Interview: Building community with AutismBC

I reached out to Suzanne from AutismBC to give her an update that we have a clinical psychologist who is AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) themselves who is conducting assessments for adult autistics. You can read about Dr. Jennifer Arpink here, who does our autism/AuDHD assessments in BC:

Meet our clinicians

I love AutismBC and thought it would be good to interview them to help spread the word about what they do.

At Embrace Autism, we believe in highlighting organizations that are making a tangible difference in autistic lives—not just through services, but through evidence-based approaches that improve well-being, belonging, and community connection. Research consistently shows that peer support reduces loneliness and improves mental health outcomes, while accessible community programs enhance participation, resilience, and quality of life for autistic people and their families.

One of the leaders in this work is AutismBC (Autism British Columbia)—the province’s first and only autistic-led advocacy organization and registered charity. For 50 years, AutismBC has been at the heart of empowering, connecting, and supporting autistic people and their families. Their mission goes beyond services: it’s about building belonging, shifting harmful narratives, and celebrating neurodivergent identities.

Some of their most valued programs include:

• AutismBC Goes: Inclusive social events that reduce financial and sensory barriers.

• Peer Support Groups: Facilitated spaces for caregivers, youth, and adults to connect.

• Information Services: Trusted, non-prescriptive guidance shaped by community input.

• Workshops: Covering topics like diagnosis, advocacy, and navigating systems.

These services are not just helpful—they are grounded in evidence showing that community-based, peer-informed, and neuroaffirmative approaches improve outcomes for autistic individuals across the lifespan.

To learn more about their mission, values, and impact, I had the pleasure of speaking with Suzanne from AutismBC, a passionate and kind advocate for autistic voices in the province. In this interview, Suzanne shares AutismBC’s story, the principles that guide their work, and the ways they are creating spaces of dignity, agency, and inclusion across British Columbia.

The interview is below.

Interview

Dr. Natalie ND: For those unfamiliar, how would you describe AutismBC’s mission and the core services you provide across the province?

Suzanne: AutismBC is British Columbia’s first and only autistic-led advocacy organization and registered charity. Our mission is to empower, support, and connect the autism community across the province. We offer inclusive programs, peer support, educational workshops, and trusted, non-prescriptive information services. Our work is rooted in lived experience and guided by a neuroaffirmative, trauma-informed, and intersectional approach.

Dr. Natalie ND: What do you feel distinguishes AutismBC from other autism-related organizations—especially in terms of how you serve autistic individuals and families?

Suzanne: AutismBC is led by neurodivergent individuals and caregivers, which means our programming is shaped by lived experience. We celebrate neurodivergent identities as valid expressions of human diversity. Our support is non-clinical, non-pathologizing, and designed to meet people where they are, with flexibility and choice aiming to offer agency lifting human dignity.

Dr. Natalie ND: Can you share a specific story or example that captures the kind of impact AutismBC has had on someone in the community?

Suzanne: One member shared how our  Getting Together on the Spectrum group helped them feel seen and heard for the first time. As a late-diagnosed autistic adult, they found community, validation, and practical support through our peer-led sessions. They described the experience as “recharging and uplifting,” and said it helped them move through life with more confidence and self-compassion.

Dr. Natalie ND: How does AutismBC ensure its programming and support are guided by lived experience and the voices of autistic people?

Suzanne: Our staff and board are predominantly neurodivergent, and many identify as autistic self-advocates. We actively consult our community through feedback, storytelling campaigns, and advisory groups. Programs like AutismBC Meets and  AutismBC Talks which are designed to amplify autistic voices and ensure our work reflects real needs.

Dr. Natalie ND: What kinds of individuals or families tend to reach out to AutismBC for support, and what are the most common types of help they seek?

Suzanne: We support individuals across the lifespan. From those questioning a diagnosis to late-diagnosed adults, caregivers, and professionals. Common requests include help navigating funding, finding inclusive programs, accessing peer support, and understanding neurodivergent identity. Many reach out during times of transition or crisis, and we respond with compassion, clarity, and choice.

Dr. Natalie ND: What are some of your most valued or widely-used programs, resources, or initiatives right now?

