In November 2009, members of the autism community came together for a "Day of Sharing and Celebration" at the Provincial Autism Centre in Halifax. Members at the table included the
 

• Provincial Autism Centre
• Autism Society of Nova Scotia
• Autism Society of Cape Breton
• Valley Autism Support Team
• Autism Centre Society of the South Shore
• Just Parents Advocacy
• Bedford-Sackville Support Group

The groups came together to share resources, information, best practice models, and program ideas while recognizing each group's autonomy. Since that time this group has become the Autism Council of Nova Scotia, and continues to grow its membership. The Council is not a non-profit organization. It is a conduit for autism organizations and groups to come together, share information and resources, speak in a unified voice on provincial issues to government and the community, and build capacity in the communities in which these groups operate.

The Autism Council continues to meet monthly at the Provincial Autism Centre, and operates with a terms of reference. In addition, the Autism Society of Nova Scotia recently pooled its resources with the Provincial Autism Centre and will no longer by a legal entity as of March 31, 2010. Their leadership and advocacy efforts in Nova Scotia over the last 14 years have paved the way for initiatives, including the EIBI program and the AMAT Working Group. By uniting with the Provincial Autism Centre and creating a stronger, unified provincial organization more families and people with ASD will be supported across the province.

Click here to view the Autism Council of Nova Scotia's Terms of Reference

Autism Council of Nova Scotia Members:

The Provincial Autism Centre is a registered charitable organization located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Provincial Autism Centre was founded in 2002 with one primary goal: to help parents, professionals, those on the spectrum, and others to find the information and services they need to support persons living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are a professionally run Centre that provides programs and services to the autism community while helping families and professionals across the province access resources and quality information about autism spectrum disorders. By providing parents and people with autism with information that can help them seek more effective therapy and support options, a teacher with a strategy that can foster better inclusion in the classroom, or an autistic adult with leads to an employment opportunity, greater successes for individuals with autism and their caregivers can be achieved. That is why, at the Provincial Autism Centre, we believe that support means success.  www.provincialautismcentre.ca  
 

The Autism Centre of the South Shore officially opened its doors in April 2009 with a mission to advance the personal development, equal opportunity and participation of people with autism in a safe, respectful and supportive community. Our vision is that people with Autism Spectrum Disorder achieve their potential and that they and their families have universal access to the resources they require. Located just outside of Bridgewater with a satellite lending library in Liverpool, the Centre is run by a group of dedicated volunteers led by a Board of Directors. We are a registered non profit society with the Nova Scotia Registry of Joint Stocks and all donations go directly to programs and resources for the communities we serve.  Please visit the centre's website at http://autismcentresocietyss.org/

Established in 1996, the Valley Autism Support Team is a not for profit group that serves families residing throughout the Annapolis Valley.  VAST was founded by a group of mothers and has now expanded to 65 families.  We have been primarily supporting young children and adolescents but, the group also includes 3 adults on the spectrum. Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month, at 7pm, in the Autism Centre at Kingston & District Elementary School.  More information can be found at www.annapolisvast.ca.  We can also be reached by email at VASTInfo@AnnapolisVAST.ca.

The Autism Society of Cape Breton is a volunteer lead non-profit registered charity that works to improve the quality of life of Cape Bretoner’s living with autism.  Since its inception in July 1977, the organization has maintained its focus as a community based advocacy and support group.  The Society is governed exclusively by parents and individuals with autism. The mandate of the Society is to develop and maintain a healthy autism community in Cape Breton.  Through advocating for improved services at the community, provincial and national level; providing social and support programming and promoting education and awareness about autism; the Society provides a collective voice for those most affected by autism in Cape Breton.autismcb@ns.aliantzinc.ca


Bedford-Sackville Support Group: Creating awareness and offering support since 2005. Bedford Sackville Autism Support (BSAS) parents meet once a month to discuss the challenges as well as the rewards of raising a child with ASD. We share experiences and ideas regarding behavioural problems, schooling issues and emotional support with other parents affected by ASD. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Sackville Heights Community Centre in Lower Sackville from 7:00PM - 9:00PM. BSAS is also proud to have created social and recreational opportunities for families and friends in our community. We currently host swims, dances, picnics and gymnastics classes, most of which are offered at no cost to the family. For more information visit www.ourpuzzlekidssite.com.
 

Piece by Piece Autism Association (Cumberland County, NS) is a non-profit organization which was founded in January 2009. PPAA was created to be a resource for those looking for information about Autism as well as to support families living with this disorder. We are working to connect those families affected by autism together in order to work as a collective body to help attain better services and thus a better future for our children. Our goal is to create opportunities for our community to learn more about Autism. To achieve our goal we have organized events to promote Autism Awareness in various locations in Cumberland County as well as doing presentations to schools and other groups in the community. We hold various activities throughout the year for our families including holiday parties, swims and movie matinees and we also have a lending library available to help families and community members learn more about what autism is and what they can do to help those individuals affected. To contact PPAA please email piecebypiece@eastlink.ca


Pictou County Children with Autism Association
President: Heidi Lindblad    (902)752-5302
Email:    heidilindblad@ns.sympatico.ca