Summer Fun Collection

Learn how to make the most of summer by supporting leisure activities, home routines, and community access and safety. Attending and participating in this workshop will give you the skills to help your child grow in their interests and independence.

This video and resource sheet were created by a self-advocate from the autism community. It discusses personal experiences of self-advocates, as well as options and considerations for building a circle of social support in Manitoba. This resource was developed in partnership with Autism Calgary.

This video essay, created by a self-advocate on the autism spectrum, was created to help autistic adults in Saskatchewan to connect with others and expand their social circle through social programs and opportunities.

Having social networks is part of who we are as human beings. They play a significant role in most areas of our daily life. For adults with autism, creating and maintaining meaningful social connections can often feel difficult, confusing, and overwhelming. This presentation will focus on the importance of developing and maintaining connections throughout your community. We will discuss how to build networks across a variety of contexts including school, work, and recreation. The discussion will also identify strategies that can be used to support the growth of social connections across in-person situations as well as in the digital world.

Have you ever wanted to visit a far-off destination, but struggled with anxiety related to air-travel? Together, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), AIDE Canada, and Pacific Autism Family Network have created some exciting new resources for the neurodiverse community!

These interactive videos teach you how to navigate the airport. They include helpful strategies that allow you to plan for challenges that may arise. You’ll help an autistic traveler check in for her flight and drop off her checked bags. Next, you will choose her responses as she goes through security and decide how she should act when things don’t go to plan. You will learn some helpful tips, such as what to expect if you set off the detector or if your bag must be searched. Then, your choices guide her as she finds her gate, boards the plane, and makes her way to her seat. Finally, you’ll go with her through Canadian Customs upon returning from her destination. This interactive tool allows you to practice your air-travel skills so that you can feel prepared and confident. Now, far-off destinations can be within your reach!

Keeping children safe is a major concern for most parents, but keeping children with developmental disabilities safe can present some unique challenges and considerations. In this online course developed by parents and professionals, we present some common concerns and scenarios while providing strategies to keep you and your family safe.

AIDE Canada Library offers a large collection of print and digital (eBook and audiobook) resources. For each of the resources below, we have included links to all available formats.

If you would like to borrow a print copy of one of these books, you can order it through our free Canada-wide borrow-by-mail service. eBooks and audiobooks can be borrowed online – just sign into our overdrive website or the Libby reading app using your AIDE Canada Library username and password. Visit the Library website to learn more. Questions? Email us at library@aidecanada.ca .

Summary: "Participation in individual and team sports plays an important part in children's development and promotes growth in a number of areas. As well as the obvious health benefits, sport also provides the perfect backdrop to teach young people with autism about rules, strategy and teamwork – all invaluable lessons that can be applied to wider society. By detailing six of the most popular sports, cycling, ice skating, swimming, soccer, taekwondo, and tennis, and including the unique experiences of families of children with autism, it offers all the information, advice, and support needed to help get kids with autism engaged in fun and positive sport environments."

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Summary: "A resource to develop courage, competence, and confidence for teaching children on the autism spectrum. This book is principle based with templates for ease of teaching. Teachers, educational assistants, parents, caregivers, and respite workers will benefit from ideas for teaching children fundamental movement skills, game sense, and the enjoyment of being physically active for life"

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Summary: "It's time for a new generation of autistic adventurers! Outdoor adventuring can be life changing - it makes you physically and mentally stronger, takes you to new places and introduces you to new friends, as well as being an exhilarating challenge - but it can be stressful when there are unexpected social and sensory challenges involved. Allie Mason, autistic adventurer extraordinaire, is here to help. Join Allie as she introduces activities ranging from archery to stargazing, sailing to fossil hunting, snorkeling to nature-writing - and so much more. Each easily digestible factsheet comes with a short introduction, a summary of the sensory experiences involved, suggestions on approaching activities for when you're just getting started, as well as a handy budgeting system. With personal anecdotes and interviews with awesome autistic athletes, this book will give you the support you need to take on the great outdoors."

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Summary: "Harness the power of play―101 creative ways for you and your child to bond, have fun, and so much more! What’s the best way for children to relate to the world around them? Play! In this book, you’ll find a collection of joyful activities that allow parents of children ages 3 to 9 to unlock the therapeutic benefits of play. From strengthening your bond to decreasing their screen dependency, Play Therapy Activities offers a variety of simple exercises that can help improve your child’s behavior, impulse control, self-awareness, and more. New to the idea of play therapy? This parent-friendly guide offers a comprehensive overview of the practice, as well as advice for making sure you and your child get the most out of your experiences together. Play Therapy Activities provides: Open the play therapy toolbox―Discover how you can help your child hone certain skills and behaviors with arts and crafts, relaxation and breathing activities, and more. 101 Fun activities―Whether it’s dancing, creating stories, or playing outside, discover on- and off-the-page activities (and tips!) for any number of occasions and moods. Play therapy revealed―Find out how and why play therapy is so effective, as well as the ways in which these activities can supplement actual play therapy. Bring fun and skill-building games home with Play Therapy Activities."

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Summary: "Award-winning author and occupational therapist Barbara Sher has over 45 years experience helping children with sensory processing disorder, autism and Asperger’s learn and thrive. In this new solutions-based guide, she’s collected 100 sensory-rich games that make working with your child a joy. Whimsy and wisdom pour forth from this wonderful book. The fun and functional sensory-motor ideas are easily adaptable to suit all environments, all abilities, all kids and all their grown-ups. ―Carol Stock Kranowitz, Author of The Out-of-Sync Child and The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun If you’re looking for new strategies to manage your child's sensory processing disorder, this book is a perfect companion to classics such as The Out-of-Sync Child and Raising a Sensory Smart Child."

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Summary: "Speaking from decades of experience, Michael Chissick shares the secrets to teaching yoga to children and young people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The physical, emotional and social benefits of yoga for autistic children can be profound, and this book will give you the confidence to get going with an array of fun activities and games from 'chasing the frog' to 'yoga detective'. Whether you work in special needs school, primary mainstream school or the community, or you are the parent of an autistic child, this book will equip you with plans, structures, goals, teaching tips and a multitude of real-life stories. The book is suitable for teaching everyone on the spectrum, with an emphasis on teaching those with more complicated needs. It is also relevant for use with children who have related needs such as ADHD and sensory processing challenges. Beautifully illustrated with images of the postures taught within, it is the perfect go-to resource for anyone interested in engaging children and young people in yoga."

Borrow by mail or pick up in person at AIDE Canada Library