We received feedback from some Autistic community members that the original webinar title, "The Elephant in the Room: Talking to Your Child About Being Autistic" was stigmatizing and portrayed autism in a negative light. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from this feedback and improve the resources we provide to the Autistic community we serve.

We have responded promptly by changing the title of the webinar to "Talking to Your Child About Being Autistic" and apologize for any distress or disappointment caused by the original. We value your feedback and welcome you to share your impressions and concerns on any of the content we post to our website.

Scroll Down to Register & Attend!

Want to learn more now? Check out: How to tell a Child about their Diagnosis

Brittany Lorentz, MSc

Doctoral Student, School and Applied Child Psychology, University of Calgary

Brittany Lorentz is a doctoral student in the School and Applied Child Psychology program at the University of Calgary, where she also earned her Master of Science in Educational Psychology. Her graduate research examined the lived experiences of autistic adults who experienced nondisclosure of their diagnosis by a guardian, and her current dissertation continues this work by exploring language, identity, and lived experience within the autism community.

Brittany has received formal training and supervision from registered psychologists and has over five years of experience administering psychological, neuropsychological, psychoeducational, and disability assessments across clinical and school-based settings. In addition to her assessment expertise, she has more than ten years of experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults with diverse developmental, mental health, and co-occurring conditions. Guided by compassion and a deep respect for individual differences, Brittany strives to create a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for every client and family she works with.

Outside of her academic and clinical work, Brittany lives an active lifestyle in Calgary. A retired student-athlete, she enjoys spending time outdoors, playing various sports, and connecting with friends and family.

Liz Miles-Oakes

My name is Liz. I have 3 children all on the Spectrum, and as the name implies, all very different. I am a full-time single mother (going on 5 years now), a full-time risk professional (to the best of my ability) and a full-time child advocate.

I have been battling waitlists for supports, interventions, funding (you name it) for over 14 years now. I have experienced the pain of disparate community supports (which tend to exist on paper only) and ministry supports (i.e. residential and in-hospital stays) which barely exist and are constantly pushing to discharge you from a service you waited years to get.

My twins (15) were both diagnosed very young (between 2 & 3 years old). While one started presenting with noticeable concerns from 12 months (not responding to her name), the other was meeting milestones as expected, and then regressed (lost some language & skills, personality changes).

My oldest (16), overshadowed by the needs of the twins, was not diagnosed until aged 14, triggered by struggles in school, socially and suicide attempts.

In the words of Alanis Morissette, my kid’s revelation to their neuro-uniqueness was “a jagged little pill” for them to swallow and comprehend. Unsupported, ill-planned out and trauma inducing for one.
I hope my contribution here will result in better planning and supports for both caregivers and their families when the time comes to explain their diagnosis, and that in the future this information helps them understand themselves and not limit themselves in any way.

Accessing autism resources can be a challenge, but it's easier when you have partners and allies by your side. Connect with other parents, caregivers, and professionals in the autism community to share information, advice, and support. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive world for individuals with autism and their families.