Autism is a condition that affects many people. There are several types of autism, including AspergerSA国际影视传媒檚 syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Kanner syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder.

While you may not have heard about most of those types, you may have heard the term neurodivergent. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works.

And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 what the NWT Autism Society is expanding its scope toward.

The society has adopted a new name and will now be known as the Neurodiverse North Alliance. It will be launching a new website that day and it will host its first annual general meeting virtually at 12:30 p.m.

Denise McKee, chair of the current autism society board of directors, said the board decided to make the name change to extend its outreach.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 about incorporating the larger spectrum and a new way to approach neurodivergence,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

She also said like most disabilities, autism has been underfunded for years; the first time autism was even mentioned in a territorial budget was during the 2018-19 fiscal year, she said.

SA国际影视传媒�(Former Health and Social Services minister) Glen Abernethy proposed $848,000 for autism and FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder),SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎lmost all of it went to FASD and there was nothing specific for autism. We did have two positions identified SA国际影视传媒� an occupational therapist and a speech specialist SA国际影视传媒� but it was on and off for both of those.SA国际影视传媒�

McKee did note that the federal government has been working on a plan to deal with autism directly and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 been in the works for several years.

Another took that is available is whatSA国际影视传媒檚 known as a wandering kit, which includes tips for first responders when someone with autism goes missing, and a checklist for what to do if a loved one with autism is missing.

SA国际影视传媒淭hose with autism may wander off and they may not respond to people,SA国际影视传媒� said McKee. SA国际影视传媒淭here was a recent case in Saskatchewan where a non-verbal person ended up being arrested by police and so thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the right move in our opinion.SA国际影视传媒�

While there are services available to parents of young children diagnosed with autism, it tends to drop off once they reach adulthood, she added.

SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of those people end up not being engaged in their community and they may be under-employed or not employed at all,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen it comes to younger people, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 the effect of not being able to get into school. There are examples of parents being called to come and pick up their child because of their behaviour. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e told thereSA国际影视传媒檚 no support available at the time.SA国际影视传媒�

When that happens, McKee said people begin to give up and lose hope.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat happens is a parent has to become a caregiver, so you start to begin dealing with economic issues,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t affects women more than men because of the social structure we have. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 the loss of income and now you have a family that is thrust into poverty. That creates mental health stress and it just compounds the problem.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 especially harder here in the NWT because of the geography,SA国际影视传媒� she continued. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 the isolation and you donSA国际影视传媒檛 get the same level of services, so people are left with nothing.SA国际影视传媒�

McKee spoke about the experiences of her own family when they lived in Aklavik for three years. Her son, Conlan McKee, was diagnosed with autism at the age of two and the family moved to the NWT from Ontario when he was 11.

SA国际影视传媒淲e lived there for three years and the community was very supportive, but the resources were almost non-existent,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淗e had an amazing classroom assistant that worked closely with the family but he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 able to progress without the supports.SA国际影视传媒�

Without the consistency in care, ConlanSA国际影视传媒檚 progress stalled, so the family moved to Yellowknife believing they could access more support.

As soon as he turned 18, like thousands of Canadians with health concerns, he fell through the gaps in care. Support workers talked about sending him south.

McKee said that wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 even an option.

SA国际影视传媒淧arents are told that there are better services down there, but we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want to do that,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The NWT Disabilities Council, where McKee works as its executive director, provides as much support as it can, she said, with its summer camp, respite programs, learning supports and connecting families with programs that are there to help.

McKee said one big thing people can do to help families of autistic people is be accepting.

SA国际影视传媒淒onSA国际影视传媒檛 grab your childSA国际影视传媒檚 hand and pull them away because that frightens them and makes them think that something is really wrong with them,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭ell your children that theySA国际影视传媒檙e just different. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e all different and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 alright.SA国际影视传媒