Childhood Anxiety: 5 Key Strategies to help Children and Teens Cope
Willow OT recaps the Childhood Anxiety: 5 Key Strategies to help children and teens cope webinar offered by the Institute of Child Psychology
Spectrum Works - Second Annual Job Fair
Spectrum Works hosted its second annual job fair dedicated to helping jobseekers with autism find employment in the Toronto Area! Spectrum Works takes a proactive approach in pairing employers with individuals with ASD looking to contribute to the workforce. Check out the article here.
MedicAlert Autism Program
For over 55 years, MedicAlert has provided medical ID services to over 1 million Canadians. On April 10th, 2018, the MedicAlert officially launched a new Autism program in partnership with Autism Canada. This new unique program is designed specifically to support Canadians on the autism spectrum and provide peace of mind to families and caregivers. In addition to providing contact information and medical history, the Personalized MedicAlert profiles can include information such as known routines, anxiety triggers, and de-escalation techniques to further help emergency responders and police manage situations.
For $60 a year the new program includes:
- One year of MedicAlert protection
- Free MedicAlert Autism Program ID
- Free show tag
- Free shipping
- Free Registration
- No Tax. a free ID
To learn more about the program or to register your loved one click here or call 1-877-217-7448.
1 in 66: The Prevalence of ASD in Canadian Children
A new report released by the Public Health Agency of Canada, states that approximately 1 in every 66 Canadian Children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is a neurological and developmental disorder that develops in early childhood and last throughout adulthood. ASD refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviour, and communication. The disorder is represented as a spectrum as it can present with a wide range of symptoms and severities, making each case unique. Although there are key attributes or "symptoms" linked to ASD, no two cases are the same.
The report, leased Thursday, analyzed data of children and youth aged 5-17 years old from across six provinces and one territory. The study noted that of the numbers gathered, boys were four to five times more likely to be diagnosed with ASD than when compared to girls. Although researchers are still investigating as to why this discrepancy exists.
This report helps to illustrate the increasing prevalence of ASD in Canada, and the importance of developing programs and services that best support the growing need for individuals with ASD.
Although this is the first Canadian- specific report detailing the national prevalence of ASD, it is a huge stepping stone to continued research in the field of Autism!
Click here to access the full report released by Public Health Agency of Canada.
Happy Holidays from Willow OT!
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season!