Autism Society Central Vancouver Island is hoping families with autistic children can connect and network with service providers at its Autism Expo on Sunday (Oct. 22).
The event occurs every two years and will take place Sunday, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the auditorium at Beban Park. According to Marilyn Sullivan, society founder and chairwoman, the Autism Expo will have 25 providers that can talk to parents about different techniques, interventions, funding, schooling and other related topics.
“It’s for parents and for providers, which is what we call them whether they be occupational therapists, speech therapists, people that do interventions and also different technologies that are perhaps new from the last time we had it in 2015,” said Sullivan.
Information about local schools specific to children that are on the autism spectrum and the Ministry of Children and Family Development will also be there.
“There are people that work in specific things for kids, like whether it be to do with their hearing or calming, anything like that, that has to do with autism,” Sullivan said.
While the parents are checking out the Autism Expo, children can partake in activities, including crafts and games.
“We will have a complimentary lunch [with gluten-free options] and we have lots of things for the kids to do,” said Sullivan. “We have cookie decorating, we have face painting, we have all sorts of things.”
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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