April 28, 2021
by Corey Walker

I was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (now called Autism Spectrum Disorder) in my early 20’s in 2001. However, seeing as autism is a lifelong disability, I clearly grew up autistic; I just didn’t know it at the time. That’s not to say I didn’t receive any help or support as a kid. I was diagnosed with ADHD in Grade 2, so I was supported for that. Looking back, I think some of my challenges in life that required support were more due to my then-undiagnosed autism. In this blog post, I will share some of my life’s journey as an autistic with you.

First off, autism was not well known or understood when I was a boy.

In 1985, I was referred to BC Children’s Hospital, as my parents were trying to figure out what made me tick. You see, as a child I kept mostly to myself, and was content to play by myself for hours on end. I appeared to be hyperactive, rocking for hours on my spring horse. I also had gross motor skills deficits. My childhood doctors kept telling my mom that she was an “overpicky” mother, and my quirks would correct themselves in time. The doctors at Children’s Hospital diagnosed me with ADHD, and told my parents “I met all the signs of autism, except I could talk.” They missed the mark, and I would have to wait sixteen years before I learned I was autistic.

Now, before anyone goes criticizing Children’s Hospital, keep in mind this assessment took place thirty-six years ago, when knowledge of autism was far more limited, and the diagnostic criteria far more restrictive. Just like today. medical professionals can’t just make up their own diagnostic criteria, but are required to follow the criteria accepted as the standard by their profession at the time. I suspect my parents would be given very different answers if I was assessed today in 2021.

Despite not knowing I was autistic, there were supports even back then that helped me somewhat. I received therapy from the Child Development Centres in Quesnel and Fort St John. Therapists at both centres helped me improve my gross motor skills. I also received speech therapy at school in Fort St. John, and later Prince George (where I moved to in 1986 and still live today), and this helped improve my speech. We didn’t know then that it was autism that was causing my difficulties.

In school, I benefitted from extra time on assignments, and tests, including my high school final exams. This helped me succeed, and earn honour roll standing multiple times in both elementary and high school. English was my best subject, and math my worst. I never used any of that algebra they tried to teach me. With these supports, I graduated in 1996 with the rest of my peers, and went on to complete a BA in English and History at UNBC, graduating in 2003.

It was only after my Asperger’s diagnosis in 2001 that my parents and I fully understood my uniqueness.

I finally knew why in grade 2, I would run around the school playground, pretending to be He-Man, and why I played (and still play) with my pillow cases and shirts. This is only a few of the questions we finally had answers to. In case you’re not a child of the early 80’s, He-Man was a popular cartoon series and action figure from the early 80’s. I would pretend I was holding his magic sword and saying “By the Power of Grayskull,” which made him the most powerful man in the universe.

I paid my autism diagnosis little regard until November 2006 when I was expelled from teacher training, and had my life’s dream shattered. This was all because I made a rude comment that offended the classroom teacher who supervised me during my first practicum. Like many autistics, I often make unfiltered remarks. I’ve never sworn, but this trait has often landed me in trouble as an adult. It was never anything too serious, until then.

From 2007-2008, I attended college to improve my communication skills, and started becoming the autistic self-advocate I am today.

I started an Asperger’s support group in Prince George back around 2008 for AutismBC, and from 2012-2020, I worked for AutismBC as the Northern Regional Coordinator. During those almost eight years, I connected families and autistic adults with the resources they needed to thrive in life. From 2020-2021, I worked for the Sinneave Family Foundation, where I developed a toolkit to support autistic adults in employment.

Additionally, I helped plan the 2020 Canadian Autism Leadership Summit for the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance (CASDA), and in April 2021, I joined CASDA’s board of directors. I am also a passionate public speaker, and love presenting on autism to diverse audiences.

In October 2020, I started a short-term contract with CAN, where I led Project Relay, a series of online workshops to help employment service agencies learn how to better support autistic and intellectually-disabled job seekers during COVID-19.

Corey (left) was charged with assembling a team of experts to speak to employment service professionals from across BC.

This was definitely the most exciting job I had. I built a five member hub team of employment experts and self-advocates, who presented on various employment and mental health related topics during three virtual webinars, all held in February and March 2021.

I was motivated to lead this project because I wanted to ensure autistics were getting help to find work during the pandemic. I really enjoyed the collaboration between myself, and the larger team of hub team members, co-workers, etc. I love working with others, learning from them, and they from me.

If I was to give one piece of advice to self-advocates about educating others on autism, it would be to speak from the heart, and be honest about your experiences.

