sarah, Author at Canucks Autism Network

Dear CAN community,

Five years ago, our lives changed forever. Our son Lando was diagnosed with autism.

From a very young age, Lando didn’t like the water. He wouldn’t even let us get his head wet in the bath. He’d physically block me or scream.

We do a lot of watersports as a family in Peachland, so Lando needed to learn to swim.

When I enrolled him in CAN Swim, I didn’t know how it would go.

At the first session, Lando didn’t want to let go of my hand. But then it was like he realized that he was with CAN and in a good place. The way the staff interacted with him was just so wonderful. They had clearly read about his interests and were prepared with visuals that would motivate him. It was like they knew Lando before even meeting him.

Help us continue teaching essential water safety and lifesaving skills to children like Lando. Donate now >

The CAN staff could sense Lando’s agitation before it came on and would pause in the water and play a game with him. Their approach to get him back to swimming was phenomenal.

Seeing him gleefully splashing blew me away. He’d look over at me to make sure I was watching with a big grin on his face. He then started asking to stay in the pool after the lessons. He even jumped in and got his head wet.

We’re now excited to introduce him to waterslides and no longer worry about our trips to Peachland.

CAN programs aren’t just for the child, they are just as much for the parents. CAN allows me to let go of the stress and the unknowns and just relax and enjoy – something I haven’t really experienced in the last 5 years. I could never even read. But at CAN swim, I could actually read a book!

I still can’t believe Lando went from not being able to get his head wet, to jumping off the edge of the pool. If it wasn’t for CAN Swim, who knows where we would be today. CAN didn’t just give Lando confidence, they gave him a lifesaving skill.

Thank you,
Tiffany, a CAN mom

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Dear CAN community,

Six years ago, our son Lando was born.

As first-time parents, we watched with excitement as he achieved his first milestones in record time, walking and talking before his first birthday.

Then when Lando turned one, the progress just stopped. Everyone told me he was an early bloomer taking a break, but as his mom, a part of me knew something was off.

About six months later, Lando was diagnosed with autism.

I remember going through all the emotions, and I had so many questions; What did this mean for Lando?  What challenges was he going to face socially and academically?  How am I going to be able to support him?  My priority was to ensure that I gave him all the tools necessary to thrive in this world.

My name is Tiffany and I’m a proud mom to my six-year-old son, Lando.

Lando is a very detail-oriented kid and tends to fixate on certain interests. First, it was dinosaurs. We read encyclopedias and watched documentaries to learn everything we could about dinosaurs. Then he moved onto Safari animals and memorized this one elephant’s life story. He loved to recite the documentary to anyone he could. He’s since moved onto racecars, which means that I’m now a Formula 1 subscriber. His favourite team is Red Bull.

With 1 in 30 BC kids now being diagnosed, the need for support is greater than ever.

A donation will help us respond to the overwhelming demand for our programs. Give a gift >

As a sport-loving family, Lando started playing soccer at a very young age. He played day and night, running around our kitchen island. We set up a net in our house, but I really wanted him to gain social skills and to know what it was like to be on a team.

After overcoming my many anxieties, I finally decided to enroll Lando in a community soccer program. I thought he would enjoy it and that it would support his social skills, but I quickly learned that it had the opposite effect.

Lando couldn’t concentrate and found it hard to follow the coach’s instructions. He wouldn’t engage with the group and would often run away from them. The instructors tried to include him, but some eventually just gave up. Most practices, I ended up chasing him around the field. I was the only parent on the field trying to encourage their child and I could feel the eyes staring at us. Week after week, I’d leave the field in tears feeling judged, defeated and helpless.

That’s when I started looking into other organizations that may be better suited to Lando’s needs. When I found CAN, things totally changed.

A donation of $25 will provide a family access to a year of supported community events and experiences. Donate now >

CAN’s instructors were patient, caring and had the training needed to ensure that every child was successful. They provided the extra support that community programs simply couldn’t offer. They even used the same behavioral tools we used at home and introduced us to new ones that we now use. From the one-on-one support to the patience, encouragement and expertise of the staff, the experience was night and day.

We have a strong home team and a good team at school, but the biggest shift happened when Lando started at CAN. Before CAN, he had major social anxieties and didn’t want me to leave his side. Now, he actually wants to do things on his own. It’s just been so great to see him flourish the way he has with CAN’s support.

CAN helps to show kids what they can do. They give them the tools, confidence, and independence to succeed in this world. CAN has shown Lando that he can accomplish things without me. It’s the one place where I can step back, let go of his hand, and watch him grow.

Beyond the programs, CAN gives our family a sense of belonging and acceptance that we don’t get anywhere else. To us, CAN is like a big family. A support network where there is no judgement. Just love, acceptance, and understanding.

If CAN didn’t exist, our family would be left with feelings of defeat and uncertainty. CAN continues to give us hope. There’s truly no better gift than that.

Thank you,
Tiffany, a CAN mom