Jack is 9. He has been a Canucks Autism Network participant for six of those years.
During that time, he has learned to swim, play soccer and do gymnastics, while also enjoying summer camp and family events. More recently, he has donated his own chore money and bake sale profits to CAN. Why?
“So more kids like me can have opportunities to learn and experience new things.”
So when World Autism Month approached this past April, he asked his teacher at École Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary in New Westminster if he could speak to his class. Jack wanted to educate his classmates about autism. And ask them to give back and donate, like he did.
Wow.
His teacher went straight to the principal and asked if they could hold a school-wide assembly instead so that he could reach as many students as possible.
Jack is among several students with autism at his school — some of whom struggle to attend assemblies due to sensory sensitivities. When those students heard that Jack was speaking, they eagerly sat and listened to his entire speech.
When he was done speaking, teachers asked the students what they learned about autism. A sea of hands were raised. The best answer?
“They make good friends!”
Jack’s mom was on hand to see his special moment. “There were tears,” she told us. “Jack was aiming for awareness and acceptance. Mission accomplished.”
This was his speech:
Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder. It means it affects brain development. Autism affects 1 in 66 children in Canada.
Someone with autism can have challenges with social interactions, communication and can have repetitive behaviour. It is not contagious. You are born with it. There is no cure, but there are studies to find out what causes it and how to help people with autism.
I was diagnosed with autism when I was 2 ½ years old. For me, having autism means I do things differently from others. I like to arrange my food and dishes in a certain way when I eat.
Jack and his family at our annual Festival of Lights at Van Dusen Gardens
My brain sometimes takes a while to understand what is said to me. That is why I don’t respond right away when someone is talking to me. I need extra help and time between activities. I forget instructions if there are too many steps to follow.
But I have a good memory when it comes to music or songs. I can teach myself to play a song on the piano just by trying out the notes. I remember a lot of information about space and elements just from books I read.
When I was little, I liked to spin toys. I liked to run and follow the lines on the floor. I didn’t know how to play with others, but I learned to read when I was 2.
That is why I am raising awareness about autism and asking kids and teachers for $2 donations. The money will go to Canucks Autism Network. This organization helps kids and their families participate in programs in supportive environments. They also provide training in communities across BC.
I have benefited from their programs – I’ve participated in swimming, gymnastics, soccer, camp and family festivals. I would like to give back to them so more kids like me can have opportunities to learn and experience new things.
I also want to raise acceptance about autism. I want people to understand that if they see someone who is doing something that is unexpected, like flapping their arms — this is called stimming — or talking about the same thing over and over, there is nothing wrong with them.
Those with autism are just like anybody. We just think and do things differently. And we want to have friends too.
Thank you to everyone who donated! Thank you to CAN, who provided help for me. And most of all, thank you to my Mum and Dad.
As a young self-advocate, Jack has already educated hundreds of kids about inclusion, acceptance and support.
With young men like Jack leading the way, the future is so, so bright!
Rob MacMillan is a BCEHS paramedic specialist who serves on the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) First Responder Advisory Committee.
First responders are more than seven times more likely to interact with an individual with autism. However, most are not trained on how to recognize autism or utilize effective support strategies in crisis situations involving those on the spectrum.
Due to anxiety, sensory sensitivities, triggers or communication barriers, emergencies involving an individual with autism can often escalate quickly without this background of understanding.
As a BCEHS Paramedic Specialist and father of a daughter with autism, Rob MacMillan is highly motivated to bridge this gap of understanding. Together with six other members of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) First Responder Advisory Committee, Rob played an instrumental role in developing and launching our First Responder eLearning Module this past January.
The First Responder eLearning Module is a FREE 1-hour course available to fire fighters, police officers, paramedics, search and rescue and other emergency care providers across BC. Visit elearn.canucksautism.ca to access now!
Rob recently shared an example from the field that illustrates how a little awareness can go a long way in emergency situations.
Last month, Rob was at a dispatch centre when a call came in involving a boy with autism who had climbed three stories up a tree. Rob arrived on scene to find the boy’s mother anxiously watching as her son continued climbing to dangerous heights.
“Fire rescue had already arrived,” Rob recounted. “And any time one of them tried to approach the boy, he just kept climbing higher and higher. He wasn’t afraid – he was just having fun. But we were all extremely distressed. Meanwhile, the tree was starting to sway as he continued climbing.”
Despite Rob’s personal experience with autism, he knew that each child with autism is an individual with their own unique personality. He asked the boy’s mother about her son’s likes, dislikes, triggers and ability to communicate. The mom informed him that her son was non-verbal. They began to strategize together.
Learning that the young boy was highly interested in his mom’s iPhone, they initially tried to show him something on a smart phone to encourage him to climb down.
As a BCEHS Paramedic Specialist, Rob provides on-scene support for high-risk situations in the Lower Mainland.
When that didn’t work, Rob regrouped with the firefighters. Although the boy was non-verbal, Rob explained to them that he could likely understand the words they were saying and that they simply needed to adjust the way they communicated with him.
