History

Society for Treatment of Autism (STA) is an Alberta-based registered charitable organization providing comprehensive treatment and educational services for people with autism and related disorders. STA offers quality support, consultation and educational services for families and communities in Alberta.

Society for Treatment of Autism started as one facility, Margaret House Residential Treatment Centre, which opened in the spring of 1973. Initially, six children were accepted into the Residential Program from the Psychiatric and Education Centre at Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. The impetus for establishing a residential treatment program came from the Calgary Association for Autistic Children, a parent support group. Before Margaret House, these children were treated or housed as mentally handicapped, with no specific treatment for autism. From 1975 to 1985, Margaret House grew to include a classroom in addition to the Residential component. The classroom site was used for day programs targeted to both community and residential children. Margaret House also changed in other ways - it shifted from being primarily a custodial care facility to a dynamic treatment centre. Services expanded once again in 1989 with the opening of a facility for an Early Intervention Program called Discovery Centre. The Early intervention Program provided individualized services to children 2 ½ to 6 years. In 2001, STA's Transition Program was created. This program provided support to the families and children who were graduating from STA's Early Intervention Program and moving into the school system. Currently, this program provides treatment to children entering the school system, as well as newly diagnosed children. Then, in 2006 came the completion of a brand new facility for the Early Intervention Program and the Transition Program. This new facility consisted of several classrooms, individual therapy spaces and sensory rooms, a large gymnasium and office space for members of the Treatment Team. Another change in 2006 was the change of the Margaret House name, to the Husky Energy Centre for Autism, major renovations to the Residential Program and the addition of an amazing Multi- sensory Room.

Presently Society for Treatment of Autism provides Residential, Early Intervention, Transition and Fee for Service programs for about 75 children and their families. These programs are supported by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of Psychologists, Behavioural Consultants, Speech Language Pathologists and SLP Assistants, Occupational Therapists and OT Assistants, Educational Consultant/ Teachers and Educational Assistants, Early Intervention Therapists, Transition Therapists, Behavioural Therapists, Program Supervisors, and Program Managers.

At Society for Treatment of Autism, we are proud of the gains we've made in autism treatment. Beginning with nothing in 1973, we've created and sustained successful therapeutic services with the help of a very supportive community. In that time, we have lobbied the government to motivate policy change and have increased the advocacy voice of Albertans. As well, our expertise has been called on to set up treatment programs in Nova Scotia, B.C. and remote regions of Alberta. Still, there is much work to be done. To guarantee future success, we continue to liaise with other community agencies on an ongoing basis. We also strive to involve parents in their child's treatment by providing skill-building workshops and by soliciting their input in evaluations and treatment methods.