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Regional Resources

Northern BC Autism Resources

July 16th, 2021

Sharon Grattan

For Autistic Adults, Caregivers

The following list is a guide to Northern BC autism resources. We have it divided into sections so you can use the ones that best suit your current needs.

AutismBC is a provincial organization with four regions: Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, Interior, and Northern. Each region has its own Regional Coordinator to help local residents navigate the autism services in their area. Sharon Grattan is our Regional Coordinator for Northern BC & Program Coordinator. Can’t find what you are looking for? You can reach out to Sharon directly here

 

Do you have Autism Funding in place, but are unsure how to access it online? 

Please read the Next Steps After Your Child’s Autism Diagnosis — Autism Q & A, Caregivers — AutismBC 

Instructional Videos on the Autism Portal: 

Navigating My Family Services 

My Family Services – Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCbnBeJdwHQ          

Managing your Autism Funding Account https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFtqhT9mw04       

Autism Funding Program Dashboard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0nvshxJIso   

Autism Funding Program Request to Pay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6MrdUUYqDs      

Autism Funding Program Reimbursement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34BmEpozt6g      

 Autism Funding – Direct Payment Agreement: AUTISM FUNDING AGES 6–18 DIRECT PAYMENT AGREEMENT (gov.bc.ca)

Need to talk to someone about your funding?

Victoria Office:
250 387-3530
Toll Free:
1 877 777-3530
Email:
[email protected]

 

Family Connection Centres – 3 Pilot Locations in Northern BC

In the Spring of 2023, there have been changes rolled out in Northern BC, specifically in the regions of Prince Rupert, Terrace and the Bulkley Valley area. The BC Government MCFD Ministry will be piloting three Family Connection Centres (FCCs). You can learn more about these FCCs here: Family connections centres to support families, children and youth with support needs – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) 

Operators Announced for Family Connection Centres: Operators announced for pilot family connections centres | BC Gov News

FCC Operators:

Home – Northwest Child Development Centre (nwcdc.ca) (Bulkley Valley) 

TCDC – Terrace Child Development Centre (Terrace/Kitimat) 

North Coast Community Services (nccspr.ca) (Prince Rupert/Haida Gwaii) 

Family Connection Centre Framework and Service Delivery Model Brochure. Click here.

 

Indigenous Supports & Services:  

Jordan’s Principle | Assembly of First Nations

Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.

Jordan’s Principle is named in memory of Jordan River Anderson. He was a young boy from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba.

Wellbeing program – Métis Nation British Columbia (mnbc.ca)

  • The Miyoopimatishihk (Wellbeing) Program is available to children Birth – 8 who are enrolled in the Métis Family Connections Program. Through the Miyoopimatishihk (Wellbeing) Program, families can apply for financial support (up to $5,000 per fiscal year) to assist in the cost of a wide range of services, programs and products, including but not limited to: respite care, speech therapy, assessments, specialized equipment, mental health supports.

Aboriginal Supported Child Development – ASCD’s purpose is to enable children who require extra support to be included in childcare settings, preschool, before/after school and community care settings. Such inclusion nurtures a child’s self-esteem, and identity, and allows the children to participate in settings that will support their development along with their peers. 

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society–  The BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (BCACCS) offers a variety of services that provide early childhood education professionals, support service professionals, and Indigenous children and families access to early learning programs, resources, training, research, and community services that are culturally based.

BCANDS – British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society  – is an internationally recognized and award-winning, national Indigenous not-for-profit, Society serving the unique and diverse disability needs of Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Carrier Sekani Family Services: Fraser Lake/Prince George/Burns Lake/Vanderhoof  – Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) has been working hard to offer holistic wellness services for Member Nations for 30 years. Our organization was created to reassert First Nations control of justice, health, social and family services, all of which have suffered through the process of colonization.

Central Interior Native Health Society – At the Central Interior Native Health Society we recognize the inequity in health status between Aboriginal Peoples and mainstream society. We serve to restore balance through a holistic approach to health care that promotes physical, spiritual, emotional and cultural harmony within all Aboriginal Peoples who reside in North Central British Columbia.