“They just needed to talk to him nice and slowly, allowing time for their instructions to sink in,” Rob recounted. “His mom had also indicated that he likes [sensory] pressure, so if they needed to hold him to help him down the tree, he’d probably like that if it felt to him like a hug.”
Armed with a bit more awareness of the boy’s needs and communication style, the firefighters began another ascent up the tree. But slower. And with newfound confidence felt more confident that the boy was understanding what they were saying, and that they could interpret his behaviour a bit better as well.
When one of the firefighters eventually reached the boy, he used simple language and offered the boy a big hug. The boy accepted his invitation with open arms and together they made their way back down to the ground.
After nearly two hours on-scene, Rob watched as the boy was successfully rescued and reunited with his mother.
“She had tears in her eyes. Most of all, she was just so relieved that somebody there understood autism and what was happening up in that tree.”
CAN’s eLearning Module for First Responders is FREE and available 24/7 online. Since launching in January 2019, over 800 first responders across BC have accessed the training. Take the 1-hour course at elearn.canucksautism.ca.
FREE E-LEARNING MODULE LAUNCHES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BC PARKS AND RECREATION ASSOCIATION
In an innovative effort to increase accessibility for individuals with autism in community recreation, Canucks Autism Network (CAN), in partnership with BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA), has launched a free E-Learning Module for recreation providers across BC. Funded by the Ministry of Child and Family Development (MCFD), the online resource represents an unprecedented collaborative effort among government, recreation, and the non-profit autism sector.
The one-hour online module outlines behaviours associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as effective strategies for supporting children and youth with autism in recreation settings. The interactive module also highlights interviews with experienced recreation leaders who have successfully implemented these strategies, which include communication tips, behavior support, and teaching tools. The E-Learning Module can be accessed at no cost at elearn.bcrpa.bc.ca or canucksautism.ca/recreation.
“Canucks Autism Network has been providing workshops to the recreation sector since 2012, and demand grows exponentially every year,” said Dr. Stephanie Jull, VP of Programs and Training at Canucks Autism Network. “This new online training module provides an exciting opportunity to spread knowledge and build capacity across BC and beyond, creating a positive impact for the thousands of families living with autism in our province.”
The project began after CAN successfully pitched the need for a widely-accessible online resource to the MCFD in 2017. With 1 in 66 Canadian children diagnosed with autism, and over 16,000 children and youth with autism in BC alone, MCFD recognized the growing need for community accessibility.
“All kids deserve the opportunity to participate in sports and other activities,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development. “I’m pleased that MCFD could collaborate with CAN and BCRPA to bring this specialized training to recreation providers so that they can provide the supports kids need to join in with their peers.”
Research shows that individuals with autism are far less likely to participate in community recreation than their typically-developing peers. Furthermore, research indicates that physical activity can increase attention and cognition while decreasing anxiety, among children and youth with autism.
“We are thrilled to be presenting this valuable E-learning module in partnership with CAN, said Rebecca Tunnacliffe, CEO of BCRPA. Our members who manage and work in recreation facilities across BC hold very highly the importance of creating a positive experience for all their participants. This module will directly assist staff to amplify their awareness of the needs of autistic individuals, and implement strategies to provide them with a positive experience so they will want to return again and again.”
Since 2012, CAN’s province-wide team of training facilitators has delivered hundreds of workshops to well over 10,000 individuals in the public sector across BC. In addition to supporting the sport and recreation sectors, CAN’s live training team builds capacity for first responders, education staff, and a variety community spaces including YVR, Science World, and the Vancouver Aquarium.
CAN is proud to unveil three online training resources for various sectors in January 2019. In addition to the launch of the E-Learning Module for recreation providers, CAN has also released an online training module for first responders and will be unveiling an online resource for sport coaches in late January.
The City of Surrey hosted their annual Tree Lighting Festival & Holiday Market this past Saturday. Featuring live music, rides, vendors and the lighting of a 60-foot tree, the festival is a highly anticipated holiday event that brings joy to hundreds of families in the community.
Held for the eighth year, this iteration of the festival was extra special for families living with autism. For the first time, individuals with autism and other sensory sensitivities had access to a Sensory Friendly Space.
City of Surrey’s Accessibility Specialist, Karin Pasqua, witnessed first-hand the benefits of the resource. Encountering numerous families living with autism, she was overwhelmed with the positive feedback that she received about the Sensory Friendly Space.
“We heard from numerous families would could stay and enjoy the event far longer than they would have otherwise,” Karin explained. “I met one family who was able to visibly relax as they sat on the couches and watched their son giggle away playing with the sensory toys we had available.”
“One mother was so grateful she was in tears.”
In addition to the Sensory Friendly Space, individuals with autism can borrow noise-cancelling headphones to manage the high volumes of the event. Karin personally recounted four instances of children using the headphones. Two kids in particular had used them so they could wait in line to see Santa.
Including the CAN Birthday Festival, where the initiative was launched, Sensory Friendly Spaces have now been offered at two major public events at Surrey Civic Plaza. The City of Surrey’s hope is to continually expand the events and venues that the resources are offered.
