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Résume presentation (original language : french) : A survey was conducted among 209 autistic adults and 130 parents residing in the province of Quebec between 2018 and 2019. To this survey is added a series of individual interviews with 10 autistic adults and 11 parents, as well as focus groups with 16 workers from the health and community sectors. The combination of these methods provided a portrait of the obstacles to social participation of young people with autism in transition to adulthood, including social exclusion, unsuitable environments, the need for family support, lack of fluidity between programs and sectoral silos. In addition to the identification of facilitators, this study offers a series of recommendations to better support people with autism in transition, their families and the caregivers accompanying them. Speaker : Mélanie Couture Assistant professor at the École de réadaptation de l'Université de Sherbrooke, Regular researcher at the IU DITSA, CRCHUS of CIUSSSE, Vice-president of the Autism Evaluation Steering Committee of the Académie des sciences de la santé and researcher at the Réseau pour transformer les soins en autisme (RTSA).

Resume presentation (original language : french) : This presentation will focus on the experience of parenthood as perceived and lived by adults with autism. The benefits as well as the reported challenges will first be discussed, then the gap between the barriers actually encountered (many environmental barriers) and the support resources currently available will be discussed. The importance of recognizing and highlighting experiential knowledge will be raised, thus making it possible to initiate a reflection on how to question autistic parents about their reality, their possible challenges and potential solutions perceived as relevant and aligned with their needs. The gap between this experiential knowledge and the professional knowledge underlying services and support will also be addressed to initiate a reflection on how researchers would benefit from examining the reality of parents with autism. Speaker : Marjorie Désormeaux-Moreau Marjorie Désormeaux-Moreau self-identifies as an autistic researcher. An occupational therapist with a doctorate in psychology (PhD), she is currently an assistant professor at the University of Sherbrooke. Her research programming focuses on the professional values and identity of occupational therapists, as well as the experiential knowledge of adults with autism. The neurodiversity movement is a guiding principle in her conception of autism. She also believes that autism and the experience of people with autism must necessarily be understood from a transactional perspective that takes into account, in particular, the multiple contexts (e.g. occupational, social and cultural) of the people concerned.

Resume presentation (original language : french) : Most of the current literature documenting sibling relationships is based solely on the perspective of the non-autistic sibling. We are currently developing a tool that will allow us to document the autistic person’s point a view as an active member in this relationship. To do so, six young adults have been met on 3 occasions, each time actively involving them in the co-writing of the thirty questions making up the tool. In this presentation, we will discuss the perceptions of these young adults regarding their involvement in this participatory research. Such a research approach is rich for all stakeholders and can be easily reproduced. Speakers : Assumpta Ndengeyingoma, Germain Couture and Stéphanie-M. Fecteau Assumpta Ndengeyingoma, Professor at UQO Nursing department, Regular Researcher at IU-DITSA, and the CISSSO. She is interested in the family and psychosocial determinants that influence the physical and mental health of people with developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder. Germain Couture, Institutional researcher, Direction de l'enseignement universitaire, de la recherche et de l'innovation, CIUSSS MCQ, and at the IU-DITSA. His work has focused on program evaluation, service organization, social participation, and victims of sexual assault. He is the scientific manager of the Technology and Intervention Methods Assessment Unit (UETMI) of IU-DITSA. Stephanie-M. Fecteau, psychoeducator and associate professor in the department of psychoeducation and psychology at UQO, regular researcher at IU-DITSA, co-founder of GRAADA. Her research aims to better understand the experiences of autistic adolescents and their parents, through an approach combining physiological and psychosocial factors. The validation of innovative interventions in the prevention of chronic stress, and this, in a context of partnership with practice circles, is at the heart of her research interests.

