‘There is a tremendous demand for support’
One person in 66. That’s the percentage of the population that land somewhere on the autism spectrum.
However, that number represents only those who have been officially diagnosed, explains Shauna Jacobs, chapter navigator for the Annapolis Valley Chapter of Autism Nova Scotia. The actual number of people affected is almost certainly significantly higher.
“The wait list for an official diagnosis is more than four years long,” Jacobs says. “You’re probably looking at more like five or six years.”
Serving more than 250 families across the region annually, the Annapolis Valley Chapter of Autism Nova Scotia has a straight-forward mission.
“We work towards an inclusive world where autism is understood and accepted and everyone lives their lives fully,” explains Jacobs. “There is a tremendous demand for support and resources here in the Valley.”
Launched in 1996 as the Valley Autism Support
Team, the chapter opened a second location last summer at 2 Calkin Dr. in the Kentville
Business Park.
“It’s a safe space for riding bikes and doing things in the summer, which we really didn’t have at our last space,” Jacobs points out. “This allows us to bring our programs to the eastern part of the Valley. We can service people who would not otherwise be able to participate, due to the distance.”
The chapter offers many programs each year for children, teenagers and adults who have autism and is open to suggestions for new programs. Programs run from play and social groups to programs on healthy relationships and assistance for job seekers. There is also a summer camp run from the Kentville location as well as the Employment Works program.
“That program is for autistic adults who are looking to gain insight on employment and develop their employment skills,” Jacobs says.
A program called Girl Strong is aimed at helping 12 to 18-year-old girls on the autistic spectrum identify and examine their emotions, as well as provide them with practical strategies to deal with the anxiety they might be experiencing in their daily lives. There is also a group called Super Siblings, designed for siblings of autistic people.
“It’s a group where people who have very similar home lives, with an autistic sibling, can come together to focus on themselves and talk about things that are not related to autism.”
Also, registration is now open for the Walk Your Way event, the chapter’s major annual fundraiser, which will be held Sept. 24.
“This is the 20th anniversary of the walk and we’re really excited about having this back as an in-person event this year,” Jacobs says.
The biggest misconception people often have about autism is that it’s a disease, Jacobs says.
“It is not a disease. It is a neurological condition that you are born with. It is lifelong; you cannot fix or get rid of it.”
As with a rainbow, the autistic spectrum has many different hues, Jacobs explains. People on the spectrum have a wide range of characteristics.
“No two people are alike with the same tendencies or the same traits,” she says. “Just because you’ve met one person with autism doesn’t mean you’ve met everyone with autism.”