which is funded by Family Supports for Children with Disabilities (FSCD), then you can expect a supportive team to create a program best suited to the needs of your child. Parents or guardians are important team members who work alongside specialists, which can include an occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, psychologist, behavioural specialist and aides.
In addition to Specialized Services, the Centre offers a multitude of family support opportunities and adapted recreational groups, which may benefit your child and family.
The goals of the Centre are:
- To set the standard for best practice in Autism Spectrum Disorder services
- To be known for innovative, evidence-based practices
- To deliver sustainable, client-focused services that are transparent to all stakeholders
- To have strong inter-agency and community relationships that facilitate achievement of our mission
Inter-Disciplinary Collaborative Treatment
Psychologists, speech language pathologists, educators, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, behavioral specialists and behavioral aides work with families at the Centre. The guiding model of treatment is always interdisciplinary, where treatment teams meet on a regular basis to consult and determine intervention priorities and strategies. Consistent with a family-centered model, parents are key members of the treatment team. Family values and priorities are always included in any treatment decisions.
All staff must complete the following training prior to working with children:
- Pivotal Response Treatment Overview (salaried staff will work towards meeting fidelity in PRTwithin their first 6 months)
- Positive Behaviour Supports
- Activity Based Programming
- Group Programming
- Non-Violent Crisis Intervention (created by the Crisis Prevention Institute)
- Communication Strategies
- Occupational Therapy Strategies
- First Aid / CPR and
- Ethics of Touch
Family Centered Care
The Centre values the important role that families play in helping their child or sibling achieve long-term positive changes. That is why families are involved in team meetings, setting priorities and ongoing education. Centre staff appreciate the importance of cultural and religious values as well as family values. Treatment always takes place within this context.
Autism Resources and Assessment Library
Centre staff are highly skilled in delivering the best professional practices and are informed about the most current trends in the treatment of autism. We have an extensive library of autism-related resources that includes subscriptions to numerous professional journals. Staff attend professional conferences as well as regular in-house training. Staff also regularly attend networking events within the region, such as the Autism Research Rounds at the Glenrose Hospital.
Membership
The Centre is incorporated under the provisions of the Societies Act of Alberta; the name "Centre for Autism Services Alberta" is the official name of the Society. To access services from the Society parents are asked to become members of the Society. Membership gives families voting privileges at the Centre's Annual General Meeting. Only one membership fee is required from each family unit regardless of how many children are registered in programs. Families are entitled to one vote per family.
Questions & Answers
What kind of program will the Centre for Autism Services Alberta provide for my child?
The Centre for Autism Services Alberta accesses funding from different provincial government departments to provide specialized services for children with autism spectrum disorder. The Centre recognizes that each child learns differently and our team will create an individualized program that will best meet the needs of your child and family. We use proven therapy programs for your child, which may include: pivotal response training, natural teaching strategies, learning through play, incidental teaching, positive behavior support, center or activity based learning, community based instruction, speech language therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Where does the funding come from?
Funding for The Centre for Autism Services program comes from different sources – Alberta Education, Alberta Children’s Services, private donations and fundraising activities. The funding sources we are able to access will affect the type of program we can provide for your family.
Alberta Education provides “Program Unit Funding” (PUF) to create a specialized learning program for your child. This funding is available to children with special needs between the ages of 2.5 and 6, and is available for a maximum of three years.
Alberta Children’s Services through the Family Support for Children with Disabilities program provides funding for specialized services and other child-focused services.
Additonally, the Centre offers several extra curricular group activities that run on a cost-recovery basis. Under our services section of the website you will find a wide range of programming that your child, and in some cases, your family, can join.. Some examples of our services include Respite, Family Night, (a monthly support meeting that is open to the entire family), Summer Camp and Recreational Groups.
Who is on my child’s team?
Your team may consist of a program coordinator, occupational therapist, speech language pathologist, physical therapist, psychologist, consultant, parent educator and an aide(s) depending on your child’s needs. A certified teacher may also be involved if The Centre for Autism Services Alberta is administering the PUF funding.
How many hours of services, on average, per week, will my child receive?
Hours of services depend on your child’s level of need and available funding.
What will I need to get the program started?
Your clinical team will let you know what materials may be needed for your child’s program. In addition to materials, a room or location free of distractions for your child to work may be required.
How often do we meet to review my child’s program?
Service Plan reviews (team meeting) occur quarterly with home or centre based visits taking place between team meetings.
Do I need to be involved in the programming on a daily basis?
The more involved that a parent is, the more likely it is that learned concepts will be generalized from the Aide to other people in the child’s life. The Centre expects that families will assist team members by maintaining concepts taught, ensuring that concepts have generalized to other people & environments, purchasing and/or preparing program materials as directed by the program coordinator and consultant. As well, a family member must be present for any consultant visit (for example SLP, OT or program coordinator). There must also be a caregiver in the home at all times during intervention shifts.
How do I apply for services?
Specialized services: Following approval from Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD), contact our Intake Coordinator at intake@centreforautism.ab.ca An information package will be forwarded to you that will contain information about our services as well as an application form. Simply return the application form with the required documentation. Our intake coordinator will contact you promptly to set up an intake meeting.
Groups: Contact our groups consultant, Gail Stanford, at gstanford@centreforautism.ab.ca An information package will be forwarded to you that will contain information about our groups and an application form. Simply return the application form with the required documentation. Our groups consultant will contact you promptly with information about group start dates.
PUF: Contact our PUF coordinator at puf@centreforautism.ab.ca An application form will be forwarded to you and our coordinator can review the program with you.