Just Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Nunavut
You're not behind. There's no timeline. Start wherever you're ready and go at your own pace. Everything on this page is free.
Right Now
You're not alone. Whatever you're feeling right now is normal.
Nothing about your child changed today. You just have a name for what you've been seeing. And now you can get help.
Who to call today
Call them. Tell them you just got a diagnosis. They've had this conversation a thousand times.
There's nothing you need to do medically right now that isn't already being handled by your care team.
A note about late-night Googling
We've all done it. At 2am you'll find yourself reading something terrifying written in 1997 that doesn't reflect where things are today. If you're spiraling, close the laptop and come back here tomorrow. The information on this page is current, Canadian, and reviewed. You're going to be okay.
When You're Ready — The Important Stuff
These programs have waitlists — some are months long. Applying now means you'll be closer to the front when you need them. None of this is urgent today. But when you have the energy, start here.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
Opens the door to $200/month in child benefits, $90,000 in RDSP grants, and several other tax credits.
How to apply:Ask your child's doctor to fill out form T2201. That's it.
Read the full DTC guideFederal benefits
Nunavut provincial programs
Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)
Federal program covering medical travel, dental, vision, and mental health services for Inuit and First Nations residents.
Official websiteMedical Travel Program
Coverage for medical travel to access specialists and services not available in the territory (often to Ottawa or Winnipeg).
About waitlists
Apply for everything on this list even if you're not ready to use the services yet. You can always decline when your name comes up, but you can't get back the time you spent not on the list. Think of it as holding your place in line.
The Paperwork
Nobody tells you that a disability diagnosis comes with a mountain of paperwork. Here's what you need and where to keep it. Get a folder (physical or digital). Label it. Everything goes in there.
Documents to gather
- 1Get a copy of the full diagnostic assessment report
- 2Request a written letter from the diagnosing psychologist or pediatrician
- 3Ask about the DSM-5 level (Level 1, 2, or 3) — this affects service eligibility
- 4Request any IQ/adaptive behavior test results (needed for some programs)
- 5Keep a folder with all assessment documents — you will need copies for every application
Always have copies of
- Child's health card
- Social Insurance Number (SIN) — apply if you don't have one
- Birth certificate
- All therapy reports and progress notes
- School records and IEP documents
- Receipts for all medical expenses, therapy, equipment, travel
Track your expenses
Starting today, keep every receipt for anything related to your child's condition: therapy sessions, medications, equipment, mileage to appointments, parking at the hospital. These are claimable on your taxes.
View Tax CalendarBuilding Your Team
Raising a child with Autismisn't something you do alone. Here are the people and organizations who can help.
National organizations
The Autism & Intellectual Disabilities Knowledge Exchange Network, funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Provides online resources, a comprehensive inventory of services and supports by province, and operates 6 in-person locations across Canada. Excellent source for autism funding comparison data across provinces.
Canada's national autism advocacy and information organization, providing resources, research updates, and connection to provincial services for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families.
National organization supporting families affected by Rett Syndrome through 3 clinics, research, and a national registry.
Recommended therapies
Here are the therapies typically recommended for Autism:
- Speech-language pathology (SLP)
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- ABA or DIR/Floortime therapy
Specialists to request
- Developmental pediatrician (children) or psychiatrist (adults)
- Speech-language pathologist (SLP)
- Occupational therapist (OT) for sensory and daily living skills
- Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) for ABA therapy
- Clinical psychologist for comprehensive assessment
You are the expert on your child. The doctors are consultants. Don't be afraid to ask questions, disagree, or get a second opinion.
Looking Ahead
You don't need to think about any of this today. Bookmark this section and come back when you're ready — whether that's next month or next year.
RDSP (Registered Disability Savings Plan)
The government will give your child up to $90,000 over their lifetime — but only if you open this account. You need the DTC first. Once approved, open an RDSP even if you can't contribute. The government deposits bonds for low-income families automatically.
RDSP GuideHenson Trust
If your child will receive provincial disability support as an adult, a regular inheritance could disqualify them. A Henson Trust protects the inheritance without affecting benefits. You don't need to set this up now — but when you write your will, make sure your lawyer knows about Henson Trusts.
Education rights in Nunavut
Nunavut uses Individual Education Plans. Due to extremely remote locations, many specialist services require medical travel. The territory is working to expand telehealth and remote assessment options. School-based support may be limited in smaller communities.
Your Rights guideTurning 18
Children's services end at age 18 (19 in BC). Adult disability programs have separate applications and often long waitlists. This feels far away. It comes faster than you think. But you don't need to worry about it now — just know it's covered in our guide.
Turning 18 GuideTax planning
Most families of children with disabilities leave $10,000+ per year in unclaimed benefits.
You're Not Alone
Thousands of Canadian families navigate this path every year. Connecting with others who understand can make all the difference.
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Know of a service we should list?
This directory grows because people in the community help us find what we've missed. Let us know about organizations, programs, or services across Canada.