The History of Autism Services Incorporated

The Summer Program was started in 1984 but it wasn’t until six years later that ASI was officially incorporated. In fact, on February 19, 1991, Autism Services Incorporated of Windsor and Essex County was established as a service provider for persons with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders and their families. ASI was founded out of the roots of the Autism Society of Ontario, Windsor-Essex Chapter.

• 1992 – ASI provided the First Annual Holiday Respite Program.
• 1993 – The Summer Program was expanded to nine weeks.
• 1995 – Anthony P. Toldo selected ASI to benefit from the Windsor Police Golf Classic.
• 1997 – The residence building at 3600 Curry Avenue was purchased.
• 1998 – The Summer Program expanded. The Adult Vocational Program and the Holiday Respite Program continued.
• 1999 – Five individuals received annual individualized funding and selected ASI as their service provider.
• 2000 – A side-by-side duplex at South Pacific was purchased.
• 2001 – ASI became an official Transfer Payment Agency.
  The mortgage on 3600 Curry Avenue was paid off.
• 2002 – A new roof was completed on the residence building.
• 2003 – First Christmas Holiday Program was held with ten participating families.
• 2004 – Twenty nine families participated in the Summer Program.
  Autism Resource Library opened.
• 2005 – Summer Program Expanded to Essex and thirty-six families participated in summer Program.
  ASI received a grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities to expand library.
• 2006 – Resource Library became accessible to all teaching professionals through the inter-school courier system.
  Music Therapy was introduced to the Summer Program as a pilot project.
• 2007 – Essex added another class to the Summer Program.
  A music therapist was hired for the Summer Program.
  The fist St. Clair College Autism Behaviour Science student completed her job placement
• 2008 – In order to try to serve more families an additional classroom along with a pilot project was conducted in Windsor. Two classrooms worked with a 2:1 ratio rather than the normal 1:1 ratio. By adding a class and conducting the pilot project we were able to serve 46 families this year.
• 2009 – The 2:1 ratio pilot project became part of the program offered in Windsor. A total of 48 families were served, with 50 clients in the program. Unfortunately, 80 applications were received and 30 individuals were placed on a waiting list.
  ASI received a $5,000 grant from the Raptors Foundation for Kids. The grant was used to purchase musical instruments and recreational equipment for the Summer Program.
  New fundraising initiatives included an Annual Pasta Dinner and the Charity Challenge Fun Run where ASI finished as the top pledge raising charity.
• 2010 – At the June 14, 2010 Annual General Meeting the Summer Program officially became “The Bruce Awad Summer Program” as a show of appreciation to Bruce Awad, the creator of the program. ASI received a $5,000 grant from the Green Shield Social Surplus Program. The $5,000 along with investment returns were put towards a new one-to-one classroom in Windsor. There were 44 clients in the Windsor Program and 12 in the Essex Program.
  The Library collection had grown to over 800 items available for lending. Materials include books, books-on-tape, DVDs, computer software, educational toys and games.
  Once again, ASI finished the Charity Challenge Fun Run as the top pledge raising charity.
• 2011 – Due to our growth over the past few years the Windsor Catholic School Board offered ASI the use of St. Christopher School to house the Windsor program. It was decided that this newer and larger school would be a better fit for our program. Also, due to the success of a number of fundraising initiatives we added another classroom to Windsor bringing the total to 8 in Windsor and 2 in Essex. ASI received a $5,000 grant from the Green Shield Canada’s Community Giving Program to purchase art carts and supplies for all 10 classrooms. There were 63 clients in 2011 Bruce Awad Summer Program.
• 2020 – For the first time in ASI’s history, we were unable to offer a Summer Program due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.  In its place, we offered Program-In-a-Box.  Every student that was accepted into the 2020 program received a box of activities, crafts, games, and toys that were tailored to their likes, needs and abilities.  The boxes were packaged by a small crew of staff working at the Harrow K of C. Each box was hand delivered to each student’s home.
• 2021 – As a result of COVID-19 many respite facilities, community centres, pools, and activity groups were closed. Many families were shut in and desperate for activities for their family member with ASD.  ASI initiated the Weekend Program at our Maryvalle cottage. Each weekend form January to May, a small group of Summer Support staff and a Weekend Program Director would support 10 to 12 students from the Summer Program. We would provide activities to the students and respite for the families.  All this was done while practicing infectious disease management, social distancing and masking where possible. The challenges were enormous but families were thankful for the opportunity.  The program ended in May 2021 once things began to reopen.
• 2022 – Due to the increasing number of students with ASD residing in Essex County, a third classroom was opened at the Essex location bringing the number of classrooms to 11 and students supported in the 2023 program to 67 at both Windsor and Essex locations.