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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. Can’t find what you are looking for? You can reach out to Sharon directly here

 

Do you have Autism Funding in place, but 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      

 

In Spring of 2023, there will be changes coming to Northern BC, specifically in the regions of Prince Rupert, Terrace and the Bulkley Valley area, as the BC Government MCFD Ministry will be piloting three Family Connection Centres. 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

 

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.

 

Home – Métis Nation British Columbia (mnbc.ca) 

BC Aboriginal Child Care Society 

Aboriginal Supported Child Development 

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

BCANDS – British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society   

Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia | A Helping Hand to Justice (nccabc.ca) 

Carrier Sekani Family Services: Fraser Lake/Prince George/Burns Lake/Vanderhoof  

About NCFS | Nisga’a Lisims Government (nisgaanation.ca) (Nisga’a, Terrace, Prince Rupert) 

Central Interior Native Health Society 

Prince George Native Friendship Centre  

Home | Northwest Inter-Nation Family And Community Services Society (nifcs.org)  Northwest Region

Friendship House – Prince Rupert  

https://learningcircle.ubc.ca/ubclc-counselling-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:

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

Gateway Behaviour Services – HOME

Autism Services Prince George Region – Pivot Point Family Growth Centre Inc.

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

Home | T&K Behaviourial (tkbehavioural.ca)

Passion and Purpose Occupational Therapy Services 

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

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

Pacific Autism Family Network Group- Prince George Spoke | Facebook 

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

 Robson Valley, Valemount & McBride:

Robson Valley Community Services – Serving Valemount and McBride  

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

Dawson Creek: 

Dawson Creek Haven Family Services (dchaven.ca) @Website 

Fort Saint John: 

Kids Connect Autism Program (cdcfsj.ca) 

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

Home | Wyld Acres (wyldacresbc.com)

Williams Lake: 

Home – New Horizons Society 

Quesnel: 

Quesnel Child Development Centre | Facebook 

Quesnel Autism Parent Group | Facebook 

Bulkley Valley: 

Family Support | Smithers Community Services Association 

Home – Northwest Child Development Centre (nwcdc.ca) 

Home – Family Support Institute (familysupportbc.com) 

Terrace, Kitimat & Prince Rupert (Northwest BC): 

TCDC – Terrace Child Development Centre 

Contact the Kitimat CDC | Kitimat Community Development Centre 

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

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

Northwest Inter-Nation Family And Community Services Society 

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

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. 

 

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 talknorthwest@gmail.com 

CLBC North Community Councilplease reach out to Jessica.Humphrey@gov.bc.ca 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 Brenda.Duggan@gov.bc.ca 

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):

Operators announced for pilot family connections centres | BC Gov News

CDC Fort St. John  

Northwest Child Development Centre 

Quesnel & District Child Development Centre 

Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre – Williams Lake  

South Peace Child Development Centre 

Kitimat Community Development Centre 

The Child Development Centre of Prince George and District 

Terrace Child Development Centre  

Aboriginal Head Start On Reserve 

Child & Family Services Office for Prince Rupert 

 

Mental HealthFree and low-cost counseling options available.  

Medications | Kelty Mental Health  

Medications for Irritability of Autism | Kelty Mental Health  

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

Bounceback  

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors 

Northern Society for Domestic Peace  

Ruth Murdoch Counselling 

Mourning’s Dawn Counselling 

Foundry Terrace 

Foundry Virtual BC – Foundry BC App –

Northwest Counselling 

CMHA Northern BC Branch – Mental Health for All  

Mackenzie Counselling Service 

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

Mental Health Benefit (fnha.ca)  

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

Prince George: 

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 

Assessments: Okanagan Ability Centre – Psychological Assessment & Diagnostic Services  

Online Speech Therapy in BC  

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

Breaking Trail OT – Families creating their own path

InReach Physio 

Thomas Robinson Consulting  

North Coast Community Services | Prince Rupert Community Enrichment Society 

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

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

Access Community Therapists Ltd. 

Thompson Community Services for the Developmentally Disabled 

Annette Rolleman – Music Therapy Terrace, BC & Telehealth Virtual  

 Rain or Shine Art Studio | Facebook Prince Rupert, BC  

Edge Learning Centre | Facebook Bulkley Valley

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

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

School Inclusion & Supports  

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

Inclusion BC | Advancing rights. Promoting abilities.  

Canada Student Grant for services and equipment for students with permanent disabilities – Canada.ca  

Financial Help for People with Disabilities | Dial-A-Law (peopleslawschool.ca)  

B.C. supplemental bursary for students with a permanent disability | StudentAidBC  

B.C. access grant for students with permanent disabilities | StudentAidBC  

Canada Student Grant for services and equipment for students with permanent disabilities – Canada.ca  

Repayment assistance plan for borrowers with a permanent disability | StudentAidBC  

HOME – GARFORTH EDUCATION  

BCEdAccess Society | Facebook  

PAC 10 Tutoring  

SET-BC  

West Coast Centre for Learning Mandt training for School Staff

 

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

Northern Health Authority & Government    

Speech and Language Program | Northern Health  

Assessment Network | Northern Health  

NHAH BCAAN Referral Form  

Disability Assistance – Province of British Columbia 

Severe and Permanent Disability Benefit  

Early Intervention Referral Form | Haida Gwaii  

Request for Services Referral Form | Prince George  

Request for Speech Language Service | Prince Rupert  

Request for Services | Quesnel  

Request for Services | Smithers  

Request for Services | Terrace  

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  

Horses Touching Hearts Therapeutic Riding Association  

Cimarron Way Equine Assisted Learning 

Home | Wyld Acres (wyldacresbc.com)  

NFP/ Charity Organizations  

Hope Air 

Friends of Children  

New Horizons Society 

Aide Canada 

BC People First Society 

The Berry Patch Child Care Resource and Referral Centre 

Social Diversity for Children Foundation  

Autism Navigator  

Respite Support Virtually 

myCommunity BC 

Family Support Institute of BC 

CAN – Canucks Autism Network 

ACT – Autism Community Training 

Variety Children’s Charity – Autism Assessments  

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

Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre – The Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC) is a not-for-profit providing services and supports to families and individuals in the South Cariboo region.  

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 rupertdpac@gmail.com (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.).  

  

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 

 

 

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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