Tag: testimonial

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Mar 27, 2020

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.

Read Keara’s first guest blog with CAN, My life with autism.

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!

Questions? Email CAN’s Navigator of Youth and Adult Services Sarah Armstrong at sarah.armstrong@canucksautism.ca.

Additional resources

Stay up-to-date on CAN program and event announcements at canucksautism.ca/health, our member newsletter and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIN).

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.

Additional reading

Keara Farnan: My life with autism”
Keara Farnan: Climbing new heights with CAN
Nate Keller: What I want you to know about autism

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Jun 18, 2019

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!

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My name is Nate Keller, I’m 17 years old and I have autism.

People often ask me if I have autism. I don’t always like it, because I don’t know if they’re making fun of me or if they’re just being curious.

I’m also a curious person and tend to ask people a lot of questions, so I do understand. I guess I don’t mind as long as it helps others to learn about me and anyone who lives with autism.

What I want to tell them is that autism can be hard. For example, it is harder for me to do well in school. It’s hard for me to play some sports. It’s hard for me to make friends.

What I want people to know is that I can still do the same stuff as everyone, but I might do it differently.

In school, I sometimes do different projects or have different exams than the rest of the class, but I still learn the same material. I also have extra time to finish projects. There is also an Education Assistant that helps me in class. I notice that some of my classmates ask my EA for help as well. Perhaps everyone needs help in some way.

LEARN MORE: CAN autism training for schools and educators

I love being social, but I feel like some of my friends don’t always understand me. Sometimes they’re impatient if I do things that are unexpected. When I’m feeling stressed or excited, I jump around and make noises. There are times when I laugh to myself when there doesn’t seem to be anything funny.

I want people to understand that when I have these unexpected behaviours, I do them to help me stay calm.

One of the ways that I find I can connect with people is through sports. At school, I am in cross country, track and swimming. I even won a couple of medals in swimming provincials.

I chose not to play basketball and soccer at school, because team sports can be very dynamic and hard to follow.

But outside of school, I play hockey with Canucks Autism Network (CAN). With extra help from staff and volunteers, CAN has given me an opportunity to play a team sport.

I’ve even made new friends at CAN. One of them is Liam. Through the hockey program, I realized that he was a lot like me. He got nervous very easily just like me. He had trouble talking sometimes just like me.


Last year, Nate participated in our “What’s Your ‘I CAN’?” video project
and shared what he likes most about being a CAN hockey player.

I think we both like hockey because we both get to burn off a lot of energy playing. Outside of CAN, we’ve even done the North Shore Triathlon together!

READ MORE: North Shore triathlon adds wave for adapted athletes (North Shore News)

One day, I’d like to play hockey outside of CAN too. Some CAN participants have gone on to play minor hockey and that’s pretty cool.

People who think and learn differently can succeed and offer a lot to the community. Everyone is different in their own way. People with autism aren’t less, they’re just different. They’re not weird, they’re just different.

Even though I’ve found friends at CAN that are similar to me in a lot of ways, I’ve also realized that not everyone is going to be like you. And you’re not going to be like everyone else.

Being different can be interesting. It can even be special.

More CAN Stories

Sarah Russell: “CAN is home to me.”

Nate: “I want to help other kids like me.”

“Mom, I’m really happy today.”

May 22, 2019

Terri Neish has been a CAN mother since 2010. In front of a room of 200+ guests, she delivered the following speech at the ICONNBC Shine A Light Gala in support of CAN (River Rock Casino in April 2019).

***

My name is Terri Neish. My husband and I have a son and a daughter, both of whom have multiple diagnoses. My oldest, Ayden, is 13 years old and he has autism.

Our journey has included countless struggles. But because of generous donors who give to Canucks Autism Network (CAN), it has also included incredible triumphs.

We welcomed Ayden as a baby boy in May 2005. He was so perfect and beautiful. Like any new parents, we experienced sleepless nights and feeding struggles. But as time went on, we encountered some really unique challenges.

By 18 months, Ayden had just barely started crawling and spoke just half of a word — “wa-wa”, for water. As he continued to grow, he still couldn’t speak to us and would rather scream in frustration for all his needs. To this day, he still cannot truly tell us what he’s thinking.

After a long process in the public system, we received Ayden’s autism diagnosis just before he turned five.

