Welcome to the official

Canadian National Autism Foundation

(CNAF)website

We are a foundation that was formed in June 2000 by parents and caregivers of people with autism.The CNAF is dedicated to promoting autism awareness, assisting families with information they require and raising funds to support Canadian based autism research,funding special needs camps,autism programs and more.

Please browse our site for information about

our foundation, autism events, current research studies, and information about autism.

We are all volunteers and have no salaries paid.

Illustration by Nathan, 8 year old with PDD/Autism

Our CEO and Chair (President and Founder) Tina Fougere was Presented with the King Charles lll Coronation Medal by MP Chad Collins on January 16, 2025

Our Upcoming

Dinner Dance Live and Silent Auction LIMITED TICKETS AVAIABLE

AUTISM SENSORY FRIENDLY

LIGHT UP THE CREEK

Autism Sensory Events all 3 Fridays also

Autism Vendors and Vendors

THE FIRST 3 FRIDAYS OF DECEMBER

click to enlarge

If you would like to sponsor or be a vendor please contact

the office cnaf_autism@hotmail.com or 905-930-8682

***UPCOMING EVENTS***

click on the words above to go to the Upcoming event page

Another Partnership Fundraiser with Giant Tiger

Canadian National Autism Foundation and Giant Tiger Canon Street have another Partnership Fundraiser going on with Giant Tiger selling these Cups with Lids and our Foundation also selling them. Come into our office and purchase one with our logo on one side.

Live Reel of the Cups

click to watch

This is about a young lady named Suzie who is diagnosed with autism.

Its truly amazing.

Please take a listen

Hi, my name is Susie Marie Strowbridge and this is my story.

I spent the first 16 years of my life not knowing why I felt so different from others. Why things that were easy for some, were so difficult for me. Or why we thought of things differently. It wasn’t until June 2024 when I told my mom I thought something was different about me that we learned about my diagnosis.

In September of 2024 I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Many wouldn’t have thought, including my own mother because I’ve spent so much of my life learning to internalize the way I felt, however, that can be extremely exhausting.

Now, I’m not telling you all of this looking for pity, but to promote awareness for people like me. Autism can present in a wide spectrum of ways from person to person and it’s not at all linear. No single person with Autism is exactly alike to another.

While I do struggle, I am fortunate enough to be able to articulate my emotions and express the way I feel. When I decided I wanted to start this journey of sharing my story to spread awareness I figured rather than tell you about it, the best way to explain is by showing you, so, below I’ve attached a video of a monologue I wrote and just recently performed at the Miss Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Leadership Program where I won the talented teen award.

I’m so grateful for the support from my friends and family in helping me learn that my diagnosis is more of a blessing than anything else. It’s what makes me who I am as a person and I wouldn’t trade it for any other lifetime.

The reason I’m sharing this is the hope that we can develop ourselves as humans into ones that don’t judge based on appearance, form opinions on actions, or think that someone’s life is easier because you don’t see externally what they’re going through. We are so fortunate to live in a world where everyone is different, so please, just be kind.

https://www.facebook.com/100086641512277/videos/1049593006983222/

Tina Fougere our Foundations President & Founder

was a GLOBAL HERO in the Global Heros Magazine of the

Global Mail Newspaper the month of September 2020

Click the Article Below to Enlarge

Please go to Global Heros Website to read the article click

the title below or the URL. Also the link to the Twin Studies articles

Autism One Mother`s Perspective

https://www.globalheroes.com/autism-one-mothers-perspective/

WE HAVE A NEW FUNDRAISER THAT IS GOING ON FOR SHOES

You can use this below online or use it from your cell phones when purchasing in store in lieu of a physical card if you prefer. When purchasing online at Factory Shoe www.factoryshoe.ca during the checkout process there’s a spot to enter the sku and card number. You can redeem the below cards/pictures. Save them to your phone. Or you can pick up a physical one in our Stoney Creek Office.

For every footwear purchase over $35.00 our Autism Foundation will receive $5.00 from Factory Show Outlet. Why not help by sharing with your friends and possibly purchasing yourself.

