I quit homeschooling Kaya this morning and left with our autism service dog Dianne for a three hour walk, leaving my husband to take over.
When you’re a parent of a child with autism, you have to be on 24 hours a day. There’s no such thing as a break.
My name is Iveta Nelson and I’m the mother of two beautiful girls. My youngest, Kaya, has autism.
Mothers of children with autism have stress levels comparable to combat veterans.
Ever since we had to start homeschooling, Kaya has struggled with most of the activities that have been assigned to her. With so many kids in her virtual classroom, the instruction isn’t adapted to Kaya’s needs.
She doesn’t get the support she usually does in person. It has been very stressful and exhausting.
It wasn’t until CAN started putting their videos out that Kaya finally started to pay attention.
I could tell by her wide eyes that Kaya felt like the CAN coaches were talking to her. Watching another person doing the activity alongside her made a world of difference.
For Kaya, she feels safe and at home with CAN, so she sees the videos as being for her. So she pays attention. At school, she never feels like that.
The need for our online programs has never been greater. Give now to support CAN in helping others like Kaya.
This time has been really hard for us all. We’re just so thankful to CAN that we have activities to do at home that are short and simple enough for our amazing kids but challenging enough that they can work on their skills and still have fun!
And when they do them, they feel so proud of themselves. I know because I’ve seen the pride on my own daughter’s face.
Make a contribution to give families like the Nelsons access to vital online programs that can support them right now.
So thank you CAN and thank you to all of the people who make CAN possible.
Because of you, I have hope that our family will get through this.
The need for CAN programs is greater than ever. Withhelp from contributors like you, we can continue to support our community during and after this very difficult time.
May 15, 2020
Ryan Wu has been an enthusiastic part of Canucks Autism Network (CAN) for years! He has participated in virtually all our programs — from swim and multisport to family events and overnight camp.
In our many years of spending time with Ryan, we’ve come to know three things about him. He always has a positive attitude. He loves helping others. And he is GREAT on camera!
See Ryan’s recap of the Adults vs Kids Soccer Game at Multisport Camp four years ago!
So this past month, Ryan sent us a message that he wanted to share with the CAN community.
“I’m reaching out to YOU to see how you’re doing and how you’re managing through this COVID-19 thing.”
Ryan is obviously a creative young man. So he shared 10 things that he’s doing at home to stay busy!
1. Read a book “If you don’t have a book, you can always use an app on your phone!”
2. Play a board game “You can play Jenga or Uno — or my favourite game Taco vs Burrito! Or you could go old school and play hangman.”
3. Look at old photo albums “Remember the good old days when you used to go outside. But don’t worry, this thing will be over soon! Just wait.”
4. Help out around the house “An example of this is folding towels, which I do a lot of, since we wash our hands a lot!”
5. Go on a scavenger hunt “But remember, only your family!”
6. Bake some cookies
7. Dress up as your favourite character “Luke, I am your father!”
8. Build lego “With your toys, you can act out a story!”
9. Take a nap All these activities are sure to tire you out!
It’s been a couple of years since we moved our headquarters to the Kitsilano neighbourhood in Vancouver.
But for years, we called the corner of Yukon and 2nd home. And just across the street is where our office staff got their daily caffeine fix at Starbucks. It wasn’t long before Store Manager Ann-Marie Lee-Teahen knew virtually the entire Canucks Autism Network (CAN) office team by name.
Although we’re no longer immediate neighbours, our friends at Starbucks remain CAN supporters who we are proud to celebrate this National Volunteer Week.
“When I became the community lead in my district, I reached out to CAN for volunteer opportunities,” said Ann-Marie.
“At that time, one of the managers in our district, Evelyn Campbell was a CAN mom.”
“Through CAN, her son Logan has been enrolled in so many sports and social programs. He has come leaps and bounds!”
As a group, Ann-Marie, Evelyn and their fellow baristas began volunteering in our office to help organize and prepare our program supplies. Ann-Marie even donated her time to support our Weekly Youth & Adult Program for a season.
“I received training and learned so much from the program with respect to understanding people with autism,” Ann-Marie said.
Our neighbours across the street were eager to contribute more to our community. So when we asked them to put up some posters to promote our CAN Family Festival in 2016, Ann-Marie got the idea to get involved with our events as well.
Hundreds of families needing to stay warm at our annual Festival of Lights at Van Dusen?
Starbucks was there.
Hockey players arriving early in the morning for an 8am game?
Starbucks was there!
Over the past six years, Starbucks has volunteered at CAN Family Festival, CAN Relay 4 Autism, CAN Festival of Lights and most recently the CAN Pro-Am.
And at each event, they were on hand bright and early or late at night offering a warm smile and a free coffee or hot chocolate!
But their incredible contributions don’t stop there. Through the Starbucks Foundation, Ann-Marie and her South Central Vancouver Starbucks District have donated a total of $3,000 to support CAN programs, training and community engagement initiatives.
Like many businesses, most Starbucks locations are closed due to the current health crisis. And our hearts go out to the many store managers, baristas and all those who are waiting to get back to work.
But knowing how committed they are to giving back, it came as no surprise that the Starbucks at Yukon St and 2nd Ave remains open to frontline workers.