Friendship House – Prince Rupert  –  The Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert is an inclusive organization that exists to provide programs and services to the community at large, with an emphasis on the needs of the First Nations People in the areas of education, culture, health and recreation.

Home – Métis Nation British Columbia (mnbc.ca)The Métis Nation Government in British Columbia

Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia | A Helping Hand to Justice (nccabc.ca)  – The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia provides culturally-appropriate services to Indigenous people and communities consistent with their needs.

Home | Northwest Inter-Nation Family And Community Services Society (nifcs.org)  Northwest Region – – Northwest Inter-Nation Family & Community Services Society “NIFCS” is a Delegated Aboriginal Agency that provides family support, guardianship and caregiver services to seven First Nations communities in the Northwest region of British Columbia

Prince George Native Friendship Centre  – The Prince George Native Friendship Centre is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization dedicated to servicing the needs of Aboriginal people residing in the urban area and improving the quality of life in the community as a whole. Fundamental to this is recognizing the inherent worth of all peoples regardless of race, creed, sexual orientation, or culture and promoting this view in the community at large. 

Quesnel Tillicum Society/ Native Friendship Centre – Home (quesnelfriendshipcentre.com) – The Friendship Centre’s mission is “to improve the quality of life and meet the needs of Indigenous and other peoples who are faced with adjusting to the social, economic and cultural lifestyles of the community” and to foster enhanced spiritual growth among the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who use the services and facilities of the Centre.

https://learningcircle.ubc.ca/ubclc-counselling-support/ – Learning Circle counselling and wellness support resources

For more indigenous support:

AutismBC’s Blog: How do I access supports for my Indigenous child in the North? — Autism Q & A, Blog, Caregivers — AutismBC 

 

Support Services – Families & Adults

Prince George Area:

A.C.E. | Activity Centre for Empowerment | Prince George (bcsspgace.org)  

AiMHi – Community Living Prince George, BC | Supportive Living & Housing Services  

B.A.S.I.C. – North – Sources Community Resource Centres (sourcesbc.ca)

Behaviour Intervention and Mental Health – North – Sources Community Resource Centres (sourcesbc.ca)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern BC (bigsnbc.ca)

Bridge Psychology (bridgepg.ca) – Autism Assessments

Child Development Centre PG – The Child Development Centre of Prince George and District (cdcpg.org)

Child, Youth, and Family Services – Axis Family Resources Ltd.  

CMHA Northern BC Branch – Mental Health for All

Prince George – Foundry – (foundrybc.ca)

HOME – GARFORTH EDUCATION  

Gateway Behaviour Services – HOME

Girls Club Northern BC

Hearing programs (Audiology) | Northern Health

Northern Interior Autism Society

Kyle’s Kindness – Fundraising Charity for private autism assessments

KM Behaviour Intervention Services

Kumon of PRINCE GEORGE

Northern Health Assessment Network (NHAN) | Northern Health – MSP Autism Assessments

https://www.intersect.bc.ca/  (PG Area)

Pacific Autism Family Network Group- Prince George Spoke | Facebook 

Passion and Purpose Occupational Therapy Services 

Pivot Point Family Growth Centre Inc. PG

Prince George Native Friendship Centre 

Respite Support Services British Columbia (recrespite.com)

Sylvan Learning | Tutors & Tutoring

T&K Behaviourial

Enhancing each day for each individual – TCS – Thompson Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled (tcsinfo.ca) 

True North Speech SLP Services

Virtual Clinic | Northern Health

Robson Valley, Valemount & McBride:

Cimarron Way~Equine Assisted Learning – Your Life…Unbridled! AFU Approved Equine Therapy 

Robson Valley Community Services – Serving Valemount and McBride  

Home – True North Speech

Dawson Creek: 

Dawson Creek Haven Family Services (dchaven.ca)

HOME – peaceautism.ca – Autism Assessments

Home – South Peace Child Development CentreSouth Peace Child Development Centre (spcdc.ca)

Home – True North Speech

Fort Saint John: 

Kids Connect Autism Program (cdcfsj.ca) 

Scilla Behaviour Support Services in Fort St. John, BC (scillabss.ca)  

