About Us

The Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) is a network of support for individuals and families with autism and related neurodiversities. PAFN has spokes spanning British Columbia with each location offering a variety of resources across the lifespan.

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Supporting Meaningful Inclusion for all

Our Richmond centre is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility spanning 60,000 square feet. It is meticulously crafted with a focus on addressing the unique needs of individuals across all age groups affected by autism. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by calming, family-friendly spaces adorned with soft lighting, creating a comfortable and relaxing space. These spaces serve as the backdrop for a wide array of essential facilities and amenities, including cutting-edge health clinics staffed by expert professionals, advanced laboratories equipped for ground-breaking research, and innovative education spaces designed to empower individuals with autism through tailored learning experiences.

Observation rooms offer a secure environment for monitoring and assessment, while multidisciplinary research spaces facilitate collaboration among experts from various fields. Additionally, the centre boasts libraries stocked with valuable resources and information to support individuals and families on their journey.

Beyond its physical infrastructure, the centre embodies a philosophy of openness, uniqueness, and collaboration. It serves as a vibrant place for some of British Columbia's most prominent non-profit autism services, uniting their efforts in a shared mission to enhance the lives of individuals and families affected by autism.

The Pacific Autism Family Network is committed to being a provincial Knowledge Centre dedicated to addressing the lifelong needs of individuals with autism and related neurodiversities and their families throughout British Columbia. Our core purpose is to provide state-of-the-art resources, information, treatment and support to facilitate meaningful inclusion within the community and maximize everyone’s potential.

Guided by our principals, we prioritize the active involvement of the entire autism community, foster collaboration between families, practitioners and researchers to ensure our services are tailored to individual and family needs. As a family-centred organization, we uphold a commitment to innovation, evidence-based practices and equitable access to services regardless of location or economic circumstance.

Governed by the community and supported by professional advisory committees, we operate as a not-for-profit agency with rigorous accountability. Our aspirational goal is for British Columbia to become the premier destination for individuals with autism within the next decade. To achieve this vision of success, we will continue to deliver high-quality programs, foster innovative practices, forge partnerships with researchers and community professionals to maintain a cutting-edge research facility integral to our mission. Through these efforts, we aim to ensure individuals with autism receive the support they need to thrive across the lifespan.