ACT-Autism Community Training

🌏 Connecting Across Borders
ACT Executive Director Dr. Michelle Schmidt recently met with Team IEUM, a group of inclusive education students from Ewha Womans University in South Korea, during their research visit to British Columbia.

Their research explores inclusive education and transition supports for autistic youth and adults, including post-secondary education, employment, independent living, and community participation.

It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, share experiences, and discuss how communities can better support autistic individuals and their families.

Thank you to Team IEUM — Sohyun Park, Seorim Yoo, Minju Lee, and Sujin Yi — for the thoughtful conversation and your interest in ACT’s work. We wish you every success with your research and look forward to staying connected!

Thank you for being part of our community.

Happy Pride; this month and every month!

We have launched our website redesign, and we are seeking community feedback to help refine the user experience!

Whether you are a parent, a self-advocate, a professional or a community supporter, your insights are valuable in helping us ensure the platform remains accessible and user-friendly.

Your input directly influences how we share knowledge and provide support!

Please take a few moments to explore the new site and share your thoughts through our feedback survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=VnJOUAz5g0ulrGDtlAIGAW7FMxam_QtFuSW7u9XF9pNUNllJRFpZRVJDN0ExRkhGOUY2UzFOSkozRi4u​

Autism and LGBTQIA2S+ identities do not cause su***de.

The increased risk comes from stigma, discrimination, isolation, and barriers to support.

Creating affirming families, schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems saves lives.

***deawareness

Autistic people are more likely than the general population to identify as gender diverse or transgender. There’s no single reason why, but many autistic people describe feeling less pressure to conform to social norms and a stronger need for identity to feel authentic and self-defined.

Gender expression can look different for everyone, through clothing, medical support, community, language, creativity, or self-exploration over time.

What matters most is support, safety, and the freedom to be yourself. Every identity is valid, and every journey deserves respect.

***rAutisticJoy

Q***r autistic joy is more than happiness; it's an act of resilience, healing, and belonging.

For LGBTQIA2S+ autistic individuals, experiencing joy in our identities, our communities, and our authentic selves is vital to emotional wellbeing.

In a world where many continue to face discrimination, stigma, and exclusion, moments of laughter, love, pride, and connection remind us that we deserve to thrive; not just survive.

***rAutisticJoy

Q***r autistic people don’t just experience the challenges of being autistic and LGBTQIA2S+ separately. They often face systemic barriers where these identities intersect.

From inaccessible healthcare and gender-affirming services, to discrimination in education, employment, housing, and mental health care, these barriers can make it harder to access the support, safety, and belonging that everyone deserves.

Creating truly inclusive spaces means recognizing intersectionality and advocating for systems that affirm all parts of a person’s identity.

📢 Community Update

The BC Disability Collaborative (BCDC) has released a statement regarding proposed changes to disability benefit eligibility criteria that may affect children, youth, and families across British Columbia. ACT is proud to be a founding member of the BCDC.

As an organization dedicated to supporting autistic individuals, families, caregivers, and professionals through education and training, ACT recognizes that many families are seeking information about these proposed changes and what they may mean for future access to supports.

We encourage our community to review the statement and stay informed as discussions facecontinue.

At ACT, we remain committed to promoting equitable access to information, resources, and supports that help autistic individuals and their families thrive.

Tomorrow, June 17th, Pat Mirenda, the BCDC Chair, will be going on CBC Radio to discuss this press release. For a list of times, check our story.

🔗 Read the full statement from BCDC here:https://www.bcdisabilitycollab.ca/_files/ugd/c495a6_e6df2baba3874b71aaa3a4dc61ebd216.pdf