Title : Peer mediation and theatre: a model of social support and inclusion for adults with autism spectrum disorder Resume presentation (original language : english) : SENSE Theatre is a peer mediated, theatre based intervention developed for children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The key elements of the ten session intervention involve peers, play and performance, which provide a foundation of social support and inclusion. Theatre has the potential to provide a safe, creative space to engage in reciprocal social interaction and trained peers offer a supportive context in which to learn in community settings. Previous research using randomized clinical trials has shown significant impact in social cognition, communication, and reductions in anxiety following treatment. Speaker : Blythe Corbett Blythe Corbett, Ph.D. is a Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Director of the SENSE (Social Emotional NeuroScience Endocrinology) Lab. Her translational research program studies social competence, stress and pubertal development in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Resume presentation (original language : french) : Autisme sans limite's service model was built to meet the challenges of the autistic person as well as societal challenges facing autism. It is a model of systemic and innovative support that can be joined to existing structures of society, with a view to reducing implementation costs and facilitating its reproduction in any urban agglomeration where the community is mobilize. Our service model takes the form of an ecosystem, offering diversified programs included in the heart of the community, and aimed at meeting all the diverse and changing needs of young adults with autism between the ages of 18 and 35. These programs are supported by mobilizing the living forces of the community, which are channeled into supporting the ecosystem, welcoming young people, offering group services and co-developing programs. This presentation will detail what Autisme sans limite’s model is, how it is implemented in Montreal and the impacts perceived to date by participants and their families. Speaker : Lise-Marie Gravel A former journalist and mother of a high functioning young adult with autism, Lise-Marie Gravel founded Le Club des Soirées d'Antan in 2008, a social club for young people with autism of the same profile as her boy. The experience led her to create a support model that would effectively meet the needs of this population. Now president of Autisme sans limites, she has been implementing her model in Montreal since September 2017. Autisme sans limites has received the Prix Hommage à l'Innovation from the Fédération québécoise de l'autisme and the Social Impact Award from L’actualité, in the "Ecosystem Mobilization" category. Lise-Marie Gravel won the Women of Worth Prize awarded by L’ORÉAL Paris to ten Canadian women who have distinguished themselves through their volunteer commitment.

Resume presentation (original language : french) : TEVA (Transition école vie adulte) has existed for more than 20 years in Quebec schools. In 2018, an interministerial guide (education, health and employment) was published, coinciding with the start of our study, the objectives of which were to identify the scientific writings on TEVA in North America, to scan the content of websites school service boards website for information on the TEVA and to conduct in-depth case studies in six high schools in Quebec. It concludes that an optimal TEVA should include five components: student-centered planning, family engagement, support for student development, intersectoral collaboration and a program structure. In addition, our data shows that, if a dedicated team takes charge of TEVA, quality support can be offered. The challenge remains to ensure that all who need it can benefit. Speaker : Chantal Desmarais Chantal Desmarais is a speech therapist and full professor in the rehabilitation department at Université Laval. Her research mainly focuses on developmental language disorder. Recently, she has been particularly interested in adolescents who have developmental language disorder or any other communication difficulty that has an impact on learning and socialization, including people with autism. Support measures and intervention practices with these young people aimed at optimizing their trajectory towards adulthood is at the heart of her work. She is a regular researcher at the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale(Cirris) and a member of the Périscope Network.

Resume de la présentation (original language: french) : The transition to adulthood is the one that has the most impact on the future life of a young person with special needs. It is considered a complex transition since all spheres of the life of the future adult must be considered. The concerted and intersectoral planning of this transition, carried out with the young person and according to his.her interests, is a way that must be privileged. This presentation will discuss tools currently available on the Internet, which may be adapted and modified according to the characteristics of the young person, which support the concerted process of the transition. For each of the components of high quality TEVA programs (Kohler et al., 2016), these concrete tools, developed in the context of an action-research, will be presented. Their use will then be illustrated from the results of scientific studies or concrete examples of planned transitions. Speakers : Julie Ruel and Francine Julien-Gauthier Psychologist by training, Julie Ruel has worked for more than 35 years in several health, social and school services. She is currently an associate professor at UQO, McGill University and an associate researcher at the CISSS de l'Outaouais. She is also a regular researcher at the Institut universitaire en déficience intellectuelle et en trouble du spectre de l’autisme (IU-DITSA). Her doctoral research focused on the first school transition and she then conducted and participated in research on various school transitions, particularly for students with atypical pathways. Francine Julien-Gauthier, psychoeducator and full professor in the Department des fondements et pratiques en éducation de l'Université Laval, she holds a doctorate in educational sciences from UQAM and a master's degree in special education from the University of Sherbrooke. Her research focuses on education and intervention in intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and physical disability. She is interested in the social participation of people with disabilities and the resilience of vulnerable populations. She is a regular researcher at the CIUSSS MCQ, IU-DITSA, CIRRIS, CRIRES and member of the Périscope Network.

