CFCR COMMUNITY CONNECT – April 2025
Welcome to CFCR Community Connect – where we help to connect you with local community organizations in Saskatoon.
Autism Services of Saskatoon is the Community Connect feature for April 2025!
Autism Services is a Saskatoon-based, charitable organization dedicated to providing advocacy, support, education, recreational, and social and residential programs and services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Any family having an individual with characteristics or a diagnosis of autism, or any other disorder on the Autism Spectrum, may qualify for service.
Autism Services of Saskatoon continuously strives to deliver the highest standard of support and services to individuals with autism and their families and caregivers.
What types of programs or activities do you offer? What’s your most successful program?
We provide services that support children starting at age 2 all the way through to adulthood. Everyone is required to go through our Agency Intake Process in order to access our services. Our services are grouped within five departments:
- COMMUNITY HOMES & PROGRAMS (CHAP)
CHAP serves individuals with ASD in residential group homes and day programs, emphasizing person-centered approaches and community involvement. The goal is to enhance quality of life and create opportunities for enrichment, following the principles of Gentle Teaching.
- FAMILY PROGRAMS
Focused on recreational and therapeutic activities, Family Programs provide engaging experiences like music, art therapy, and sports. They encourage friendship building, social skills, and personal growth for autistic children and youth in a supportive environment.
- AUTISM INTERVENTION PROGRAM (AIP)
Tailored for children and youth up to 19 with suspected or confirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Saskatoon area, AIP offers individualized support, early interventions, and collaboration with families to enhance their quality of life.
- MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS TEAM (MHWT)
Established to support mental wellness for those with autism and their caregivers, the MHWT offers in-person and virtual counseling, community referrals, and education. It aims to strengthen mental health care within the autism community in Saskatoon.
- ABA LITTLE TOTS PROGRAM
Targeting children 48 months or younger, this program offers 25 hours of therapy a week, based on Applied Behaviour Analysis principles. Individualized to each child, it emphasizes skill development and behavior management, promoting long-term gains in various areas of functioning.
- EMPOWERED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Our program is designed to offer strengths-based services that empower participants to build confidence in their own skills and abilities. We take a person-centered approach, ensuring that each individual’s goals, preferences, and unique needs guide the support they receive. Our aim is to create an environment that is both accessible and inclusive, where every participant feels valued and supported. We align our practices with the 9 Guiding Principles of Supported Employment developed by the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), which provide a strong foundation for delivering meaningful and effective employment support.
Are there specific demographics of communities you primarily serve?
We serve Saskatoon and Surrounding areas. We provide services that support children starting at age 2 all the way through to adulthood.
How have you seen your organization’s work make a difference? Can you share any success stories or provide examples of positive outcomes directly impacted by your organization?
The families’ experience has been so positive at Autism Services of Saskatoon
Please watch the videos:
What are any challenges or obstacles your organization has faced? How were they overcome?
Limited resources and funding uncertainty in the face of a dramatic increase in the need for services presents a continued source of challenges for the organization.
Growing wait-lists are becoming a concern in Family Programs. With the number of new families accessing our agency combined with limited funding, we are not able to consistently accommodate the demand for service. Every year we need to raise $350,000.
Do you have a long-term vision or dream for your organization?
Our vision is that individuals with autism have the opportunity to live with dignity and to reach their desired potential.
Our Purpose is to provide advocacy, support, education, recreational, and social and residential programs and services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
How can the community help your organization reach its goals?
- MAKE A DONATION
- SPONSOR-A-CHILD
- BECOME A SPONSOR
- PLANNED GIVING
- BECOME A MEMBER
- VOLUNTEER
What volunteer opportunities are there within your organization? How can individuals or groups get involved and support your organization through volunteering?
We are currently looking for special event volunteers and for program volunteers to assist with our upcoming programs.
If you are interested in volunteering for our fundraising or special events please send an email to alle.guarnieri@autismservices.ca for more information.
If you are interested in volunteering for our Family Recreational Programs please send an email to alex.scott@autismservices.ca for more information.
What about fundraising or donating opportunities?
We have our annual fundraiser Jazz Night for Autism in October 2025 and we are looking for 2025 Sponsors and volunteers.
What is something that you wish more people knew about your organization?
About our Values:
INTEGRITY: We are considerate of our members, and we take pride in maintaining honest, collaborative partnerships with our families and community partners.
ACCOUNTABILITY: We are committed to our families and remain accountable to funders of the organization. Autism Services of Saskatoon takes pride in following through on our commitments.
RESPECT: We work to build trusting, caring, and respectful relationships and demonstrate professionalism in all of our interactions.
DIVERSITY: We appreciate that all people are unique and we celebrate individual differences among those who live, work and play in our community.
SUSTAINABILITY: We strive to build capacity within the organization to ensure delivery of service that is stable, self-sufficient, and responsive to both existing and emerging needs.
COURAGE: We know risk is a critical element of any change for people and organizations and we invite risk and investment from all our partners in order to aspire, strive, innovate and succeed.
