Training FAQs

Autism is characterized by differences with social communication, sensory sensitivities and repetitive behaviour, as well as a wide range of individual strengths, interests and abilities.

There are huge variations in how Autistic traits present themselves across individuals. Most people who have a diagnosis of autism also have a second form of neurodivergence, most commonly ADHD and/or anxiety.

Want to learn more?

The CAN Learning Hub offers two FREE 5-minute mini courses online. These include “What are autism and neurodiversity?” and “What does it mean to be sensory-friendly?”

In British Columbia, 1 in 25 children and youth is on the autism spectrum. There are over 34,000 children and youth on the autism spectrum province-wide.*

There is no publicly available data for the prevalence of autism in adults.

*Ministry of Children and Family Development & BC Stats Population Estaimtes and Projections, 2024

We provide both online courses and in-person training and accessibility consultation.

Online courses for a range of community sectors are available through the CAN Learning Hub and can be accessed by anyone, anywhere, anytime.

In-person workshops and consultation is available through our province-wide training team to various groups.

These include sport coaches, recreation staff, summer camp leaders, first responders, mental health providers, crisis line workers, employers, travel organizations, and a range of community venues.

We are proud to provide customized solutions for a range of sectors. If you don’t see your organization type listed, reach out to us directly at training@canucksautism.ca. We will be happy to help!

The CAN Learning Hub provides online courses for anyone, anytime, anywhere!

Our online courses feature interactive and expert-driven content to better understand autism and learn to support those on the autism spectrum.

Courses are targeted to a range of community sectors, including:

• Educators
• Travel industry professionals
• Sports & rec leaders
• Summer camp staff & volunteers
• First responders
• Mental health service providers
• Crisis line workers
• Customer service staff

We anticipate having additional courses available, as our team develops more content.

Interested learners can also sample our courses for FREE with our 5-minute previews. These include:

• What are autism and neurodiversity?
• What does it mean to be sensory-friendly?

Start learning at learn.canucksautism.ca!

Anyone!

Our courses are designed for individuals who are active in specific community sectors.

However, we encourage anyone who is interested in supporting Autistic individuals in community settings to explore our courses.

This can include parents & caregivers, siblings & friends, coworkers, support workers, and more.

Our courses are geared towards different sectors on how best to support Autistic individuals in different settings.

All courses will provide an intro to autism and neurodiversity.

Learners will be able to recognize signs that an individual may be Autistic or neurodivergent.

Learners will also gain valuable tools and practical support strategies for supporting and including Autistic and neurodiverse individuals.  

Content was developed by sector experts, including CAN staff, community members, and Autistic voices.

Create a CAN Learning Hub account at learn.canucksautism.ca.

Select and purchase the course you would like to take.

Once a course has been purchased you will have access to it for 3 months to complete the course at your own pace!  

Our 5-minute mini courses are FREE for community members to preview the CAN Learning Hub.

All full courses (60 to 90 minutes) do come with a charge. The cost varies by sector and reflects market value for e-learning. 

All revenue goes directly back into supporting CAN’s programs for children, youth and adults on the autism spectrum.

We will also use the funding to develop more e-courses for additional community sectors.

If cost is a barrier, please contact learning@canucksautism.ca for information about group discounts and other pricing options.

Note that we also offer deep group discounts for organization-wide access.

Our 5-minute mini courses are FREE for community members to preview the CAN Learning Hub.

For our full, paid courses, please contact training@canucksautism.ca with requests for financial assistance.

Yes! Contact learning@canucksautism.ca for group discounts.  

Yes! Contact learning@canucksautism.ca to get started.

Yes! After the completion of all our courses, you will receive a certificate.

If you did not receive a certificate ensure that you finished all aspects of the course, including quizzes.  

If you still have not received a certificate, please email learning@canucksautism.ca.

First, try resetting the password.

If you still cannot log in, email learning@canucksautism.ca for assistance!  

After you purchase a course, you will have access to it for 3 months.

You can take the course multiple times within the 3 months, but you won’t have access after.  

If you are still within your 3-month window, try resetting your password and logging back in. 

Still having trouble? Email learning@canucksautism.ca.

Our workshops provide an introduction to autism and strategies for supporting individuals on the spectrum in a variety of settings.

Topics vary by sector, but can include:

• Identifying and understanding autism
• Communication strategies and tips
• Inclusive hiring & workplace accessibility
• Behaviour support and motivational strategies
• Coaching/teaching tools
• Rapport-building strategies
• Social inclusion supports

Each of our live training workshops can be customized to meet the specific needs of your organization.

Content typically includes topics such as recognizing autism, communication tips, increasing predictability, supporting positive behaviour, and providing support during difficulty.

Get in touch with us directly! We would love to hear about your desired learning outcomes and share what we can offer.

To book a training workshop for any community sector, please fill out this form.

For all other inquiries, please email training@canucksautism.ca!

Most of our training workshops operate on a cost-recovery basis and standard fees do apply (with the exception of employer training, which is offered for free through Ready, Willing & Able).

To learn more, please inquire directly: training@canucksautism.ca

We do not want costs to be a barrier to receiving high quality training. We are committed to offering you a rate that works for your organization.

If you are working within financial constraints, please let us know and we will do our best to meet your needs.

Of course! We are happy to provide certificates to all attendees.

We welcome your feedback! Please email training@canucksautism.ca.

We actively collaborate with various organizations and community spaces to increase accessibility for individuals on the spectrum.

This type of community engagement can include:

• Individualized Consultation
• Resource Development (ie.training videos, activity storybooks, checklists, maps, etc)
• Hosting autism-friendly programs or Sensory Friendly Spaces at events
• Helping employers develop and implement inclusive hiring strategies and inclusive practices.

Tell us what you had in mind! Fill out our form and a member of our Training & Accessibility Consultation team will be in touch.

Through our role as a Ready Willing and Able delivery partner, we can support businesses of all sizes and industries to address specific labour needs through providing consultation services to help employers develop and implement inclusive hiring strategies, as well as training  to help organizations learn inclusive practices and supports that can benefit your workplace.

For Lower Mainland businesses Contact: Ross MacMillan

For Kelowna businesses Contact: Susan Noble

Canucks Autism Network live training workshops can be eligible for National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) professional development credits and BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) continuing education credits.

Contact training@canucksautism.ca for information about how to obtain your credits.

Sport training is designed for local sport clubs, provincial sport organizations and national sport organizations (i.e. baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, tennis, gymnastics, rugby, etc.).

Recreation training is for community recreation leaders teaching swim, skate, fitness, art, or day camps, typically associated with community centres.

Our vision is that every individual on the autism spectrum is understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces.

Canucks Autism Network considers a community space or venue to include any organization that directly interacts with or provides services to the general public.

Community spaces to which we have provided training include: Rogers Arena, Science World, Vancouver Aquarium, City of Surrey & more.