Treaty 8 Tribal Association | United First Nations: Strong, Proud, and Free

Home – True North Speech

Home | Wyld Acres (wyldacresbc.com)

Williams Lake: 

Blue Sky Autism Services

Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre | Williams Lake (ccchild.org)

Williams Lake Autism and Neurodivergent Support

Cariboo Chilcotin – Foundry – (foundrybc.ca)

Home – True North Speech

Quesnel: 

Quesnel & District Child Development Center (quesnelcdc.com)

Quesnel Child Development Centre | Facebook 

Quesnel Autism Parent Group | Facebook 

Quesnel Tillicum Society/ Native Friendship Centre – Home (quesnelfriendshipcentre.com)

Home – True North Speech

Bulkley Valley/Nechako: 

Home | EBUS Academy

EdGE Learning Centre (bvcls.com)

EdGE Heartwood – EdGE Learning Centre (bvcls.org)

Home – Family Support Institute (familysupportbc.com) 

HOME | Grendel Group

Home – Northwest Child Development Centre (nwcdc.ca) 

Family Support | Smithers Community Services Association 

Our Services – Sources Community Resource Centres (sourcesbc.ca)

Thomas Robinson Consulting – Thomas Robinson Consulting (trcl.ca)

Home – True North Speech

Terrace, Kitimat & Prince Rupert (Northwest BC): 

Annette Rolleman Music Therapy

The Berry Patch | Child Care Resource and Referral (childcareprincerupert.ca)

CB Education Services (cberton.com) (Prince Rupert)

“We are many cultures but one community” (friendshiphouse.ca) 

Forever Young Therapy Services

Foundry Terrace – (foundrybc.ca)

Contact the Kitimat CDC | Kitimat Community Development Centre 

North Coast Community Services | Prince Rupert Community Enrichment Society (northccs.com)

Northwest Inter-Nation Family And Community Services Society 

PNGI – The Provincial Networking Group Inc.PNGI leads an exceptional team of people who care about helping people with diverse abilities live their best lives in Terrace and Kitimat, BC. 

Behaviour Intervention and Mental Health – North – Sources Community Resource Centres (sourcesbc.ca)

TCDC – Terrace Child Development Centre 

Enhancing each day for each individual – TCS – Thompson Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled (tcsinfo.ca) 

Home – True North Speech

Adult Supports & Services: 

TALK-North West is a new self advocacy group in Kitimat and Terrace. The group is hosting social connection events and are looking for help spreading the word about what they do and how to get involved. You can learn more by contacting Chelsea and Jamie at [email protected] 

CLBC North Community Councilplease reach out to [email protected] if you would like to become a member of the North Council and/or you would like to be invited to the next gathering. 

CLBC Indigenous Relations Facilitator, Brenda Duggan, is learning from and connecting with Indigenous communities, people and families to learn how CLBC can build trusting relationships and culturally safe supports. You can reach Brenda by email [email protected] 

Embrace Autism – Online autism tests for free; to learn more about the full assessment process, watch out Highlights video here: https://youtu.be/ypef7hTjsW8.  

AutismBC’s Highlights: Is Self-Diagnosis valid? https://youtu.be/j2cj75yM474 

AutismBC Meets – Getting Together on the Spectrum, online Zoom group. Sign up HERE to join the Autistic Adult Mailing List and receive emails and communications for upcoming events. Meetings take place on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month from 430-6pm PST.    

Foundry Terrace – (foundrybc.ca) Foundry Terrace is offering young people 12-24 access to mental health and substance use support, primary care, peer support and social services. 

Prince George – Foundry – (foundrybc.ca) – At Foundry Prince George young people can find hope, help and support for their wellness needs 

Home – AiMHi – Prince George Association for Community Living AiMHi provides opportunities and supports to people who have special needs and their families. Our culture empowers all people, both those we support and those we employ to live their best lives at work, at home and in the community. Strong communities recognize and celebrate the value of all citizens. 

PNGI – The Provincial Networking Group Inc.PNGI leads an exceptional team of people who care about helping people with diverse abilities live their best lives in Terrace and Kitimat, BC.  