With the diagnosis came a thick folder of instructions on accessing resources. We had so many dreams and desires for Ayden. Peer interactions. Social and physical development. The joy of sports that every child should have and is entitled to.

But we encountered so many organizations that turned Ayden away. I will never forget the day his pre-school asked him not to come back until they could find more support. He wasn’t violent. Believe me. He just wasn’t attentive.

In addition to autism, Ayden also ended up being diagnosed with Tourettes, sensory processing disorder and severe ADHD. He needed a lot of support in order to participate in the same things that a typical child could. But he deserved to experience the same joy that other children could.

It was overwhelming. I felt scared and completely alone.

Then our government case worker came along. She sat with us and passionately recommended Canucks Autism Network.

Her words exactly: “You HAVE to register Ayden for their programs.”

When the day came for Ayden’s first soccer session, I honestly don’t know who was more nervous. Him or me. I went through all the same fears that I had with other organizations that we had enrolled Ayden in.

“Are they going to accept him? What if they can’t support him? Are they going to turn us away too?”

But when our nervous little Ayden walked into the gym that first day, his world – our world – forever changed. He saw a group of children just like him on every level. He saw compassionate volunteers and trained coaches who could be assigned for just him — one on one.

When Ayden gets anxious, he flaps his arms or puts his hand to his mouth to rub his lips. He won’t make eye contact. As a young child, he would never go outside without this one specific hat and a fuzzy little bracelet. They were almost like his security blanket for whenever he was feeling uneasy.

These traits might seem strange to others, but the staff and volunteers at Canucks Autism Network accepted him for who he was. No judgement. Just unconditional inclusion.

Within five minutes of his first session, you could see his whole body language change. He wasn’t timid. He wasn’t flapping his arms as much. He wasn’t putting his hand up to his mouth. He took off that hat and bracelet.

 

For the first time, we truly saw our special guy open up and be comfortable with himself. Ayden went from an anxious little boy who would rarely tell us how he felt – to literally bouncing from excitement and talking about how fun CAN was.

I still lose my breath out of the pure joy of seeing him like that. You could see it so clearly on his face.

That unbelievable experience on the first day has been the same each and every session at CAN. For the past 9 years, Ayden has learned to swim, bike and play basketball.

CAN programs have opened up so many possibilities when so many others told us they didn’t have the resources or the time.

Learn more about CAN sports and rec programs.

Ayden goes beyond his boundaries and commits to the people who work there because he truly trusts them. The staff and volunteers at CAN have become real life superheroes in his eyes. They empower each child to accomplish so much more than anyone thinks they can. They have shown me what Ayden is capable of.

Because they taught him to swim, we can now go to the lake in the summer and we don’t have to be afraid that he will wander and drown.

Canucks Autism Network has become a pillar of strength, comfort and acceptance for us. Because of CAN, Ayden has made some of his best childhood memories with them. His bedroom is covered with photos of him at CAN summer camps. And all the medals that he’s received in their sports programs.

I don’t know where we would be without Canucks Autism Network. The variety of programs, the level of support and the consistency of quality – there are no other programs out there like CAN. Period. There just aren’t.

Now when I encounter new families who are also struggling with autism, I tell them just as passionately and urgently as our case worker did nine years ago. “You HAVE to register for CAN.”

I have personally paid for other families’ $25 memberships because I want them to experience what we had — and that we still have to this day.

Learn more about CAN membership,

Today, Ayden is more confident. On the verge of entering Grade 8, he is more social. He is happier. Ayden would not be the person he is today if not for Canucks Autism Network.

But there are still so many families like mine that need support. Approximately 1 in 46 children is diagnosed in BC. Ayden is one of over 16,000 children and youth with autism province-wide that need your support.

My most heartfelt thanks to all those who support Canucks Autism Network. Because of you, CAN will continue to make a lasting impact on the lives of families like ours.

On every level of my gratitude — thank you.

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May 6, 2019

This past Winter, I took part in the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Indoor Rock Climbing program. Held at Climb Base5 in North Vancouver, I met many youth and young adults with autism.

I had rock climbed in the past. Yet, this program really gave me the opportunity to master my rock climbing and social skills in an adaptive environment where I could grow and flourish with the support of the CAN staff and volunteers.

