“Leadership is about helping others reach their potential while also ensuring that the team achieves its goals. Leaders elevate others to achieve a common goal.”
As Cynthia Carroll moves on to a new professional challenge, leaving Autism Nova Scotia and joining the government of Nova Scotia’s public service, we at Autism Alliance of Canada take this moment to recognize her tremendous contributions to the many successes of Autism Alliance of Canada (formerly known as CASDA) and her leading by example.
Leadership is in Cynthia’s DNA. At Autism Nova Scotia, as Executive Director, she led the organization through a lengthy and visionary path of growth and influence, demonstrating inclusion at its best and most powerful. Cynthia developed collaboration as the cornerstone of all her work. This has been evident across Nova Scotia and the Maritimes as well as between the Autism and Developmental Disabilities sectors.
Cynthia’s relentless pursuit of a National Autism Strategy introduced her to leaders across the country, across all political parties and within all sectors that touch the lives of Canadians. To prove the point that a National Autism Strategy was achievable, she and her provincial colleagues led the way by developing the Nova Scotia Autism Strategy. Influenced by her leadership and tenacity, they have been able to show us all that this can be done when there is broad community stakeholder engagement and set a standard that others can easily adapt.
Cynthia’s commitment to advancing the voice of Autistic Canadians brought her to the impactful roles she played within the Alliance. Her fingerprints can be found throughout the achievements of the Alliance. As a leader within the Provincial and Territorial Autism Network (made up of various Autism Societies across the country) she ensured that the unique strengths and challenges faced within the Provincial and Territorial jurisdictions were reflected in the Alliance’s work. This was first evident when she served as oversight contact for the 2014 National Autism Needs Assessment Survey, funded by CASDA, and built on the framework previously used to execute the Nova Scotia Autism Needs Assessment Survey. She has served as a Board member, Board Chair and Alliance representative in multiple forums set up to advance the goals of the Alliance and the successful inclusion and opportunities for Autistic Canadians.
When an opportunity arose for CASDA to partner with CACL (Canadian Association for Community Living; now, Inclusion Canada) on the development, implementation and oversight of a new national employment initiative, Cynthia took a lead role to ensure that the needs, opportunities and paths to success included Autistic adults. Together, the two organizations created the inclusive, innovative and successful Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) program. To this day it is a shining example of collaboration, empowerment and shared leadership.
As Co-Director of the Canadian Autism Partnership Project in 2015-2016, she and her partners engaged over 5000 Canadians across the country in visioning a national vehicle of collaboration, information sharing and identification of policy and service gaps and priorities. This work continues to provide a context for a National Autism Strategy.
How to describe Cynthia Carroll’s style of leadership? She is a force of nature, a mentor, advocate, pioneer and authority on impacting change. A big picture thinker, armed with a wicked sense of humour and adventure, she displays honesty, integrity adventure and compassion. A true Leader.
Best wishes Cynthia on your new adventure.