CASDA Annual General Meeting Fiscal Year 2014 Tuesday, March 31, :30am EST The Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel Bay Drive Ottawa, Ontario

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CASDA Annual General Meeting Fiscal Year 2014 Tuesday, March 31, 2015 11:30am EST The Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel Bay Drive Ottawa, Ontario Chair: Cynthia Carroll, CFRE Minutes 1. Call to Order C.

1 CASDA Annual General Meeting Fiscal Year 2014 Tuesday, March 31, :30am EST The Shaw Centre, 55 Colonel Bay Drive Ottawa, Ontario Chair: Cynthia Carroll, CFRE Minutes 1. Call to Order C. Carroll Cynthia Carroll called the AGM of CASDA to order. 2. Review and Approval of Minutes for AGM, 2013 M. Whelan Motion: Debbie Irish called for the approval of the Minutes for AGM, Motion duly seconded, approved, and carried. 3. Annual Report for 2014 C. Carroll Cynthia Carroll spoke about the growth of CASDA over the last 8 years and the level of collaboration that has made such an impact across the country to advance the autism agenda at the national level. See Appendix I for the full report. Cynthia then spoke of the importance of the National Needs Assessment and CASDA s partnership with the Canadian Association of Community Living (CACL) for the recent initiative Ready, Willing and Able (RWA). In February of this year, CASDA also submitted a Canadian Autism Partnership Proposal to the government of Canada. The proposed Partnership is modelled after the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. If approved, this will mean the creation and implementation of a Canadian Autism Strategy. 1

2 Sincere thanks were expressed for the tremendous support of MP Mike Lake; his efforts truly made this proposal submission possible. Motion: A motion was made to make Mike Lake an honourary member of CASDA in recognition of his leadership and many contributions to CASDA, this Summit, and the federal proposal in support of the development of the Canadian Autism Partnership. This motion was duly seconded, approved, and carried. The assembled members and guests recognized Mike Lake s championing of the cause, pivotal role in the proposal for the Canadian Autism Partnership, and receiving of a lifetime membership to CASDA with a standing ovation. Cynthia then very sincerely thanked the leadership team: Debbie Irish, Marg Whelan, Dave Mikelsen, Suzanne Jacobson, Laurie Mawlam, and Jill Farber for their tireless efforts, and for bringing such true leadership to CASDA and this Summit. Finally, on behalf of CASDA, Cynthia thanked all of the Summit attendees and guests, provincial and federal government attendees, researchers, educators, organizations, etc. who made this first Canadian ASD Leadership Summit an historic success. Thanked the individuals and families. Hope you feel inspired and less isolated. We are making progress. Messages of hope for citizens in Canada with autism. 4. Financial Report, period ending December, 2014 L. Mawlam Laurie Mawlam reviewed the Financial Report included in attendee packages. Please refer to Appendix II Motion: Steve Horner moved to approve the Financial Report as delivered by Laurie Mawlam and included in attendee packages, seconded by Suzanne Lewis. Motion carried. 5. Review of revised Articles of Membership M. Whelan 2

3 Marg Whelan reviewed the revised articles of Membership and changes to membership levels as included in attendee packages. Marg noted that Mike Lake joins Sen. Jim Munson, CASDA s first and heretofore only honoured Lifetime Member. Sen. Munson received warm applause for his immense and valued efforts on behalf of Canadians with autism. For the purposes of clarity in terms of membership, Marg affirmed that CASDA is intended not as a parent support organization nor to replace or duplicate those support organizations, but to bring together autism organizations from across the country. Marg explained the articles referring to expansion of the CASDA leadership team, and changes to leadership. Individuals may serve a maximum of two consecutive two year terms and then must take a year off before serving on the leadership team again. 6. Motion to approve the revised Articles of Membership M. Whelan Motion: Marg Whelan moved to approve the revised Articles of Membership, seconded by Suzanne Lewis. Motion carried. 7. Motion to approve actions of the Leadership Committee, 2014 D. Irish Debbie Irish reviewed the actions of the Leadership Committee, 2014 as included in attendee packages. Debbie reported that CASDA membership renewal s will be sent to existing members; for new members, renewal will be one year from the date that they purchased their membership. Motion: Susan Lewis moved to approve the actions of the Leadership Committee, 2014, seconded by Deborah. Motion carried. 3

4 8. Election of the Leadership Committee C. Carroll Cynthia presented Jill Farber, Executive Director of Autism Speaks Canada, to be added to the 2015 Nominations to the CASDA Leadership Committee, and presented the nominations slate to Membership. Motion: Sally Ginter moved to accept the 2015 Nominations to the CASDA Leadership Committee, seconded by Tom Collins. Motion carried. 9. Motion to adjourn meeting C. Carroll Motion: Marg Whelan moved that the Annual General Meeting of CASDA be adjourned. In concluding remarks, the leadership team thanked Cynthia Carroll for her leadership and tremendous efforts as Chair of CASDA, which have led to so many positive results not least of which is this historic Summit. Cynthia was recognized with a round of applause. 4

