Education and Early Childhood Development
Health and Community Services
September 16, 2016
Enhancing Autism Supports for Students, Families and Communities
Provincial Government Announces Partnership to Help Support Those Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder
The Provincial Government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Public Health Agency of Canada to support the development of a National Autism Surveillance System. The agreement will allow for the sharing of information provincially and nationally to help improve the lives of those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
“This memorandum of agreement will ensure we have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information to support our decision making process as we provide a range of supports for children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Provincial Government is committed to ensuring students with ASD have every opportunity to reach their full potential within the education system and this agreement will help further support that goal.”
- The Honourable Dale Kirby, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The objectives of the agreement between the Provincial Government and the Public Health Agency of Canada are to:
- Estimate the number of children and youth who have ASD;
- Track the incidence and prevalence of ASD within school-aged children and youth;
- Describe the basic characteristics of children and youth with ASD; and
- Provide ASD estimates to help support policy, program and service development.
Information gathered and shared with the Public Health Agency of Canada will not include personal information that will identify individuals.
“Newfoundland and Labrador, in working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, will contribute to a national bank of data on Autism Spectrum Disorder. This will assist in the development and delivery of more effective policies and programs for affected children and families. We are very pleased to participate.”
- The Honourable John Haggie, Minister of Health and Community Services
Educators are supported by autism itinerants and can also avail of a number of professional learning opportunities such as the online Autism in Education program. Over 500 educators and student assistants in Newfoundland and Labrador have completed 40 hours of training with another 200 educators expected to complete training in 2016-17.
“The Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is supportive of the development of a National Autism Surveillance System. We will continue to work with the Provincial Government and health and education professionals to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to help improve the lives of those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”
- Scott Crocker, Executive Director, Autism Society, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is now the fourth province to sign the MOA along with one territory. Four additional provinces and territories are in various stages of preparing to sign.
The Provincial Government continues to provide access to a wide variety of services such as speech language pathologists, educational psychologists, guidance counsellors and instructional resource teachers.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government is partnering with the Public Health Agency of Canada to support the development of a National Autism Surveillance System.
- The objective is to share information provincially and nationally to help improve the lives of those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Newfoundland and Labrador is now the fourth province to sign the MOA along with one territory. Four additional provinces and territories are in various stages of preparing to sign.
- The Provincial Government continues to provide access to a wide variety of services such as speech language pathologists, educational psychologists, guidance counsellors and instructional resource teachers.
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Media contacts:
| Lauren Wiseman Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 691-7668 laurenwiseman@gov.nl.ca |
Tina Williams Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377. 728-2837 tinawilliams@gov.nl.ca |
| Tess Hemeon Manager Advocacy & Communications Autism Society, Newfoundland Labrador 709-722-2803 ext. 232 themeon@autism.nf.net |
2016 09 16 12:15 p.m.