The UBC Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA) received $800,000 from the BC Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) to address training needs of educators and other autism service providers and families across the province. The CIRCA will collaborate with the new Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) and the BC autism community to accomplish this goal.
The partnership will create a network of interdisciplinary, post-baccalaureate diploma and graduate programs in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) across BC. It will also develop a series of free, online professional development modules in consultation with partners in post-secondary institutions and existing provincial programs, and conduct research on the impact of these initiatives on individuals with ASD and their families.
“Since the CIRCA was established in 2009, we have made great strides in training educators and other autism service providers and by sharing applied research findings.”
“Since the CIRCA was established in 2009, we have made great strides in training educators and other autism service providers and by sharing applied research findings,” says Professor Pat Mirenda of the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education. “We look forward to further developing this partnership to provide additional resources for autism service providers and families across the province.”
The CIRCA was established in 2009 with the mission of supporting research and professional capacity-building efforts aimed at improving the lives of individuals with ASD and their families. To view evidence-based, professional development workshops visit the CIRCA website.
Dr. Mirenda and colleagues have recently received funding to create a coaching program for parents of children at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), thanks to $2.85 million in funding from the provincial government. With the $800,000 to advance the CIRCA, Dr. Mirenda’s research team program has recently received a total of $3.65M in funding to support autism research.