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South Shore

South Shore

Regional Autism Centre

Located in Bridgewater, NS, the South Shore Chapter of Autism Nova Scotia supports autistic individuals of all ages and their families in Lunenburg and Queens County.

Autism Nova Scotia’s South Shore Chapter is proud to offer various programs and supports to our region:

  • Caledonia Tween Group
  • Pre-School/Parent Drop In
  • Teen Social Group

In addition to the local social programs listed above, we also offer province-wide programming at our centre, including:

  • Individual/Family Support and Resource Navigation
  • Healthy Relationships Sexuality & Autism
  • Employment Supports & Programming
  • Post-Secondary Autism Support Services
  • QuickStart
  • Pinwheel Wellness 

The South Shore Chapter of Autism Nova Scotia strives to build understanding, acceptance and inclusion for individuals on the autism spectrum through social and recreational programming, advocacy, individual and family support, educational opportunities and advocacy.

The Chapter has a formal partnership with the South Shore Regional Centre for Education, allowing the chapter and the SSRCE to better support autistic learners and their families, including using a shared space in Hebbville.

Autism Centre Location Map Image

Office:

373 King St.
Bridgewater NS B4V 1B1

Contact:

Chantal Milne

southshore@autismns.ca

902-514-7489

Office:

373 King St.
Bridgewater NS B4V 1B1

Contact:

Tanisha Teal

tteal@autismns.ca

Chapter News

Play in Nature

As we enter Spring and the weather starts getting warmer, create opportunities to take your child outside to play in nature several times a day. Playing outside and in nature helps promote a child’s curiosity, creativity, and learning new experiences. It allows them to explore their senses while testing their limits. Outdoor play also gives…

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Myles’ Autism Journey

In the world of sending and getting packages, there’s a special story about friendship and accepting each other at DHL. Let’s meet Myles, who is autistic and works at DHL. His journey has changed the way he sees working together and feeling like you belong.  Last year, Myles joined a team made up of his…

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Celebrating International Women’s Day: Women’s Autism/Autistic Project

To help honor International Women’s Day, it’s important to highlight programs that uplift and support women from diverse backgrounds. One such initiative at Autism Nova Scotia is the Women’s Autism/Autistic Project. Founded by two autistic advocates, Patricia George-Zwicker and Danielle Griffin, the program is now available for both teens and adults to connect and find…

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Understanding Coaching in the QuickStart Nova Scotia Program

What does “Coaching” mean? Coaching provides a collaborative approach which focuses on the following in different roles and organizations, such as sports/fitness, business, education, and counselling. 1)Defining goals and finding out what is important to the individual person; 2)Creating plans and finding ways to achieve these goals and;  3)Working toward accomplishing them together through practice…

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Talking about Healthy Relationships

Relationships are the connections between people. Everyone has relationships that fall into many categories such as: sexual, romantic, friendship, family, service provider, colleague/boss, etc. Sometimes, these relationships may happen in more than one category. For example, a romantic partner may also be a best friend. Regardless of the category of relationship, it is important to…

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Shared Interests to Shared Hearts: A Journey of Friendship and Love

Meet Alex and Rebecca, two remarkable individuals from our Social Group program at Autism Nova Scotia, who have blossomed from friends to compatible partners. Their journey is a testament to the fact that dating within the autism community is not only possible but can lead to beautiful connections.  Alex and Rebecca enjoy a range of…

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Sensory Bin Ideas for Play Routines

Sensory bins can be a fun addition to add to your play routines. They can be a great way for children to explore and learn through hands-on play. Sensory bins support child’s development as they improve fine motor skills (small movements with fingers/hands), sensory exploration, play skills, language development. When starting your own sensory bin,…

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Winter Car Seat Safety Tips

As a rule, winter coats should not be worn underneath in your child’s car seat because they can leave the harness too loose to be effective in a crash. Here’s a simple way to check whether your child’s coat is too big to wear underneath a harness: 1.Put the coat on your child, sit them…

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Tips for Mealtimes with Your Child

Little Bellies? Little Changes! The amount of food, and different types of food that children are willing to eat can be a stressor for many families. Here are a few tips we often provide families who are concerned about their child’s food choices! 1.) Consider the location and style of your mealtime routines. Do you…

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Holiday Homemade Treats

There are so many yummy flavors during the holidays – gingerbread, peppermint, caramel, chocolate and vanilla! A fun activity that you can do with your kids is have them help out in the kitchen to make treats and snacks that everyone can enjoy! This is a fun way to practice fine motor skills, following directions,…

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Fuel the Camp Experience

At Autism Nova Scotia we believe in the power of dreams and building an inclusive community for everyone. We believe in the joy we see in people’s eyes as they embark on a journey of self-discovery, that they might not have had access to without your help.  One of the ways we support our community…

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QuickStart Community Outreach

Our team is thrilled to share some exciting updates on the achievements of QuickStart Nova Scotia (QS) in our recent community outreach project in the Cape Breton Region.  Community Outreach Success: QuickStart Nova Scotia has been actively engaged in a community outreach project aimed at promoting autism acceptance and support. Our dedicated team has achieved…

