Other Resources

If you are experiencing feelings of desperation and hopelessness, worried that you might hurt yourself or someone else, having suicidal thoughts, or feeling alone with no one to talk to, and if you have made a plan, possess the means to hurt yourself or someone else (such as pills or a weapon), or have previously attempted suicide or harmed yourself, it is crucial to seek help immediately.

Please do one of the following:

1. Call 911
2. Go to the nearest Emergency Hospital
3. Call Access 24/7at (780) 424-2424

Access 24/7 provides a comprehensive range of urgent and non-urgent addiction and mental health services, including service navigation, screening, assessment, referral, consultation, crisis intervention, outreach, and short-term stabilization. Phone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Edmonton Community Health Hub North – Walk-In Clinic
Location: 13211 Fort Rd NW, Edmonton, AB
Hours: Open 7 days a week (including holidays) 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

The AISH program exists to help Albertans with disabilities support themselves and their families. Run by the Department of Human Services, AISH provides eligible applicants with financial and health benefits. The main financial benefit is a monthly living allowance, along with other benefits such as support for childcare and children’s education.

Please visit Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) | Alberta.ca for more information on AISH.

Income Support provides financial benefits to individuals and families who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter. This program can assist those who are unable to work due to health problems, whether temporary or persistent.

For more information on Income Support, please contact the Alberta Supports Contact Centre:

Phone: 1-877-644-9992
Email: css.ascc@gov.ab.ca

• Self-help: A good resource for reading about social stories is https://carolgraysocialstories.com/. Some good resources to conceptualize ASD include A Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome, Tony Attwood, Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism, Temple Grandin, Asperger’s and Girls, Tony Attwood and Temple Grandin.
• Please visit National Autistic Society (autism.org.uk)for online information related to ASD. This is an online resource full of publications, videos and modules geared towards providing education and support information to individuals with autism and their families.
• Local resources in Edmonton: Autism Edmonton provides programs and support groups for individuals with autism in the Edmonton region. Please visit their website Autism Edmonton for further information.

Intellectual Disability Leaflets
For accessible information for people with mental health problems and intellectual disabilities, visit:Learning Disabilities | Royal College of Psychiatrists

Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Program
The PDD Program provides funding for supports for adult Albertans with developmental disabilities, helping them live in their communities.

Eligibility for PDD
To qualify, individuals must have:

• • An IQ score of 70 or below, indicating significant limitations in intellectual functioning.
  • Limitations in adaptive functioning (daily life activities).
  • Deficits that begin before age 18.

PDD Services
Services include:

• Home Living Supports:Assistance with daily activities.
• Respite Services:Breaks for caregivers.
• Community Access Supports:Participation in social and recreational activities.
• Employment Supports:Help finding and maintaining a job.
• Short-term Support or Training:Skill enhancement for caregivers.

Getting Help from PDD
If an IQ test report is not available within the last five years, contact Manor Clinic for assistance. Our psychologists can evaluate intellectual capacity and adaptive skills.
For more information, visit the PDD website: PDD – Alberta.

Community Outreach Assessment and Support Team (COAST)
COAST is a collaborative initiative aimed at supporting individuals with complex service needs in the Edmonton Zone, particularly adults with developmental/intellectual disabilities who pose risks to themselves or others.

Contact Information
Edmonton Zone Community Outreach Assessment and Support Team (COAST)
Address: 13211 Fort Road NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5A 1C3
Phone: 587-735-8885 (Intake)
Fax: 587-473-0777

The Government of Canada offers the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), a non-refundable tax credit aimed at individuals with disabilities and their supporters. This credit helps reduce the income tax burden for those with severe and prolonged impairments that significantly limit daily activities.

How to Apply

1. Complete and sign Part Aof Form T2201, Disability Tax Credit Certificate.
2. Have a medical practitioner fill out and certify Part B, confirming the impairment and its effects.
3. Submit the form to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) by mail or online.

For more information about the DTC, visit the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy aims to empower individuals, especially those who are vulnerable, to:

• Have their voices heard on important issues.
• Defend their rights.
• Ensure their views are considered in decisions affecting their lives.

Advocates can help you:

• Understand the care and treatment process.
• Express your feelings about your care.
• Make informed decisions.
• Challenge decisions you disagree with.
• Stand up for your rights.
• Write letters and attend meetings with you.

They provide support during assessments and care planning.

For more information about The Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, visit Alberta’s Advocate website.

For adults with a developmental disorder who struggle to obtain or maintain employment, an individual supported employment program may be considered. Local employment programs in Alberta that can assist include:

• Chrysalis
• Excel Society
• Goodwill Industries of AB
• Inclusion Alberta – Rotary Employment Partnership
• Independent Counselling Enterprises Inc. (ICE)
• Rehoboth Christian Ministries

These programs can provide recommendations for reasonable adjustments or accommodations in the workplace to help make an individual’s work life easier and more comfortable.