News

Auticon Canada in partnership with Deloitte is conducting a survey to understand the state of autism employment in
Canada.

This study aims to examine the impacts of engaging this untapped pool and shine a light on the opportunities for
companies to employ people with autism to address their talent shortfalls.

Should you choose to participate, you will be directed to a survey by Modus Research. Your participation in this
survey is appreciated and will inform our recommendations to Canadian companies about hiring from the autism
community.

Your responses will be kept strictly confidential and will only be reported in anonymized form.

This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete.

To start the survey, please click the following link:

https://survey.modusresearch.com/SE/15/202105FB/?urlimport=1&questlist=IMP_DISTRO&IMP_DISTR
O=2

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey.

Are you ready to raise awareness for autism by participating in ISAND’s Spin and Sprint Challenge?! We have been building the groundwork for this challenge for many years, and we are so excited to finally be launching it this month! We invite you and your friends and family to participate with us – it will be so easy and tons of fun for every age group. Plus it feels great knowing you’re doing it for an amazing cause!

How to participate in the #Spin4Autism challenge:

1. Grab a broom, hockey stick, golf club or other long stick, put it upright in your hand and bring your head down to it. Spin around it 7 times! 
2. After spinning, try your hardest to run 20 meters in a straight line
3. Don’t forget to nominate 3 friends to do the challenge!
4. Share your video on social media by using the hashtag #Spin4Autism, tag your nominations and ISAND (@isandcentre on Instagram)
5. Donate to the #Spin4Autism campaign at isand.ca

So in summary: SPIN, SPRINT, NOMINATE, DONATE!!

The Purpose of #Spin4Autism: 

ISAND is raising awareness for autism, and your donations will help us continue you to serve individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

Your donation and participation in this campaign is making a HUGE difference! Thank you for helping us bring awareness to autism!

Thanks,

ISAND Team

It is with some relief that Justice Anne Molloy ruled against the Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) plea used by the defence of John Doe (Alex Minassian) because of his ASD diagnosis. John Doe was found guilty today of all charges laid against him for the April 2018 van attack in Toronto in which ten people were killed and sixteen others wounded.

We hope that today’s verdict brings some measure of closure to the families of the victims.

The defence team argued that Mr. Doe, did not know that his actions were morally wrong. In her sixty eight (68) page verdict, Justice Molloy was clearly of the opinion that Mr. Doe thought about the crimes he was going to commit, put in significant planning and considered the consequences of his actions. “Mr. Doe, understands that death is permanent. He understood the impact that his actions would have on his family and the families of his victims. He knew that what he was planning do to was morally wrong by society’s standards”, said Justice Molloy when presenting her verdict.

Although a measure of justice has been served, many in the autism community are concerned about the lasting impact of the defence strategy. Incorrect perceptions about people on the spectrum lacking empathy, or being violent were somehow reinforced by the defence tactics and the media coverage. The fact that Mr. Doe’s on-line radicalization, his quest to be famous, and his misogyny were the significant factors behind his crimes, may, unfortunately, be overshadowed by his diagnosis of ASD.

It’s up to each and every one of us to take every opportunity that we have to inform the public of the real factors behind these horrific accidents.

The 28-year-old man, accused of killing 10 and injuring 16 after driving a van down Toronto’s Yonge Street in 2018 over the course of several minutes, has pleaded not criminally responsible to the charges.

Through his lawyers, Alek Minassian has pleaded not criminally responsible for his actions that day claiming that because of his Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis, Mr. Minassian’s way of thinking is “severely distorted in a way similar to psychosis”, stated Dr. Rebecca Chauhan in a Toronto Star article.

At ISAND we believe this statement to be erroneous and damaging to the thousands of people living with ASD in the GTA. Minassian agrees that he intended to kill, that the murders were planned and deliberate, and that he in fact did cause the death of those people. To say that people with ASD lack the emotional awareness to understand that it is wrong to kill people is both wildly inaccurate and extremely dangerous.

