Moving to Calgary?

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Are you thinking of moving to Calgary and wondering what the ASD-related services are like in this city? Autism Calgary gets a lot of inquiries from families that are pondering this very question. Below, we’ve gathered a lot of answers to the questions we commonly get from people thinking of or preparing to move to Calgary; some of them are about Alberta’s disability support systems, and others have to do with Calgary in particular. The below resources are divided between Children and Youth (to help those on the spectrum under the age of 18) and Adults (for those 18 and older).


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More resources can be found on the Resources & Information section of our website. These are lists of various third-party (not offered directly by Autism Calgary) supports and services available to those in the Calgary area, covering a wide variety of needs. We also have some links to ASD organizations in other Alberta regions/cities at the bottom of the page, for those who may not have decided where in Alberta they’ll choose to live.

For further support, or if you have questions not answered on this page, please contact our Family Support Team at  

 

Children/Youth

Assessment/Diagnosis

If your child does not already have one, there are two main ways to obtain an ASD assessment/diagnosis: publicly-funded through Alberta Health Services (AHS), or privately by a psychologist.

  • Covered by AHS: The first step is to get a family doctor or a pediatrician. Either of them can send a referral to the Child Development Services (CDS) at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The process of diagnosis through the CDS typically includes a waiting period of several months for the first intake, and up to a year to receive the final report, but the timing varies depending on general demand and the complexity of the child’s case. When your family has gone through the process, you can expect a letter of diagnosis, plus some orientation sessions for the parents, guiding them to additional services.
  • Private Assessment: Some families do not wish to wait, or they might not qualify for Alberta Health benefits; in that case, they might look at getting a private assessment. This is typically obtained from a Registered Psychologist. The outcome of a private assessment will be a diagnosis (if applicable), and an extensive psychological report. The cost could vary from about $1500 to over $3000. Click Here to see our list of psychologists with expertise in autism; however, note there are likely many more psychologists in Calgary that might also be able to provide a diagnosis, so please feel free to do your own research. Keep in mind that the services of Registered Psychologists are NOT covered by our provincial health program, Alberta Health, and that as such their fees are either paid fully out-of-pocket or are partially covered by extended employment health benefits.

 

Medical Professionals

  • Family Doctors: Most families stay with their family doctors for regular health issues related to their child, but when it comes to disability-related health issues, they might consider being referred to a pediatrician by their family doctor. Your family doctor is the main point of contact for individuals to access any health services in Alberta.
  • Pediatricians: Specialize in childhood disease, illness, physical & mental health needs.
  • Psychologists: Specializing in mental health-related care, most private psychologists work with families who self-refer. Some require a professional, such as a family doctor or an agency, to send a referral.
  • Therapy Providers: Specialize in a specific area, such as language (speech therapists) or physical movement (occupational therapists). Some providers work in an agency setting, some work from their home, and some travel to families’ homes. Rates vary depending on many factors, and oftentimes there is no need for a referral. Our site’s Service Providers page lists a variety of needs and specializations.
  • Autism Calgary Community Referral List: A list of medical professionals who have great reviews and have been personally recommended by our autism community members in Calgary. Please contact a Family Support Worker if you’d like a copy of this list, which also includes recommendations for dentists with experience in treating those on the spectrum.

 

Education Options

  • Program Unit Funding (PUF) – If your child is between the ages of 2.5-6 years old and has a severe delay or disability, they would probably qualify for PUF (Program Unit Funding). This funding provides extra support in a preschool/kindergarten setting. That support could be in the form of consultation with therapists, and might include an Aide in some programs. General info on PUF can be found here; for Autism Calgary’s list of PUF providers, click here. For more information about PUF, you can call Alberta Education at (780) 644-2286.
  • Public Education (CBE): If your child is school age (6-18 years), the Calgary Board of Education has specialized programs as well as inclusive settings. Please visit the appropriate Education section on our website for more information.
  • Catholic Education (CSSD): The Calgary Catholic School District has several programs for diverse learners age 6 to 18. They also offer inclusive education. Please visit the appropriate Education section on our website for more information.
  • Private Education: There are 2 private schools specifically for kids with Autism in Calgary: Janus Academy and New Heights School. There are also several other private schools that work with pan-disabilities, including ASD. Some of the private schools provide educational services from ages 2.5 to 20 years old. Please visit the appropriate Education section of our website for more information.
  • Autism Calgary hosts an annual School Parent Panel to gather information on the first-hand accounts of families in the various educational settings in Calgary. Please contact a Family Support Worker if you’d like a copy of the notes from the most recent School Parent Panel; note that video and/or audio recordings of the Panel are NOT available for reasons of privacy.

