Ken Robertson – Panel Member at Recent Autism Summit

Tags: February 2023, Vol. 3, Issue 2

Kennith James Skwleqs Robertson, known by many as Ken Robertson, is a student in the Developmental Services Worker (DSW) Program. Ken is an Indigenous-Canadian, specifically from the Neskonlith Indian Band, located in the south-central part of British Columbia and the father of four children, three of whom are on the autism spectrum. He is a strong advocate for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and children with disabilities.

Ken is also the chair of Four Directions Autism, a support group that works one-on-one with off-reserve First Nations People, Inuit, Métis, Non-Status and Native children with autism. He is a former Board Member of “Autism Ontario” and a current member of the Implementation Working Group with the Province of Ontario. He has successfully launched a House of Commons E-petition advocating for services for First Nations families off-reserve. In 2020, he received Canada’s Meritorious Service Medal (Civil Division) from the Governor General, her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, on the recommendation of the Civil Advisory Committee (2020). Ken also ran for federal politics as a Green Party candidate in the 2014 Ontario provincial election in Etobicoke North and previously ran for his band council. In 2021, he ran as a Liberal candidate in South Okanagan West Kootenay, British Columbia.

On April 19th, Ken presented and chaired a panel presentation on “Centering Indigenous Perspectives: How can a federal strategy help?” at the 9th Annual Canadian Autism Leadership Summit. The panel consisted of leaders and organizations from Indigenous communities who shared perspectives on autism in their communities, including the current barriers that families face, and what the federal government can do to support them.