Resume presentation (original language: french) : Since 2017, an increase in registrations at the Student accessibility center has been observed, as well as an increase in the challenges related to integration and to academic success. Faced with growing needs, a partnership has been established between the CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest and the Cégep Édouard Montpetit in order to better support autistic students during this transition. The presentation will discuss the steps leading to the establishment of this partnership and the results of their collaboration: workshops offered to students, a preparation guide addressed to college student", personalized guided tours, procedure to promote academic success, self-assessment tools, etc. The participants especially appreciate the activities from the social component including the group dinner and the testimonial, which created a feeling of belonging and reduced expressed anxiety related to novelty. Speakers : Marie-Pier St-Jacques and Karine Lalonde A specialist educator for over 20 years, Karine Lalonde began her career at the Centres jeunesse of Montérégie. Since 2012, she is now supporting teachers in specialized classes, including classes which welcome students with autism. Having developed a strong interest in working with this clientele as well as in support for learning, she joined the team of the adapted services center at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit in 2014. Her role is to promote learning, integration and adaptation to college environment among students with disabilities, mainly those diagnosed with autism. In addition, in 2017, in partnership with the CISSS Montérégie-Ouest, she has put together workshops and guidelines for the transition to college which are specially designed for autistic students. Marie-Pier St-Jacques, is a specialized educator at the CISSS MO, TSA 7 years + program, external services. Holder of a bachelor's degree in psychoeducation from Université de Sherbrooke in 2006. Marie-Pier has worked at the CISSS MO for 15 years with the TSA clientele and more specifically with the teen-adult clientele. She also leads various groups dedicated to adolescents and their parents, within the CISSS MO. Marie-Pier participated in the creation of the Cégep integration project for people with autism and is co-facilitating it.

Resume presentation: Initiated by a group of parents, Integration TSA (ITSA) is a non-profit organization that offers a training environment adapted to adults with ASD aged 21 and over. At the end of school services, access to specialized resources adapted to their needs is limited. ITSA's mission is to support adults with autism and their families during this important transition stage into active adulthood. The organization adopts innovative practices with a view to integrating adults for who the regular job market doe not correspond. To do this, we promote the development of long-term employability by developing their general autonomy, and promote the development and consolidation of the social skills necessary for social participation and to become an active citizen. Examples of successes and small victories drawn from the daily life of our customers will illustrate these strategies. Speaker : Julie Lahaye Julie Lahaye has been the executive director of Intégration TSA since June 2016. A delinquency intervention technician and specialized educator by training, she has worked for 15 years in the community environment with various audiences. When she arrived at ITSA, an important work of co-construction with the parents who are directors on the board of directors was carried out in order to arrive at the current service offer.

Resume presentation : For three years now, with the support of Ms. Sophie, employment integration agent at Service d’aide à l’emploi et de placement en entreprise pour personnes handicapées (SDEM SEMO), Mr. Labrecque has been working at the La Grande Allée vineyard, whose mission is to integrate and maintain people with disabilities in employment. This trio of testimonials will highlight the difficulties encountered during his integration into employment, but above all the actions and attitudes embodied to enable its success. Mr. Labrecque will share his recommendations and wishes to make his experience accessible to more young people with autism seeking employment. Concluding the symposium with testimonials such as this one will fuel exchanges towards the search for courses of action and solutions so that this success becomes the accessible standard for all young adults with autism. Speakers : Bernard Gravel, Laurent Labrecque and Sophie Lévesque Bernard Gravel, owner of Grande Allée vineyard, retired police officer and recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's medal in 2019 for his volunteer involvement. Laurent Labrecque, employee Grande Allée vineyard, young autistic adulte Sophie Lévesque, employment integration agent at Service d’aide à l’emploi et de placement en entreprise pour personnes handicapées (SDEM SEMO)

Resume présentation: Valérie Desroches, Aspie and dyspraxic, author of the book "Un combat pour l’inclusion", has lived and continues to experience many challenges in terms of inclusion. Despite everything, she succeeds professionally as an orthopedagogue. Battles between image and skills, under-potential jobs, instability according to employers’ openness and sometimes voluntary isolation, can hide the unique potential and often extraordinary skills of autistic people. This presentation will offer a real understanding of the challenges and potential adaptations to facilitate inclusion of an autistic adult. Speaker : Valérie Desroches Valérie Desroches, orthopedagogue, Aspie and dyspraxic, author of the book "Un combat pour l’inclusion"