Autism Resources By Local People, For Local People
Making Kawartha Lakes a more accessible, supportive, and welcoming place for people with autism — and the people who love them.
Who We Are
Autism Resources Kawartha (ARK) is a local autism advocacy and awareness group committed to creating helpful, relatable content for you: the parents, caregivers and loved ones of people with autism. ARK was founded by Matt and Meg—two local parents raising a child with autism in Kawartha Lakes.
Through their own experiences caring and advocating for an autistic child, they discovered the value of learning from the shared experiences of others. Hearing (or reading) about the successes and failures of other families can provide something that studies and research about autism cannot: validation, comfort and understanding.
What We Do
Together with local contributors, Matt and Meg decided to fill the gap and make life easier for other parents, caregivers and loved ones of people with autism by providing access to good-quality resources that are:
Real
Honest
Relatable
Helpful
Easy to understand
Free from judgment
Based on lived experience. And
FREE
When your child or loved one receives an autism diagnosis it can feel lonely and overwhelming. It is important to know that you are not alone. There are other families going through very similar experiences right here, locally.
Every individual is unique. Every family has its own dynamics. Every parent has their own approach. We are all just doing our best to provide a safe environment where our autistic loved ones can be authentically themselves.
ARK’s goal is to create a judgment-free space where the loved ones of people with autism can learn from people who have been where they are—because when you know better, you can do better.
"I do not wish for his life to be any harder than life already is."
Matt
“I believe that ARK and the resources it provides could make a real difference in people’s lives— including our own.”
Meg
Who Does ARK Support?
If you care for someone with an autism diagnosis, ARK is here for you.
You are the parent, caregiver or loved one of a person with autism.
You aren’t sure how to support your child or loved one and need resources to get you started.
You want to learn more about your autistic child or loved one and the way they experience the world.
You want to learn more about your role as the parent or caregiver of a child or loved one with autism and the challenges you may face.
You feel alone and need access to stories and lived experiences that validate the way you feel.
Whether your loved one just received an autism diagnosis or you have been walking this path for years, ARK’s resources are available to help you take your next steps knowing that you are not alone.