 

Provincial Funding

  • Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD): Provides families who have children with disabilities with a legal contract to enable them to access services (and some products), to help with the extraordinary costs of having a child with special needs. Contracts vary from family to family in value depending on their circumstances and unique needs. The contracts could provide Family Support Services including respite, family counselling, disability-related clothing, community and in-home aide support, parking fees, and travel expenses, among others. Depending on needs, a child with severe disabilities could be eligible to receive Child Focused Services. These include professional interventions/consultations from therapists as well as Aide supports. These services are intended to help children and their families gain the skill set necessary to reach their potential at home, and to fully participate in community life. Click here to see a link to all the services available from the Alberta Human Services website.
  • FSCD Eligibility and Application Process: There are a number of criteria that must be met to receive FSCD funding. Further information can be found here; you can also call the Intake line at (403) 297-6022 or email Intake at .
    • Age and residency criteria: The child with a disability must be under 18 years old; must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; the person applying for the program must be the child’s parent or guardian; the child must reside in Alberta.
    • Disability criteria: The child must have a diagnosis for a disability that is due to a developmental, physical, sensory, mental or neurological condition or impairment, AND/OR a health condition that impacts their daily living activities, such as eating, grooming, walking, interacting with others, playing, and problem solving.

     

    Adults

    Autism Assessments for Adults

    There are two common options for an autism assessment or diagnosis for adults in Calgary. Psychologists (fee for service) and Psychiatrists (free). For more detailed information on diagnosis options, click here.

    • Psychologists can provide assessments for ASD in adults, which typically costs upwards of $1000. The costs can be partially covered by extended health benefits; however, it’s usually paid for out-of-pocket. See our list of Psychologists for some direction on which ones offer assessments.
    • Psychiatrists are medical doctors, some of whom specialize in autism and are able to diagnose the condition. Their services are covered by our provincial health insurance. You can request a referral to a psychiatrist from your family doctor. Your doctor’s office can contact Access Mental Health at (403) 943-1500 to obtain the name of available psychiatrists doing this work.
    • The CanLearn Society also provides adult ASD assessments, in addition to other services.

     

    Health professionals

    • Family Doctor: Your family doctor is the main point of contact for individuals to access any health services in Alberta. To find a family doctor you can check online with your local Primary Care Network.
    • Psychologists: Specializing in mental health-related care, most private psychologists work with families who self-refer.
    • Therapy Providers: Presently, most adults don’t access therapy, mostly due to costs having to be paid out-of-pocket. However, if one wants to access professional services, we would suggest looking at the listings under the professional colleges of these areas: Psychology, Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Physiotherapy.
    • AC Community Professionals: Autism Calgary can provide you with our latest list of medical professionals who have great reviews and have been personally recommended by our autism community members. Please reach out to one of our Family Support Workers to get our latest list.

     

    Inclusive Education

    Most colleges and universities have an inclusive/accessible education department. This is intended to provide support and accommodations for those living with ASD. To learn more, please see the Education section of this webpage.

     

    Employment/Volunteering Support

    • Spectrum Advantage: An employment program offered to adults aged 18-30 who know what area of employment they’d like to explore, but who also require some guidance and coaching through the process. Visit their site from here.
    • Ready, Willing, and Able: a pre-employment program that provides skills & support for those who are over the age of 13 living with ASD. Learn more here.
    • Visit our Employment, Education & Housing webpage for more information and additional employment support listings.

     

    Funding and Legal Aid

    • Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH): Provincial guaranteed monthly income for those who are living in Alberta, impacted by a lifelong disability (ASD), and unable to maintain employment. The current monthly amount is about $1,685/month. Please see the AISH Alberta webpage for more information.
    • Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD): Provincial funding for adults to access services to live as independently as possible within their community. Things such as life skills (laundry, banking, etc.) as well as respite and more can be funded for those whose IQ is 70 or below. Please see the PDD Alberta webpage for more information.
    • Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL): Helps Albertans with a long-term disability pay for medical equipment or supplies.
    • Disability Tax Credit (DTC): A federal tax credit which reduces the amount of tax a person or a caregiver has to pay. Please see the DTC webpage for more information.
    • Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP): A long-term savings plan that helps parents and individuals with ASD plan for the future. Individuals must qualify for the DTC in order to access the RDSP. Please see the RDSP webpage for more information.
    • Office of the Public Guardian & Trusteeship: A government program that assists families with matters regarding legal decision making, co-decision making, supported decision making, adult guardianship, and trusteeship. Please see the Alberta OPGT webpage for more information.
    • Visit our Funding/Financial & Legal webpage for more information and additional resources.

     

    Parent/Caregiver Supports

    There are a number of ways that parents/caregivers of adults with ASD can receive support.

    • Respite: there are adult respite and day programs available in Calgary. Please see our Respite webpage for details. Note that this page also includes information on non-respite caregiver supports, covering a variety of needs.
    • Support Groups: Autism Calgary facilitates Support Groups for caregivers, with options for different demographics and interests.
    • Financial: If you’re caring for an adult dependent, you may be eligible for the Canada Caregiver Credit, which is a non-refundable tax credit. Please click here for more info.

     

    Other Regional Organizations

    To find out about services in Edmonton, please contact Autism Edmonton

    To find out about services in Fort McMurray and the surrounding area, please contact the Autism Society of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

    To find out about services in other areas of Alberta, please contact Autism Society of Alberta.

    The AIDE Canada Asset Map lists ASD-related organizations and services throughout Canada if you’re looking for more information on region-specific options.