Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Health Canada recently reported that 1 in every 150 children has autism (Health Canada Website). According to many researchers the incidence is even higher, and the Federal and Provincial governments have made autism a higher priority. Medical scholarship on autism has established that certain risk factors like prematurity in a pregnancy can lead to a child developing autism. These findings have sparked great interest in health forums across Canada, the US, and the world as numbers of children diagnosed with autism continue to rise. Important questions are being raised by many. How do parents treat and care for their children after a diagnosis? How do educators and communities respond to the needs of persons of any age with autism in order to best serve them in their ongoing development? How can I better understand what it feels like to have autism? These and many other questions will be answered though our Café event. The objective of the Café will be to showcase the latest research on autism, make the public aware of resources and support networks available, and promote recent advances of care for those diagnosed with autism. The Café will feature expert speakers and researchers on the topic of proper care for individuals with autism, encouraging Canadians from all sectors of society to engage CIHR health researchers and contribute their views on current research. By first addressing how autism may develop and its root causes, the Café will engage its audience on how best to respond to individuals with autism in homes, care centers, and in the community. Additionally, our speakers will suggest research and findings that promote innovative treatments with autistic children and mature autistic adults. Not only will this Café shed light on the causes of autism, but it will improve public understanding of the health and well-being of persons with autism and how best to deliver quality care to Canadians who need it most.