 

Child Development Centre (CDC) and Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD):

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve 

Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre – Williams Lake  

CDC Fort St. John  

Child & Family Services Office for Prince Rupert 

Kitimat Community Development Centre 

North Coast Community Services (nccspr.ca)

Northwest Child Development Centre 

The Child Development Centre of Prince George and District 

Quesnel & District Child Development Centre 

Robson Valley Community Services – Serving Valemount and McBride  

South Peace Child Development Centre 

Terrace Child Development Centre  

Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre | Williams Lake (ccchild.org)

 

Mental HealthFree and low-cost counseling options available.  

Home Page | Anxiety Stress and Autism Program (ASAP) (ubc.ca) 

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors 

Bounceback  

CMHA Northern BC Branch – Mental Health for All  

FamilySmart – Together-Centred™ for Child & Youth Mental Health  

Foundry Terrace 

Foundry Virtual BC – Foundry BC App –

Indigenous Child & Youth Mental Health (CYMH) Services – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) 

Medications | Kelty Mental Health  

Medications for Irritability of Autism | Kelty Mental Health  

Mackenzie Counselling Service 

Mental Health Benefit (fnha.ca)  

Mourning’s Dawn Counselling 

Northern BC Crisis Centre – You are not alone. We are here for you 24/7 

Northern Society for Domestic Peace  

Northwest Counselling 

Prince George – Foundry – (foundrybc.ca) 

Rural Mental Wellness Toolkit – Stigma Free Society 

Ruth Murdoch Counselling 

Youth Community Outpatient Service (YCOS Prince George) 

Available to youth and young adults residing in the Prince George community, the YCOS program provides outreach to youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use issues through assessment, individual and group therapy, case management, life skills training, recreational activities, and family support.  

Northern Health works in collaboration with Foundry Prince George to help youth struggling with problematic substance use. Individual counselling support is available to youth aged 12-24 on a walk in basis. 

Foundry Prince George 
1148 7th Ave 
Prince George BC  V2L 5G6 
Phone: 236-423-1571 

The YCOS program has a specific mandate to work with youth aged 13-19 who have co-occurring mental health and substance use issues, by providing counselling, family support, outreach (the ability to work with youth in a variety of settings) and referral. If you have further inquiries or would like to refer to this program. 

Phone: 250-649-7660 

 

Private/Contract Service Providers:  

Assessments: Bridge Psychology Dr. Liz Rocha

Assessments: Okanagan Ability Centre – Psychological Assessment & Diagnostic Services  

Assessments: HOME – peaceautism.ca Dr. Jim Bowman

Annette Rolleman – Music Therapy Terrace, BC & Telehealth Virtual  

Access Community Therapists Ltd. 

Blackbird Toileting Services

Breaking Trail OT – Families creating their own path

The C.O.D.E. Initiative Foundation (thecodeinitiative.ca)

Edge Learning Centre | Facebook Bulkley Valley

Forever Young Therapy Services

InReach Physio 

Online Speech Therapy in BC  

Orton-Gillingham Tutoring Vancouver | Coquitlam | Richmond (symbolslearning.com)

Pediatric Speech & Developmental Services by A.Yu & Associates (speechanddevelopment.ca)

Scilla Behaviour Support Services in Fort St. John, BC (scillabss.ca)  

Thomas Robinson Consulting  

Thompson Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled 

Rain or Shine Art Studio | Facebook Prince Rupert, BC  

West Coast Centre for Learning PEERS for Teens and Young Adults and Executive Function Classes and Individual Coaching and Mandt training for Families and School Staff

West Coast Feeding & Behaviour Specialists | Transforming Mealtimes. One Bite At a Time. 

School Inclusion & Supports:

Advocate With Confidence Course – BrainsAbound Learning

BCEdAccess – Collective action for equitable education.

CB Education Services (cberton.com)

EdGE Learning Centre (bvcls.com) (Alternative Learning Centre, Smithers) 

EmpowerECS: Comprehensive Support for Empowering Youth

Gateway Behaviour Services – HOME (Alternative Learning Centre, PG)

HomeLearners Network | Online Learning Activities for Kids & Teens – Online Programs 

Inclusion BC | Advancing rights. Promoting abilities.  

