Autistics United Canada is fundraising to improve accessibility at our events, meetings, and initiatives!
Help Autistics raise money for ASL interpretation, captioning, Braille print materials, and other accessibility services for community events and advocacy projects.
Why donate to Autistic-led advocacy?
“Since my early teenage years, I wanted to be involved in autistic advocacy but did not know where or how to start. AU has given me a way to participate in something that is important for me. But that’s not the only way I have benefited from AU; we also hosts social events for autistics. This has been a great way for me to get out in the community, meet people and socialize, and has overall been a positive experience for me.”
— Allie, an Autistic 24-year-old member of the Vancouver chapter
We are a grassroots network of Autistics and allies, working towards disability justice and building a thriving Autistic community. Our chapters in Vancouver (Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Territory), Comox Valley (K'ómoks Territory), Manitoba (Anishnaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Territory, and Homeland of the Métis Nation) and Nova Scotia (Wabanaki Confederacy and Mi’kmaq Territory) work on local issues and collaborate on province and nation-wide policy change.
All our leadership positions are held by Autistic people, reflecting our core value: “Nothing About Us, Without Us!”
AU Canada is entirely volunteer-run and we rely on donations to sustain our work. Our community is diverse and our approach is intersectional.
Our Current Projects
Currently, we are expanding our mobile neurodiversity library! The library lends stim toys, fidgets, and books about neurodiversity and autism at to the public.
Our ongoing initiatives include celebrating Autism Acceptance Month , hosting Disability Day of Mourning in local sites across Canada, and providing educational workshops to families, researchers, educators, service providers, and community members. We also provide peer support to autistic individuals to accomplish their own advocacy goals. Upcoming projects include an anthology video project and an intergenerational storytelling event !
Policy Advocacy
Autistics United Canada strives to ensure that the Autistic community has a collective voice in policy decisions that affect our lives. We work in coalition with other disability organizations and directly with local and national governments to promote the rights of Autistic, neurodivergent, Deaf, and disabled people!
To find out more about what we do, visit our website: AutisticsUnitedCA.org
What We Are Fundraising For
As a volunteer-run organization, we rely on donations to fund our activities. Improving accessibility is important to us, since everyone deserves a chance to participate and contribute to the broader neurodiversity movement in ways that work for them. This fundraiser will create a pool of money for Autistics across Canada to create more accessible community events and advocacy campaigns.
As a disability justice group, we strive for the goal that no one is left behind. We recognize that access is not limited to just disability, but includes meeting the needs of racialized people, women, LGBTQ+ people, low-income people, and other marginalized communities. We will work collectively and creatively to bring about access for each other.
Funds do help though! Here are some things we are fundraising for:
- ASL interpretation
- Communication access real-time translation (CART) services
- Captioning and transcripts for videos
- Braille transcription of print materials
- Large print materials
- Communication badges and name tags
- Accessible venue costs
- Stim toys and fidgets
- Sensory equipment such as earplugs
- Bus tickets for event attendees
- Childcare for event attendees
- Improvements to website accessibility
Some rough estimates:
A $2 donation will fund 1 pair of earplugs.
A $5 donation will add 1 fidget spinner to our library.
A $10 donation will provide 20 pages of large print material.
A $20 donation will fund captioning for a 15-minute video.
A $50 donation will provide ½ hour of CART services.
A $75 donation will provide 1 hour of ASL interpretation.
A $100 donation will fund 1 hour use of a larger, wheelchair-accessible venue for community events.
We appreciate your donation—every contribution counts! Thank you!