Ever since our new life of social distancing began, Ann-Marie and her team have been serving free coffee to the many first responders and health care workers in their neighbourhood, including those from Vancouver General Hospital and Vancouver Police Department headquarters.
“It has been a very fulfilling experience, ensuring that our first responders can be the best they can be,” said Ann-Marie. “If only through a cup of coffee.”
For most, a good day begins with a cup of coffee. For us, our daily lattes and cappuccinos turned into a friendship we have treasured for over six years and counting.
My name is Keara Farnan and I wanted to share my experience during the coronavirus pandemic.
I first heard about the coronavirus at the end of 2019, but never thought it would become a serious health crisis. I have become very bored with little to do at home. I’m still managing to stay in contact with my friends and my parents who live in Oliver.
But I feel very disengaged and isolated from society.
I go for walks after breakfast to get groceries and I notice people having to wait in line in to enter. When I walk through the grocery store, I notice most of the stock is missing. And there are signs indicating there is a limit to how many cans of soup customers are allowed to purchase.
I look around me and I see multiple people wearing face masks and gloves and trying to distance themselves from each other. I feel a sense of urgency; I’m not sure if I will be able to get the food I need to survive the next few weeks of this pandemic. The suspense makes me even more nervous.
As I approach the checkout, I notice large pieces of pink tape on the ground and one of the staff tells me to keep my distance. But, I’m not sure what they mean exactly because they didn’t tell me how many metres I need to keep from another customer. I feel panicked as I question if going to the grocery store was even a good idea to begin with.
I do not cope well with sudden changes and I become very grumpy if I’m on my own for long periods of time. My parents have always encouraged me to be more social and interact with my peers. Although, now is certainly not the time to be socially gathering with other people.
I’m stuck between wanting to be social and wanting to remain in self-isolation.
My work is closed, so I won’t be leaving home, except maybe to go to the grocery store or grab a coffee at a café nearby. I feel trapped inside the walls of my apartment as I stare out the window across and look at the other apartment building. It’s like the walls are closing in on me and I don’t like that feeling at all.
I wonder if my neighbours are experiencing the same kind of stress I am, and if other people would understand if I were to explain how I feel about the COVID-19 pandemic. No one really explained to me how serious the coronavirus is. I had to do my own research. And watching the news on TV or reading online articles about COVID-19 is rather disturbing.
I don’t want to think about the coronavirus pandemic anymore. I don’t want to have to stay inside my apartment for what feels like a century.
Living independently on the North Shore, I have had to adapt to manage certain tasks alone, like grocery shopping, budgeting, and doing laundry. I usually go to the gym and work out when I am bored. But unfortunately I do not have that option at the moment.
I’ve been going for walks around the track at Fen Burdett Stadium, which is very close to Carson Graham Secondary.
Physical activity is important to me because it helps me de-stress and also stay in shape.
When I am at home, I like to watch TV, write, bake, and hang out with my cat Maggie. Pets are a great companion for individuals on the spectrum because they provide support and are always there for you when you need a friend.
As a young woman on the autism spectrum, I’m struggling to understand the importance of self-isolation and the effects that the coronavirus may have on those with a disability.
I highly encourage autistic individuals to research COVID-19 online or with their parents to find out more information.
From CAN: ACT-Autism Community Training has a great list of resources for youth & adults with autism to increase their understanding of COVID-19. View here.
Another thing that has really helped me stay calm is watching Netflix and cooking. While it can be hard, you should limit your in-person interactions.
If a friend asks to meet with you in person, you can suggest connecting over the phone or meeting through an online platform instead.
As the rate of coronavirus cases in BC increases, I am becoming even more concerned about the potential of a full lockdown, and the impact it may have on my involvement in Canucks Autism Network (CAN) programs.
Keara in our rock climbing program last year. Read her program testimonial Climbing new heights!
I first joined CAN in 2011 and it has always been a safe place for me to go to where I feel like I belong and fit in. I am very fortunate to be involved with CAN and look forward to future events and programs once the coronavirus passes.
They provide, not only myself, but thousands of other individuals with autism the opportunity to participate in safe, fun, and enjoyable programs — free of judgement or criticism.
I have been staying up-to-date on news from CAN by regularly checking my inbox and their social media platforms, (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), or by reading the monthly CAN newsletter.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the spread of COVID-19 decreases and CAN programs and events are able to resume without further disruption or health precautions.
-Keara Farnan
How CAN is here to help.
We are closely aware of the need for our youth and adult participants, like Keara, to stay connected while respecting the obligations of social distancing.
Our program team is busily working on new ways for our youth and adult participants to stay in touch with CAN and each other!
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce new initiatives, like virtual meetings, video activities to follow along with at home, a youth and adult newsletter and more. We are excited to stay connected!
For COVID-19 updates and recommendations from provincial health authorities, please visit: bccdc.ca.
We would also like to remind everyone to take care of their mental health. If you are in a crisis, please reach out to Crisis Services Canada – 1-833-456-4566. For additional resources, please visit: foundrybc.ca
Finally, ACT-Autism Community Training has a great list of resources for youth & adults with autism to increase their understanding of COVID-19. View here.
So thank you CAN and thank you to all of the people who make CAN possible.
