Fort St. John council proclaims April as Autism Acceptance Month

FORT ST. JOHN — Fort St. John council has declared the month of April as Autism Acceptance Month. 

At Monday’s regular council meeting, Lyndsay Beer, owner and lead behaviour interventionist at Ascend Behaviour & Family Support Services Inc., accepted the proclamation, encouraging adaptive community events that promote inclusion. 

Ascend Behaviour & Family Support Services Inc. provides behaviour support to neurodiverse children and youth. 

Beer submitted a formal letter to council requesting the proclamation on March 8th, noting that autism is a “lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that impacts all aspects of a person’s life.”

During Monday’s meeting, Beer presented a second letter detailing the importance of autism acceptance in Fort St. John, saying the city has proclaimed autism awareness in the past but this year, she is asking for autism acceptance. 

“With this small word change, we hope to encourage adaptive community events that promote inclusion,” Beer wrote.

“Awareness can help parents and caregivers know the common traits and highlight the need for early diagnosis and support, but it often does not go beyond that.” 

Beer acknowledged events the city has created for helping autistic individuals, such as the ‘sensory-friendly’ swim at the North Peace Leisure Pool, the ‘parent tent’ at the Canada Day celebrations, and the kids zone tent at the High on Ice Festival.

Community members have also shown support for autistic individuals as well, such as local photographers offering special times with Santa and some of the grocery stores also used to have a sensory friendly shopping hour.

Beer hopes the proclamation will start conversions to create more inclusive and supportive environments for autistic community members within the Peace region.

“Events like this encourage and support Autistic people and others with neurodevelopmental differences to be active in their community, said Beer. 

Beer also says the events create opportunities for positive interactions with employees. 

According to AutismBC, there are 56 individuals with autism in the Peace region with 100 awaiting assessments.

“We know that number underrepresents the autistic community in Fort St. John and surrounding areas as we at Ascend have served or know of at least 85 autistic children and youth.”

Beers says the number excludes adults waiting on assessment and other communities such as Dawson Creek, Hudson Hope, or Fort Nelson.

“With the Autism community growing, the need for accessible events and opportunities is growing as well.”

Beer’s letter of request can be viewed below: