Regional ResourcesNorthern BC Autism Resources
Sharon Grattan
For Autistic Adults, Caregivers
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
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
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:
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
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 Council – please 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
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 Health – Free 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
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Northern Society for Domestic Peace
Foundry Virtual BC – Foundry BC App –
CMHA Northern BC Branch – Mental Health for All
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
Pediatric Speech & Developmental Services by A.Yu & Associates (speechanddevelopment.ca)
Breaking Trail OT – Families creating their own path
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
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
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
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
The Berry Patch Child Care Resource and Referral Centre
Social Diversity for Children Foundation
Family Support Institute of BC
ACT – Autism Community Training
Variety Children’s Charity – Autism Assessments
A.C.E. | Activity Centre for Empowerment | Prince George (bcsspgace.org)
Ways to Access Services (air, train, bus, ferry, etc.)
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
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
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.
Resources
AutismBC Connects with Sharon Grattan, Regional Coordinator
Further Reading
Autism-Friendly Summer Camps and Programs
Summer can be the highlight of a child’s year, but it can also be full of adjustments. We have compiled a list of Autism-Friendly Summer Camps, Day Programs, Online Events, and more to help you and your family plan! This list will be growing as we discover additional programs, so feel free to check back regularly. Do you know of a Summer Camp or program that we should have included on this list? Let us know.
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