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Celebrating Brandon Boyd: A Trailblazing Filmmaker with Autism

In the heart of Nova Scotia’s vibrant film community, a rising star is making waves and challenging stereotypes. Meet Brandon Boyd, a talented filmmaker whose passion for storytelling transcends the screen, and whose journey reflects resilience, determination, and an unwavering commitment to representation. When asked about his journey into filmmaking, Brandon shared, “Film connects my…

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Best of Local 2023

A big thank you to everyone who came out to support us at Best of Local on October 19. For the past ten years, Best of Local has been embraced by our community and has helped to raise critical funds in support of the valuable and inclusive programs we offer. This support is important, and…

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6 Good Sleep Habits

Here are 6 tips you can do throughout the day to promote good sleep habits at night. If you want to learn more about QuickStart Nova Scotia or have questions, email us at quickstart@autismns.ca or call 902-593-1015.

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5 tips for Post-Secondary Students

Here are 5 tips for college and university students gearing up for the first semester of school this fall. 1) Attend all of your classes and take notes. 2) Get to know your professors, instructors and peers. 3) Familiarize yourself with the campus, resources and services. 4) Create a study schedule that you can stick…

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7 Ideas for Playing with Water

Playing with water has many benefits for early learning, such as hand-eye coordination, motor skills and sensory exploration. Here are 7 ideas for playing with water from the QuickStart team: If you want to learn more about QuickStart Nova Scotia or have questions, email us at quickstart@autismns.ca or call 902-593-1015.

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4 Gardening Tips

Gardening is a great way to get outside, enjoy the nice weather, and practice building fine motor communication, joint attention, imitation skills, and more. The QuickStart team wants to share 4 tips for gardening.

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Walk YOUR Way 2023 Team Spotlight

We participate in Walk YOUR Way because Autism Nova Scotia was a lifeline when we first learned about Theo’s diagnosis. We have had access to resources, advice, and programs that have helped us adapt to Theo’s way of communicating and interacting with the world. Even before his diagnosis, we could participate in the Quickstart program,…

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Walk YOUR Way 2023

Although Walk YOUR Way looked different this year for many of us, our first in-person Walk since 2019 would not have been possible without the generosity of our incredible community, Walk YOUR Way participants, volunteers and sponsors. We cannot thank you enough for coming together across the province to celebrate the autistic community in accessible…

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Ideas for Outdoor Play in the Spring

As the days feel warmer and you start spending more time outside, consider these 7 outdoor activity ideas to keep playing fun and engaging. Toy Car Wash: Fill a bin with soapy water, have a toy car wash and practice washing and drying the cars. Teddy Picnic: Set up an outdoor picnic with a blanket,…

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4 Tips for Post-Secondary Students

Students – as you’re gearing up for your first year, the Post-Secondary Autism Support Services team wants to share 4 tips. 1) Be mindful of course selection times! It is important to register promptly. 2) Your school’s academic advisors can help you determine what courses are required in your first year. 3) Check in with…

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Make Reading Books Fun

The QuickStart team wants to share 5 tips to make reading books fun at an early age. 1) Keep Reading Interesting Pick books that align with your child’s interests or books that are funny. 2) Bring the Words to Life Bring the words to life by pointing to the words and pictures as you read….

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Autism Acceptance Month

Strong communities are filled with diverse people where we accept and celebrate our differences and learn from each other. Autism Acceptance Month encourages us to continue to build inclusive communities where everyone is accepted and has a place to belong. Here are some of the stories from our wonderful community: Autism cuts across every segment…

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Autism Acceptance Month Flag Raising

We were delighted to welcome two first-voice advocates to our Autism Acceptance Month flag raising event. “When you can see the world from a different perspective, you can change the world and make society better.  Thankfully, due to the work of organizations like Autism Nova Scotia and the advocacy of people living on the spectrum,…

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National Volunteer Week 2023

As we reflect during National Volunteer Week, we would like to recognize and thank our many volunteers across the province for their generous gift of time and energy. As a non-profit organization, our programs could not run without the help of our wonderful volunteers.  Here are the stories from some of our incredible volunteers across…

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3 Tips for Mealtime

Mealtime is an opportunity to explore, learn and build confidence with routines. Toddlers might refuse some foods, and that’s ok! It’s important to give them the time and space to move at their own pace and enjoy their “safe” foods. The QuickStart team has 3 tips for mealtime: If you want to learn more about QuickStart…

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Promoting Movement

Movement is important for every stage of development and helps promote an active lifestyle. Fundamental movements can boost mood, improve cognitive ability, and support better sleep. The QuickStart team has 10 movement tips to help you break out of hibernation: If you want to learn more about QuickStart Nova Scotia or have questions, email us at quickstart@autismns.ca or call…

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Annual General Meeting

Autism Nova Scotia’s 2022 Annual General Meeting took place via Zoom on Wednesday, June 29 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm (AST). View our 2021-2022 AGM video here!

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