Manitoba Autism Organizations
Do you have a family member on the autism spectrum, and you’re looking for places to find help and advice? There isn’t just one agency or organization in Manitoba – it is a patchwork of services that often work together. They include:
- Nonprofit and Volunteer Organizations
- Government-Funded Services
- Private Businesses and Professionals
- Charities (these can help fund services you might find privately)
Browse this list to see what might be helpful to you.
Nonprofit Organizations – Information and Support
Autism Manitoba
Website: Home (autismmanitoba.ca)
Email: info@autismmanitoba.ca
Autism Manitoba provides resources and supports to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their families and their communities. They offer free support groups, complimentary family intake meetings, and financial support for needed services including respite care, therapeutic recreation programs, educational programs, vocational programs, and therapies such as counselling, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
Asperger Manitoba
Website: asperger-manitoba.ca
Asperger Manitoba Inc. (AMI) works to support increased awareness, understanding and ongoing supports, specific to the needs of adults and children with Asperger Syndrome living and working successfully within the community, and their families.
AMI provides limited direct support to individuals and their families as well as information sessions to organizations and groups supporting them.
Autism Spectrum Disorders Manitoba
Website: http://asdmb.ca/
This website was created as a collaborative effort to help individuals with autism and their families find information and support. It is meant to address needs through a person’s lifetime.
Autistics United Canada
Website: autisticsunitedca.org
Facebook: @ManitobaAutistics
Twitter: @AutisticsUnited
Tumblr: autisticsunitedca@tumblr.com
Autistics United Canada is a grassroots, Autistic-led organization dedicated to improving the lives of Autistic Canadians through self-advocacy. They are currently on hiatus but do offer a place for adults with autism to connect and can offer advice.
Community Living Manitoba
Website: www.aclmb.ca
#6 – 120 Maryland Street, Winnipeg, MB R3G 1L1
Phone: 204-786-1607
email: aclmb@aclmb.ca
Community Living Manitoba is dedicated to the full inclusion of persons of all ages who live with an intellectual disability. They categorize their advocacy work under three pillars; family engagement, inclusive education and inclusive employment.
Inclusion Winnipeg
Website: inclusionwinnipeg.org
1 – 120 Maryland Street Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 1L1
Phone: (204) 786-1414
email: info@inclusionwinnipeg.org
Serving the city of Winnipeg and surrounding area, Inclusion Winnipeg is a registered charity which, for almost 60 years, has been dedicated to making life better for children and adults living with developmental and intellectual disabilities. We do this by connecting people, assisting their families to navigate systems and leading the way in advancing their human rights. Inclusion Winnipeg provides both advocacy supports and recreational programs.
Family Advocacy Network of Manitoba
Website: www.fanmb.ca
email: families.caregivers@gmail.com
The Family Advocacy Network of Manitoba (FAN) is a grassroots group of parents, siblings, support network members of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. FAN provides peer support, information and resources, as well as encouragement and ideas to help families advocate for their loved one.
Membership with FAN is free. You are invited to view FAN’s video and become a member by visiting their website at or by contacting them.
Continuity Care
Website: http://www.continuitycare.ca
Continuity Care is a not-for- profit organization dedicated to supporting families in Manitoba to plan for an enriched quality of life for their family member with an intellectual disability. Their work helps families achieve peace of mind by planning for the future and creating connections that last a lifetime.
Inspire Community Outreach
Website: inspirecommunityoutreach.ca
Inspire Community Outreach Inc. is an incorporated non-profit social services agency providing evidence and culturally informed, family-centered education and programming, designed to meet the needs of those living with mental health issues and neurological/cognitive differences.
Autism Portage
Website: autismportage.wordpress.com
Autism Portage runs parent support groups and offers information for people living in the Portage La Prairie area.
Westman Autism Support Group (Brandon)
Contact: Sheila Deacon
Email: shdeacon@westman.wave.ca
Phone: 204-727-4868
The Westman Autism Parent Support Group is a support group for families from the Westman region who are raising a child/children with Autism.
Social Media Groups
Facebook groups can be a great way to ask questions and connect with others with similar situations.
Public Agencies and Services
Specialized Services for Children and Youth (SSCY)
Website: sscy.ca
1155 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg, MB
Phone: (204) 452-4311
Rehabilitation Centre for Children
Website: https://rccinc.ca/
The Rehabilitation Centre for Children supports children with special needs in Manitoba and surrounding areas, in reaching their goals and participating in their communities. The website gives information on services, programs, research, and events. They periodically offer parent support seminars for children on the autism spectrum. Upcoming opportunities are posted on their website calendar.
They also modify equipment such as bicycles, swings or chairs to meet the needs of autistic children.