People want to hear your stories. Tell them what autism acceptance means to you. What it means to me is that I can accepted for being who I am. That is very important to me.

As we transition from awareness to acceptance, remember simply knowing about autism is not enough. We need to accept autistics for who they are, and embrace their uniqueness. Everybody is unique, and special in their own way. The best action we can take is to share our stories, and listen to others sharing theirs.


You may recognize Corey as one of the nine autistic voices featured in our #AutismAcceptance video with EY this April:

For every comment or share of the video until Apr 30, EY will donate $2 to CAN! See the post on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIN!

Learn more about the voices featured in the video:

Natanya: “Autism acceptance means I have a job that I love”

Maxwell: “Listen to us and amplify our voices”

More from our #AutismAcceptance campaign with EY >>

April 28, 2021
by Maxwell

I’ve been accessing Canucks Autism Network (CAN) programs for almost a year now. I thought about joining a couple of years back, but hesitated. I was busy with high school and was in a very bad place mentally and emotionally. But I’ve been making progress on healing and being in a better place.

Being with CAN has really been a journey, since I felt like I was entirely on my own beforehand. I joined last August near the beginning of the pandemic.

I thought, “How do I find people that are just like me?”

I had looked elsewhere, but was often found ineligible for different services and programs because I was deemed ‘high functioning’.

Before CAN, I had been paired with workers who had made me feel afraid to show my true autistic self – that I could not understand social cues or that I experienced sensory overload. I felt like I had to stand up for myself and justify why I deserved to be respected as a human being at a young age.

I can make some eye contact and I can speak, so I was often made to feel like I should be able to move past those social and sensory challenges. It left me with way more emotional scars than I needed.  I felt helpless, scared and alone. Looking back on it, I would never wish it on anyone at all.

So when I joined CAN, I really had no idea what to expect. I joined their Youth & Adult Advisory Group (now called the Youth & Adult Leadership Committee), a group of individuals on the spectrum who provide feedback and insight on CAN programming. After the first session online, there was already a huge difference from what I’ve been used to.

Interested in joining the Youth & Adult Leadership Committee? Email mark.comfort@canucksautism.ca.

I shared about how certain actions we see in the community can stigmatize autistic individuals – how making us feel like certain behaviours are inherently bad can be very damaging. I didn’t get questioned or scrutinized for what I had to say. I actually felt as if my voice mattered, and that I was believed with no judgement or shame whatsoever.

“Autism acceptance means I’m part of a community that supports and listens to me.”


Maxwell is one of nine autistic voices who took part in our Autism Acceptance Month video with EY.
For every comment or share of the video until Apr 30, EY will donate $2.
FB, IG, Tw, IN

Since the Advisory Group, I have joined a number of CAN programs, including the Skills Training Employment Program (STEP). The program is a 12-week paid opportunity for autistic youth and adults. I was part of their first cohort this past winter. It took time to build back the confidence that I had shattered. But by the end, I had learned much more than what my five years of high school had taught me – and in a way that I can understand.

Maxwell (bottom right) on “graduation day” with STEP in March 2021.

The program also allowed me to reunite with a childhood friend, both online in STEP’s virtual classroom and in-person after the program. As part of STEP, I’ll be working with CAN as an office assistant starting this May. I’m looking forward to it, including working alongside my future colleagues!

Interested in joining the Skills Training Employment Program (STEP)? Our next cohort begins May 10! Apply by May 5.

The best way to support the autistic community is to listen to us, amplify our voices and to be willing to work with the autistic community to bring change, justice and acceptance as a whole. 

As an autistic person in the community, both online and in person, it’s both saddening and infuriating seeing certain groups stigmatize us – and then around April, act like they have our backs or speak for us just for their own publicity gain. We’re not here to be alienated and looked down upon. We’re human just like everyone else. We just need support and acceptance for who we are – not a cure or to be “solved like a missing piece of the puzzle.”

Yes, I’m proud of the first steps our communities are making right now. It’s a good thing to shift to “acceptance”. But now we got to continue to strive forward for continued change.

I’m glad to speak out on this month with the best of my ability. I’d like to end with a quote which I stand by to this day: “Nothing about us, without us.”


Read more from individuals on the spectrum:

Natanya: “Autism acceptance means I have a job that I love”

Sebastian: Living a life I like

Sylvain: Changing my thoughts about autism

Jack speaks in front of entire school

Nate: What I want you to know about autism

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