POPARD – Provincial Outreach Program for Autism and Related Disorders (autismoutreach.ca)  

Home – Office of the Representative for Children and Youth (rcybc.ca)

SET-BC  

Student Mental Health Toolkit | Stigma-Free Society 

Support Services – SelfDesign Learning Foundation

Symbols Learning Multisensory Learning Centers Vancouver

The C.O.D.E. Initiative Foundation (thecodeinitiative.ca)

Don’t forget to check out our back-to-school blog here! 

 

Northern Health Authority & Government:    

Assessment Network | Northern Health  

BC Autism Assessment Network 

Disability Assistance – Province of British Columbia 

NHAH BCAAN Referral Form  

Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit  

Request for Services Referral Form | Prince George  

Request for Services | Quesnel  

BC Autism Assessment Network 

Are you moving from outside BC? Check out our Moving to BC blog here! 

Developmental Milestones  

Therapeutic Riding Associations: 

Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association  – Prince Goerge

Horses Touching Hearts Therapeutic Riding Association  – Smithers

Cimarron Way Equine Assisted Learning – Robson Valley

Home | Wyld Acres (wyldacresbc.com)  – FSJ

NFP/ Charity Organizations:  

Aide Canada 

A.C.E. | Activity Centre for Empowerment | Prince George (bcsspgace.org)  

ACT – Autism Community Training 

Autism Navigator  

Home – BC Aboriginal Child Care Society (acc-society.bc.ca)

BC People First Society 

CAN – Canucks Autism Network 

Family Support Institute of BC 

Friends of Children  

Hope Air 

myCommunity BC 

Respite Support Virtually 

Social Diversity for Children Foundation  

Home – Variety BC

Ways to Access Services (air, train, bus, ferry, etc.):

Northern Health Connections 

Check out our comprehensive travel accessibility blog here! 

Family Supports:  

District Parent Advisory Council – Prince Rupert District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is the recognized representative for the collective voice of parents in SD#52. Prince Rupert DPAC is comprised of elected parent representatives from our 7 School Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) and support families with students in the public school district through advocacy and information sharing. Please message via Facebook or by email to [email protected] (Prince Rupert DPAC, n.d.). 

North Coast Transition Society – NCTS offers family counselling for individuals, couples, and families (North Coast Transition Society, n.d.).  

Northwest Inter-Nation Family and Community Services – NIFCS offers an Aboriginal family councillor and other family support programs (NIFCS, n.d.).  

Professional Development: 

AutismBC Community Trainings:

What is Autism? Workshop — AutismBC

Waiting for Assessment — AutismBC

Mental Health Awareness |Community Presentations | Stigma Free Zone (stigmafreesociety.com) online training program, they provide companies of all sizes the training, tools and programs to end the stigma of mental illness in the workplace. They are striving for a world without stigma – one workplace at a time. 

Autism Essentials | Reframing Autism A free self-study course written by Autistic people and informed by research.  

CIRCA Pro-D Programs — Four online professional development (Pro-D) programs in Autism and Neurodiversity for professionals in Human Resources and Business, Dentistry, Primary Care / Physicians, and Early Childcare. 

Facebook Groups & Pages:  

Autism Prince Rupert    

BC Families with Autism  

The Parent Newsletter: Gitxsan, Wet’suwet’en & the Hazeltons   

Homeschooling With Autism In BC  

IF NW – Inclusion Families Northwest    

Northern BC Autism/ADHD and Related Disorders Parent Support Group  

Northern Interior Autism Society  

Pacific Autism Family Network Group- Prince George Spoke  

Special Needs Families of Northern BC  

Quesnel Autism Parent Group | Facebook   

BC Families with Autism   

Fort St. James Community Foundation Society  

Fort Nelson Family Development Society 

Williams Lake Autism and Neurodivergent Support | Facebook

 

Is there a resource you think we should have on this list? Please contact Sharon here

Become a Society Member! 

We are seeking society members from Northern BC — By becoming an AutismBC Society Member, you will have all the same benefits as Community Members. You will also be bound by and benefit from AutismBC’s Bylaws, which govern voting, general meetings, electing directors and other governance matters. Click here to learn more. 

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