Suzanne:

• AutismBC Goes: Inclusive social events that reduce financial and sensory barriers
• Peer Support Groups: For caregivers, youth, and adults
• Information Services: Non-prescriptive, community-informed guidance
• Workshops: Covering topics like diagnosis and experiences, advocacy, and navigating systems
• AutismBC Raffle and 50/50: A major fundraiser that supports all programming.

Dr. Natalie ND: How can professionals or members of the community best refer people to AutismBC, and what can those individuals expect when they reach out?

Suzanne: Referrals can be made via our website contact page or by sharing our contact info. When someone reaches out, they’ll be met with respect, flexibility, and choice. We offer trauma-informed and neuroaffirming support that prioritizes autonomy and creates space for choice. Our team listens first, then offers relevant resources and connection pathways.

Dr. Natalie ND: What values or principles guide AutismBC’s approach to support, education, and advocacy?

Suzanne:

• Empowerment: Supporting informed, self-directed choices
• Inclusion: Welcoming all abilities, identities and neurotypes
• Accessibility: Removing barriers to participation
• Listening: Valuing feedback and lived experience
• Expertise: Sharing knowledge rooted in community and lived experience

Dr. Natalie ND: Is there anything new or upcoming at AutismBC that you’re especially excited about or proud of?

Suzanne: We are celebrating our 50th anniversary this year with province-wide events, storytelling campaigns, and advocacy initiatives, such as opening the year lighting up key buildings in the Province Gold and Red and being the primary contributor for the Province of British Columbias Proclamation for Autism Acceptance Month. We’re also enriching adult programming and continuing our work to address systemic gaps in diagnosis, education, and support, especially for underserved communities.

Dr. Natalie ND: What do you most want people to know about AutismBC’s role in the broader autistic and neurodivergent community in BC?

Suzanne: AutismBC is more than a service provider. We are a community builder and systems advocate. We stand with autistic people, not over them. We work to shift narratives, dismantle barriers, and create spaces where neurodivergent individuals are not just included, but celebrated.

Why this matters

So much of what AutismBC’s programs do helps autistic people and their loved ones. Peer support, for example, isn’t just a “nice to have.” Studies show that when autistic people connect with others who share their lived experience, loneliness decreases, self-acceptance grows, and mental health improves.^[1]Evaluating the online delivery of an autistic-led programme to support newly diagnosed or identified autistic adults (Crane et al., 2023)^[2]Interviews with autistic people about post-diagnostic peer support in adulthood (Crompton et al., 2022)^[3]“I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people”: A thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family (Crompton et al., 2020) When I first created our Embrace Autism Facebook Community, there were eleven people I invited, and it was a lifeline. I’ve heard autistic adults describe it as a low drama, neuroaffirming space where you don’t need to explain yourself to be understood.

The same is true for inclusive social opportunities. When events are designed with sensory needs in mind, and when financial barriers are removed, autistic adults and families participate more and thrive. Research tells us that these kinds of environments lower anxiety and build a sense of belonging.^[4]“I never realised everybody felt as happy as I do when I am around autistic people”: A thematic analysis of autistic adults’ relationships with autistic and neurotypical friends and family (Crompton et al., 2020) That sense of “I am welcome here” is powerful medicine.

Even the seemingly simple act of offering non-prescriptive information services has evidence behind it. Families and autistic adults who receive clear, community-informed guidance report lower stress, especially during difficult transitions.^[5]Improving transition to adulthood for students with autism: A randomized controlled trial of STEPS (White et al., 2021) When the system feels like a maze, having someone point to the right path helps immensely..

And perhaps most importantly, AutismBC’s neuroaffirmative and trauma-informed approach reflects what we now know: affirming autistic identity is good for mental health. When autistic people are seen and celebrated—rather than pathologized—they show stronger self-esteem, less internalized stigma and harm themselves less.^[6]Come as you are: Examining autistic identity development and the neurodiversity movement through an intersectional lens (Botha & Gillespie-Lynch, 2022) It’s not just about reducing harm, it’s about creating spaces where autistic people can flourish.

What Suzanne and her team are building is not only compassionate, it is evidence-based. The science echoes what the autistic community has been saying: connection, acceptance, and dignity change lives. You can contact AutismBC here.