CHEO launches recruitment campaign to further diversify its Autism Family Advisory Committee

Ottawa — Monday September 21, 2020 — Including the voice of families is at the centre of everything we do. Today, CHEO launched a recruitment campaign to expand its Autism Family Advisory Committee (AFAC) — a diverse group of parents and caregivers whose lived experience informs decision-making for CHEO’s autism services.   

"CHEO has been a beacon of light and support for our family as we’ve navigated the early years of an autism diagnosis and care,” said Mark Chapeskie, who has served as a volunteer AFAC member for the past four years. “I enjoy being able to give back and provide guidance as CHEO modernizes service delivery for children and youth on the autism spectrum and their families — particularly during big policy shifts."

CHEO’s AFAC is modelled after CHEO’s Family Advisory Council and provides advice and guidance from a patient and family perspective to CHEO’s administration, staff and care teams. The topics range from program development and advising on changes that can improve the quality of care and services, to refining CHEO’s language and approach for working with families. 

“CHEO’s AFAC is always our first go-to when it comes to decisions that impact families accessing autism services at CHEO,” said Monique Lugli, Vice-president, Child Development and Community Services at CHEO. “In our ongoing response to COVID-19, our advisors have been instrumental in identifying the priorities for our new program offerings, which have included foundational family services, such as learning to listen and toilet training, and social skills programs including virtual youth drop-in sessions, not to mention our extensive back to school programming.”  

Families who are selected to join the AFAC must be available to meet monthly (in person or virtually) and agree to a two-year volunteer term. Other member criteria includes:  

• experience with autism services within the past two years

•  comfortable in speaking in a group with candour

• ability to use personal experience constructively to advise and not just advocate for one solution or view

• ability to listen and hear different perspectives

• ability to see beyond their own experience to think broadly for all families

•  concern for more than one issue or agenda

New voices on the AFAC will help CHEO further its ongoing efforts to identify unintended health-equity impacts of decision-making, support equity-based improvements in policy, planning, program and autism service design, and help further embed equity in CHEO’s decision-making processes. 

Interested parents and caregivers who meet the above criteria can learn more and apply at www.cheo.on.ca/en/clinics-services-programs/autism-family-advisory-committee.aspx  

In accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, please email malexandrou@cheo.on.ca if you require additional accommodation with the application process. 

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Media contact

Jessica St-James
jstjames@cheo.on.ca
c.613-608-8032