5 Appendix I: CASDA Annual General Report 2014 I am honoured as Chair of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA) to report on the work over the 2014 fiscal year. This year our AGM took place at the inaugural Leadership Summit in Ottawa. Over the last eight years I think of how far CASDA has come as an Alliance, but also as a collaborative nation that continues to support and work for the needs of children, youth and adults with ASD and their families. It is inspiring and a tremendous accomplishment by autism colleagues across the country doing amazing work. Over the last year, the CASDA leadership team has been busy. Spring 2014 brought the launch of the Autism in Canada: National Needs Assessment Survey, in partnership with Dr. Jonathan Weiss, National Chair in Autism Research at the University of York. Over 5600 individuals, parents/caregivers, and professionals working in the field of ASD responded and reported on the current services in their regions, as well as existing gaps in service across the lifespan. The summary report was submitted to the Public Health Agency of Canada in August 2014 and will complement their work on ASD Surveillance in Canada. A copy of the report is available on the website As an Alliance, we hope you will find this report helpful in the region you live and work. This report also provides a framework to guide the development of a National ASD Strategy. A long time goal and mandate of CASDA. In 2014, CASDA was also appointed two seats on the Public Health Agency s Advisory Committee for ASD Surveillance, as well as their Knowledge Translation sub committee. The work of this surveillance project is critical and we encourage all provinces and territories to get involved. Understanding concrete numbers related to ASD help us make cost effective and critical decisions across the continuum of the lifespan. The Ready Willing and Able initiative announced by the Government of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Community Living, was announced at our last AGM and launched in September Since then 20 communities across Canada are actively working to build Employer demand and working with existing service support agencies throughout the provinces and territories to support youth and adults with ASD towards the workforce. For more information on Ready Willing and Able please visit In January 2015, we received confirmation that two of our CASDA members Sinneave Family Foundation and Autism Speaks Canada moved through the last stage of federal approval for 5

6 Community Works Canada. An initiative that will support vocational training hubs across the country and more importantly build volunteerism and career exploration for our youth with ASD across the country. CASDA applauds the federal government for their investment in working with partners to enhance employment outcomes for people living with ASD, which we know are well below the national average even for persons living with disabilities. In February 2015, CASDA in partnership with leaders across the country and with support from the Honourable Mike Lake, MP, a Canadian Autism Partnership proposal outlining the development and implementation plan for a National ASD Strategy was submitted to the Government of Canada for consideration. This model is based on the successful Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Model, and supports priorities within federal jurisdiction, while providing evidence based information that will be accessible at the provincial and territorial level. This partnership also further unites the National ASD Community while respecting and supporting the ongoing good work in the provinces and territories. We are hopeful that we will see an announcement supporting this initiative in the upcoming federal budget. In addition to project based work, CASDA continues to meet with senior federal officials and spends time on Parliament Hill to advance ASD priorities and advocate for a National ASD Strategy. In closing I want to thank the leadership team; Debbie Irish, CEO of Geneva Centre for Autism in Toronto, Marg Whelan, retired CEO and ASD expert from Ontario, Laurie Mawlam, CEO of Autism Canada Foundation, Jill Farber, CEO of Autism Speaks Canada, Dave Mikkelsen, CEO of Society for Treatment of Autism in Alberta, Suzanne Jacobson, President of Quickstart in Ottawa. I want to acknowledge the work of this team and the board of directors of their provincial and national organizations as they spend hundreds of hours in their volunteer role on the leadership committee to advance the agenda of a National ASD Strategy through partnerships and working in collaboration with the federal government. I would also like to thank Senator Jim Munson, who continues to be a champion of CASDA and for all Canadians with ASD and their families. A special thank you is also extended to the Honourable Mike Lake, MP. He has worked tirelessly to help the autism community understand the difference between federal and provincial jurisdiction, brought stakeholders together across the country to share best practice models and start discussions that would otherwise be unattainable. We are making progress and it is the hope of CASDA in working with its member organizations that life in Canada for citizens with autism will be a full and happy one. 6

7 Sincerely, Cynthia Carroll, Chair CASDA Appendix II FINANCIAL ACTIVITY REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING December 31, 2014 Funds available at the beginning of the year: $ Revenue Received during the year: Memberships: Proset Autism Autism Resources Miramichi Inc Maureen Jensen Bonita Harman Canucks Autism Network Stephanie Haber Susan McGowan Friend 2 Friend Social Learning Society Karin Steiner MULTIPLE Autism Resource Centre (Regina, SK) MULTIPLE Calm Spectrum consulting (Paulette Goddard Jarvis) Woodview Children's Centre $ Grants: PHAC National Needs Assessment (NNA) $52, $52, Cash Donations: $ $

8 Total Revenue: $53, Expenses during the year: PHAC NNA: Project Marketing $ Data Analysis $ Project Assistant $ Project Manager $ General Expenses $ $52, Printing Expense $ $ Total Expenses: $52, Funds available at the end of the year: $

Youth and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Ontario: Service Issues and Recommendations

PRESENTATION TO: The Honourable Dr. Helena Jaczek, Minister of Community and Social Services Youth and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Ontario: Service Issues and Recommendations March 9, 2015