Grant: Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Knowledge Translation

Autism Society Canada, a leading national voice for the Autism Community of Canada, is proud of its groundbreaking work with its Advisory Committee of Adults Living with an ASD working to affect changes in our knowledge and attitudes towards individuals. While there are many Autism stakeholders dedicated to early detection and intervention of Autism Spectrum Disorders, this committee is unique in its specific focus on Adult-related issues, conditions and treatments. This committee first came together in May 2008 with the goal of need assessment - what were the research topics of interest to the advisory committee and how could this committee begin a two-way dialogue with researchers. A key theme of the May 2008 committee meeting was the concept of inclusion. The exclusion of individuals with an ASD from the research process continues to marginalize individuals and present them to society as less capable. This is often not the case at all. Outside funding sources are enabling a second face-to-face meeting in Toronto in June 2009 to hold a meeting between specialized researchers and members of a Committee of Adults Living with an ASD to discuss specific research issues pertaining to Adults on the Spectrum. Phase III of the ASC Advisory Committee of Adults living with an ASD Research Exchange is scheduled for June 2010 in Toronto. To date, due to limited funds, these valuable research conferences have only been local in scope - the added expenses of including researchers from across Canada has limited our ability to invite a comprehensive spectrum of ASD researchers. We anticipate Phase III's expanded panel of research participants to mirror the Advisory Committee's pan-Canadian representation - currently the Advisory Committee has representation from almost every province and territory from across Canada.