Front of the card (click picture to enlarge)

Back of the card (click picture to enlarge)

"PARENT AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP"

"Our Canadian National Autism Foundation (CNAF) will be starting a Parent Support Group starting with 7 people, with 2 to facilitate the group." YOU MUST CONTACT THE FOUNDATION AT INFO@CNAF.NET OR CALL 905-930-8682 TO ATTEND. SPACE LIMITED.This is being held at our office at 39A King St East Downtown Stoney Creek by the Village Restaurant.

We moved this from starting in January to now February.

This will be the "2nd Wednesday of every month Starting Wednesday February 8 from 7pm-8pm starting in our foundation office". We have the ability to run over time if needed. If you wish to be a part of this and cannot make it into the office we can set up other ways for you to be involved.

Tina the President & Founder of CNAF and a mom of a loved one with ASD and Nancy Silva Khan who is a parent of loved ones on the ASD spectrum that will be facilitating discussions."

Again Please contact the office at 905-930-8682 or info@cnaf.net if you are interested in being put on the list. Please no contacting through facebook. NO groups the months of July and August resuming September 2024

"AUTISM SUPPORT GROUP" For people with autism.

One of our board Member with autism will be helping to host this well.

"Our Canadian National Autism Foundation (CNAF) will be starting an Autism Support Group starting with 5 people, with another 2 to facilitate the group (7 in total)." YOU MUST CONTACT THE FOUNDATION AT INFO@CNAF.NET OR CALL 905-930-8682 TO ATTEND. SPACE LIMITED. This is being held at our office at 39A King St East Downtown Stoney Creek by the Village Restaurant.

We moved this from starting in January to now February.

This will be the "1st Wednesday of every month Starting Wednesday February 1 from 7pm-8pm starting in our foundation office". We have the ability to run over time if needed. If you wish to be a part of this and cannot make it into the office we can set up other ways for you to be involved.

Tina the President & Founder of CNAF (or another parent) and also a Board Member who is himself on the ASD Spectrum Kyle Ukrainetz that will be facilitating discussions."

........ .. . ....................

Again Please contact the office at 905-930-8682 or info@cnaf.net if you are interested in being put on the list. Please no contacting through facebook

COMMUNITY PARTNER

CNAF Partnership with Giant Tiger Hamilton

has been a community partner and fundraiser with our foundation since 2018.

More community partners on our event page

CLICK ABOVE WORDS TO WEBPAGE ON

ALL INFORMATION ON UPCOMING EVENTS

Please check out the rest of our interviews and other videos that are

downloaded onto our new YouTube Page

Click the YouTube Logo Below To Go To Our YouTube Channel

Tina Fougere from the Canadian National Autism Foundation

interviewing Tom Dickinson about how it was growing up with

an autism diagnosis and the struggles he encountered.

#Autism #Aspergers #Bullying #Struggles #Interview

CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW TO WATCH

IF YOU SHOP AMAZON WHY NOT THINK ABOUT CHOOSING OUR FOUNDATION AS YOUR AMAZON CHARITY OF CHOICE

City Matters Autism Foundation (March 27 2018)

VIDEO of the Interview

The Hamilton-based Canadian National Autism Foundation

is coming up on 18 yrs of dedication to promoting autism

awareness and assisting families and caregivers. Board chair

Tina Fougere joins Doug to talk about their work and an event

coming up this April which is also Autism Awareness Month.

***Click the picture to watch the interview***

Effective January 1st 2015

Due to increased costs the Canadian National Autism

Foundation will only automatically issue paper tax

receipts for amounts of $50.00 or greater. Tax

receipts for amounts less than $50.00 will be issued

via e-mail unless a paper receipt specifically

requested. No tax receipts for under $10.00.

Paul Reilly

Vice-President/ Treasurer

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the

Canadian National Autism Foundation

Legal Disclaimer

All information published and provided by Canadian National

Autism Foundationis for people to use as informational purposes only.

You are responsible for the choices that are made of any treatment

or therapy option or service provider. The foundation does not

endorese any of the treatments, therapies, programs, services.

Canadian National Autism Foundation does not assume any

responsibility of any and all information on this website.Any and

all information and prices on this website are subject to change

without prior notice by Canadian National Autism Foundation.

We Now have a BLOG

Check it out HERE

ON GOING FUNDRAISERS

CLICK HERE