SSCY Family Resource Centre
Website: https://sscy.ca/caregivers-families/family-resource-centre
Phone: (204) 258-6533
The SSCY Family Resource Centre is located on the main floor of the SSCY Centre. In this family-friendly space are located harder-to-find resources about special needs and general health issues, including 1400 books, videos and DVDs about specific disabilities or conditions. They are able to mail print and video resources to Manitoba locations outside of Winnipeg. The Take-Out-Toy Services (TOTS) toy lending program is also located in the SSCY Family Resource Centre. TOTS has over 400 toys for use by children with special needs, including electronic, switch-adapted and developmental toys.
Manitoba Possible
Website: https://www.manitobapossible.ca/about-us
Manitoba Possible is the home of Provincial Outreach Therapy for Children, which provides Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech Language Pathology Services to children until they enter school. They also offer a range of services, supports and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities of all ages.
Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre’s Neurodevelopmental Autism Program
Website: www.matc.ca/services/nds
For children and youth who have already been diagnosed with autism, interventions are available to teachers in the school and parents/caregivers in the home environment. The interventions will be individually based on identified needs, and are consultative and time limited.
If your family is a client of MATC your child may be able to access summer groups, and parents can access a parent support group.
St. Amant Autism Services
Website: http://stamant.ca/programs/autism-services
St.Amant Autism Programs and St. Amant School use Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) principles to teach children with the goal of improving socially important behaviours. The Community Living Program at St.Amant provides services to people with disabilities living in the community in their own homes or in homes provided by St.Amant. Most services are for clients only.
Open Access Resource Centre
Website: http://www.oarc.ca/
316 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg
Phone: (204)-949-2430
The Open Access Resource Centre (OARC) is committed to improving the lives of Manitobans with speech challenges through the use of communication devices. OARC helps individuals throughout Manitoba receive long-term systems as well as providing the supports needed for successful implementation of a device as a communication tool. Every summer they host a summer camp for children using AAC devices.
Government of Manitoba: Information for Manitobans With Disabilities
Website: https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/imd/index.html
This web page has links to “Fact Sheets” providing information on the services available to people with disabilities in Manitoba, from early childhood to adulthood.
Children’s Hospital Family Library
Address: CK204 – 840 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3A 1S1
Phone: (204) 787-1012
A resource centre with books, pamphlets, magazines and videotapes relating to the health of children, available to all citizens of Manitoba. Books circulate for two weeks; videos for two days. Library hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday 1 to 4 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 10 to noon, and 2 to 4 p.m. (Closed weekends and statutory holidays.) Books can be borrowed via mail.
Professional Services and Private Businesses
Private Physiotherapy
College of Physiotherapists of Manitoba
Private Speech Therapy
Speech and Language Therapists of Manitoba
Private Occupational Therapy
Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists Private Practice Directory
Autism Learning Centre
autismlearningcentre.ca
3525 Roblin Boulevard, Winnipeg
(204) 226-7247
Autism Learning Centre is an agency of autism specialists dedicated to helping clients reach their unique individual goals. Services include speech and occupational therapy, education consulting, group programs and camps, tutoring, respite, and recreational programs.
H.A.L.E. Autism
H.A.L.E stands for Help Autism Live Everywhere. Based in Selkirk, H.A.L.E Autism provides a variety of services to individuals and families living with autism. One of the most popular programs is the LEGO Social Skills Groups, and other services include:
- Social Skills Groups
- Advocacy
- Computer Software Training
- Continuing Education Classes
- Critical Independent Living Skills for Adults
Check their Facebook page for updates on upcoming events and sessions, follow their posts on Youtube, find course listings at Selkirk Continuing Education, or contact Kristian Hooker at hale.autism@gmail.com with any questions about the services offered.
Charities and Funding Organizations
Variety: The Children’s Charity
Website: https://varietymanitoba.com/
Variety’s mission is: “Stepping in where government, healthcare, and other funding ends to provide direct assistance to children in Manitoba living with special needs and experiencing economic disadvantage.” Variety’s Special Needs Program provides support to children and their families by covering costs related to specialized equipment, supplies, and services not covered by any other source.
Examples of things Variety might purchase include hearing aids and sport wheelchairs, assistive communication devices, specialized strollers, speech therapy, physiotherapy and more. For continuing supports, you will have to apply at annual or semiannual intervals. Check the website for the application instructions and form.
Jordan’s Principle
Website: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1568396042341/1568396159824
Jordan’s Principle makes sure all First Nations children living in Canada can access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them. Funding can help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs, including the unique needs that First Nations Two-Spirit and LGBTQQIA children and youth and those with disabilities may have.
A list of potentially eligible services and instructions for application can be found at the link above.