Our Mission
The Autism Society, Newfoundland & Labrador (ASNL), is a province-wide charitable organization dedicated to advancing the rights, supports, and opportunities of autistic people, their families, and caregivers through advocacy, education, and meaningful community connections.
Our Mandate
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Advance the rights, supports, and opportunities of autistic people and their communities.
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Advocate for inclusive policies at both the individual and systemic levels.
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Offer educational opportunities that promote autism acceptance and understanding.
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Provide neuroaffirming programs and supports that foster meaningful community connections.
Our Core Values
Rights
We uphold the rights of autistic people and work to remove barriers to participation and support, fostering communities where autistic people, their families, and caregivers feel accepted, valued, and connected
Confidentiality
​We respect privacy and handle all information responsibly, ensuring that trust is at the core of every relationship.
Learning
We embrace continuous learning, welcome new ideas, and adapt evidence-informed approaches to improve programs, community connections, and outcomes.
Integrity
​We act with honesty and transparency in all our work, provide reliable information, and take responsibility for our actions and decisions.
Collaboration
We work openly and respectfully with autistic people, families, caregivers, and partners, valuing teamwork, dialogue, and approachability to strengthen supports and opportunities.
Culture
We foster a neuroaffirming workplace where our passionate team collaborates with respect, creativity, and care. Our unique culture strengthens how we support autistic people, families, and communities around Newfoundland and Labrador.
What is Autism?
Autism is a Neurodevelopmental Disability. Support needs vary widely. Some autistic people need significant daily support, while others require less. Many experience fluctuating support needs depending on context, energy, environment, and access to accommodations.
Autism exists across races, genders, cultures, socioeconomic status and identities.
Autism is a natural variation in human neurology. Autistic brains are different, structurally and chemically from non-autistic brains and from each other.
Autism is not a binary but a multi-dimensional spectrum, with each person having their unique constellation of strengths, challenges, and ways of processing the world.
According to Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Autistic people:
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Think Differently
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Process Senses Differently
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Move Differently
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Communicate Differently
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Socialize Differently
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May need help with daily living
Autism by Autistics
The Medical Model of Autism
The DSM-V-TR defines autism (or Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD) as a neurodevelopmental disability marked by:
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Persistent differences in communication and social interaction across multiple contexts
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Restricted, repetitive behaviours, interests or activities
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Differences in sensory processing
This definition is used for diagnosis and access to supports within some systems. It describes patterns clinicians look for, but does not fully capture what autism means to many Autistic people.