— Canucks Autism Network (@canucksautism) July 7, 2018
“We had staff from other City of Surrey facilities, including the Surrey Arts Centre, come by to see how the room was set up and how it works,” recalled Karin.
About Sensory Friendly Spaces Sensory Friendly Spaces are one way that Canucks Autism Network (CAN) aims to improve accessibility for individuals with autism living in Surrey. Other components of this partnership include staff and volunteer training, resource development, and co-hosting autism friendly events.
For more information about the City of Surrey’s Sensory Friendly Spaces, please contact Karin Pasqua at karin.pasqua@surrey.ca.
Earlier this month, Science World hosted “Community Access Day” for individuals and families with autism across the Lower Mainland. Offering free admission, Science World hosted hundreds of Canucks Autism Network (CAN) members throughout the day.
Children, youth and young adults with autism, along with their families, explored Science World’s full range of attractions — igniting their imagination through exhibits like The Science Behind Pixar and the award-winning Ken Spencer Science Park.
Jili and her son were among the CAN members who attended last week’s event. “This was my first opportunity to visit Science World with my son,” Jili explained. “It’s such a great place for him, because there are so many things for him to see. He loved being able to see for himself what a tornado looks like. And the staff are so helpful. We already bought a membership!”
Among Science World’s core values is a commitment to both collaboration and inclusion. At CAN, we are dedicated to improving accessibility for individuals and families living with autism in all community spaces. That’s why for the past three years, we have partnered with Science World to bridge the gap for individuals with autism to experience the wonders of science and nature.
In addition to their Community Access Days, we have partnered with Science World to develop accessibility resources, host autism-friendly events and provide staff training. It is no secret that Science World has been a leader in igniting wonder within the Vancouver community. With numerous initiatives over the course of several years, it is clear that they are also on the leading edge for increasing accessibility and inclusion.
Science World Activity Storybook During Autism Awareness Month in April 2016, CAN and Science World collaborated to create an Activity Storybook for individuals with autism that may wish to visit the venue. Designed to increase predictability, the Activity Storybook outlines what individuals with autism can expect from a visit to Science World. Check out “I CAN Visit Science World” for your next trip!
The Science World Activity Storybook illustrates the process of visiting the facility, from paying for your pass to what each exhibit entails.
Science World staff training With a desire to better support individuals with autism that walk through their doors, Science World reached out to CAN to receive autism training. In January 2016, our training team visited Science World to deliver a customized autism training workshop on site. The dozens of Science World staff and volunteers in attendance received an introduction to autism and a wide range of support strategies and tips for better interacting with individuals with autism. Learn more about CAN autism training workshops.
CAN staff have delivered autism training workshops to Science World staff on multiple occasions since 2016.
Monthly Social Programs at Science World
With the assurance that Science World provides a safe and supportive environment for individuals with autism to visits, CAN has hosted countless Monthly Social Program events over the past several years. In groups of 10, our youth and young adult participants have enjoyed the countless exhibits with the support of our staff and volunteers.
Meanwhile, our CommunityWorks! Canada ® program, which provides volunteer opportunities to youth and young adults with autism, has also visited Science World on a number of occasions to assist their staff with various tasks. These visits have provided them with valuable volunteer experience with a well-known organization in the community.
Having partnered together to create resources, provide training and host events, Science World and CAN co-presented on “Creating Opportunities for Accessibility” at the 2017 Lower Mainland Museum Educators (LMEE) Conference.
Organizations like Science World are committed to accessibility and inclusion, and are key partners in CAN’s vision that individuals with autism are understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces. If you are a similarly-minded organization or community group that would like to learn more about increasing accessibility for your guests, we would love to hear from you!
CAN supports accessibility in a wide variety of public spaces by providing consultations and creating customized solutions. These can include, but are not limited to 1) staff training, 2) developing accessibility resources (such as the Activity Storybook), and 3) partnering to co-host autism friendly events.
To learn more about partnering with Canucks Autism Network to make your organization more accessible for individuals with autism, contact our Manager of Training, Hallie Mitchell, at hallie.mitchell@canucksautism.ca or 604-685-4049 ext 219.
This past school year, CAN participant Cameron Siu (8 years old) and his older sister Kaitlynn (11) spoke at Gilmore Community School’s Autism Awareness Assembly. Together, they each shared a heartwarming poem about their experience growing up together with Cameron’s diagnosis.
The assembly was part of a much larger awareness and fundraising campaign that spanned two schools within the Burnaby School District. As part of their CAN Birthday Festival fundraiser, Gilmore and Gilpin Elementary Schools partnered together to raise an incredible $5,000 for CAN.
Led by teacher Debbie Siu (Cameron and Kaitlynn’s mother) and education assistant Bev Gilliam (who has been a tireless CAN volunteer and support worker for years), the schools’ fundraising and awareness initiatives included t-shirts, crafts and a wide range of school-wide activities.
A huge thank you goes out to all the educators and students at Gilmore Community and Gilpin Elementary Schools in Burnaby. It is because of fundraising efforts like these that CAN is able to make an impact on the BC community. It is because of awareness initiatives like these that we can look forward to a generation of children that understand, accept and support individuals with autism.