ISAND embraces the uniqueness of everyone and believe that every person with ASD, given the right supports, can and should feel welcomed in their community.

This defence strategy perpetuates harmful stereotypes about people with ASD. In fact, research has shown that persons with who are very intelligent and have ASD tend to be law abiding, highly moral and are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

Mr. Minassian does in fact have Autism Spectrum Disorder, however we believe that diagnosis has nothing do with his pre-meditated actions on that April day in 2018. From the court reports, it appears that most of the experts called for both the defence and the crown agree. Dr. John Bradford, a Canadian Forensic Psychiatrist called by the defence stated under oath that that Mr. Minassian showed ritualistic behaviours, but not delusional behaviour or psychosis. In Dr. Bradford’s opinion, the ASD diagnosis does not allow Mr. Minassian to be found Not Criminally Responsible.

We hope that the judge rejects the defence arguments, and allows Mr. Minassian to be judged on his actions, not on a falsely misleading theory based on his diagnosis of ASD.

In our ongoing efforts to protect clients and staff at ISAND, our space needs to be disinfected to help prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses – including COVID-19. 

Stepping up to help is Neil Lathangue and David Riabov from Zoono Services (https://zoonoservices.ca) approached ISAND offering to provide treatment and protection at our site for free. Zoono services is recognized as North America’s leader in environmental cleaning and infection control. Local clients include Centennial College, Sienna Seniors Living, St. Michael’s hospital, and University of Toronto.

The science:  Zoono treatment provides for 30 day protection – providing protection beyond the next touch. When applied to a surface, Zoono’s Microbe Shield product leaves behind a layer that bonds to the surface. These antimicrobial molecules create positively charged “pins” attracting the negatively charged bacteria and viruses, and then destroying them. The treatment is harmful to the pathogens, but not to humans!

The process: Areas are swabbed before treatment to determine the pathogen levels. After the area is fogged, it is swabbed again and levels are recorded. Throughout the 30 days, regular testing is completed to ensure that the pathogens haven’t returned.

THANK YOU

Neil, David and Zoono Services

For your generous contribution to ISAND

Toronto, ON (March 25, 2020) – Integrated Services for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ISAND) is very pleased to announce the appointment of Tina Capobianco as Board Chair effective March 24, 2020. Tina is Senior Vice president at JD Factors in Mississauga. JD Factors is a leader in Accounts Receivable Factoring providing large and small businesses a broad range of services, including assistance with their cash flow needs.  The Mississauga office is one of four North American Operations Centres.

Tina holds a BA (Honours) from the University of Toronto and the designation of Certified Account Executive in Factoring (CAEF). Tina has been a long-time supporter of ISAND and was appointed to the ISAND Board of Directors in June 2018.  

“We are very pleased to have Tina accept the position of the Board Chair. Her understanding of the organization, enthusiastic dedication to our aims, and her ongoing support of ISAND are greatly appreciated and will help to drive the agency forward” said Bob Butella, Executive Director.

Tina has replaced Mike Moran, a long standing Board Member and Chair of the Board since 2016. Mike has played a pivotal role in the development and success of ISAND. Mike will maintain a seat on the Board of Directors and will assume the position of Past Chair.

“As an organization, we have benefitted so much from Mike’s leadership and would like to thank him for his efforts and successes in the role”, states Tina Capobianco. “As the incoming Chair, I’m also very happy to know that Mike will continue his involvement with the Board of Directors”.

About ISAND

ISAND is a registered non-profit organization that serves children, youth and young adults living with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. ISAND’s integrated team of clinicians represent nine distinct disciplines including: developmental paediatrics; clinical psychology; behaviour therapy; occupational therapy; speech and language therapy; social work; nutrition; rhythmic movement; and education. ISAND’s scientific advisory panel assists with research leading to enhanced program development. Our unique multi-disciplinary (integrated) approach to services leads to enhanced outcomes for clients and their families. For more information, visit www.isand.ca

PDF version is available here