At the beginning, I was a little scared to participate in the program, as I had not climbed in quite a few years. For the first few sessions, I only went halfway up the climbing wall and refused to boulder. My intuition told me that it may be unsafe to climb. It took me a while to become familiar with all of the climbing courses.

I certainly have struggled to maintain good physical and mental health, so I try to be a fairly active person and work out at the gym regularly. My workouts at the gym are nothing like my experience in the rock climbing program.

Rock climbing is much more engaging for me, especially because I got to climb beside other participants. Whereas, at the gym I mostly exercise alone and stick to my individual routine.

Mingling amongst a large group of people isn’t an easy task for me due to my lack of social skills. However, as soon as I became more familiar with the staff, volunteers, and participants, I felt more comfortable socializing and engaging in activities.

In the first few weeks, I climbed multiple circuits. Yet, I still did not feel comfortable climbing to the top. My fear of heights kicked in. I was worried about getting stuck at the top and not being able to come back down.

The CAN staff were nothing but patient and encouraged me to persevere. They did not rush me or demand me to climb higher than I wanted. They were my biggest cheerleaders each week.

Funded by MEC, the program featured staff from CAN & Power To Be. Before the program began, rock climbing instructors received autism training from both CAN & Power To Be.

READ MORE: MEC, Canucks Autism Network and Power To Be host adaptive climbing workshop

Each time I got scared and began to climb down, the staff continued to encourage me.

I felt extremely out of my comfort zone. Climbing up the walls felt foreign. I had to figure out which holds would be easiest to grip onto and which ones were exclusively meant for climbing with my feet.

It wasn’t until the very last session of rock climbing that I made it to the top of a more advanced obstacle.

I was so proud and excited. My heart was filled with joy and I remember looking down to the staff as they cheered.

I felt very touched by everyone’s support and words of encouragement. Having their support during the program meant a lot. It showed that they cared and really wanted me to push myself harder to accomplish my goal of reaching the top of the climbing wall.

At the end of the last session, I was very fortunate to have MEC donate the climbing gear that I used during the program.

Although the rock climbing program ended just a few short weeks ago, I have plans to go rock climbing again one day with a friend.

As I continue to grow and learn, my mind always goes back to the successes. It is experiences like these where I have felt most comfortable, because I was in a safe environment with non-judgemental individuals. This means a lot to me because as an young autistic woman, I am constantly faced with unfair criticism, mostly from those who do not know much about autism.

CAN has been a major aspect of my life since joining as a young teenager. I’m thrilled to have found another place to call home and for the opportunity to meet other persons with autism similar or different from myself.

I feel more challenged to continue climbing outside of the rock climbing program. In the future, I’d like to try more advanced courses and explore bouldering.

I would like to thank CAN, Power To Be and MEC for the opportunity to rock climb. I now believe that no obstacles are too hard to reach and if I continue to push past my struggles, I can achieve almost anything.

I have gained a great deal of confidence. I’m hopeful and excited to participate in more CAN programs where I can hone more of these skills.

LEARN MORE: CAN programs for youth & young adults

RELATED: “My life with autism” by Keara Farnan

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Dear Canucks Autism Network,

Since being diagnosed with autism at age 10, my son Mitchell has been a member of the CAN Hockey Program. This October marks his third season with the CAN Surrey Stingrays.

I have wanted to properly share my thoughts about CAN Hockey for some time now. From the coaches and volunteers to the unique dynamics and benefits of the program – each and every facet has been so fantastic.

But beyond the skill development and experience of playing hockey, this program has given us far more than we ever could have expected. At the tournament this past spring, I was struck by three experiences in particular that I wanted to share.

Mitchell (left) celebrates with teammates at their 2018 tournament in Kelowna.

The first was the genuine feeling of being a part of a TEAM.

Teamwork is a powerful thing. Something so many of these kids have been searching for. A place where they are actually a meaningful part of something bigger than themselves. A place where they belong. But the team doesn’t end with the kids. It extends to the families, which brings me to my second experience.

The undeniable support. And I don’t mean for the kids – CAN provides this in spades.  I mean between families.

Through practices, team fundraisers and time on the road, the Surrey Stingrays spend a great deal of time together. As a result, our guards are down, there is a comfort zone, and there is established trust. We have always shared the commonality of being parents of kids on the spectrum, but now we SHARE. We have become a support group for one another where we can speak freely and be more candid in our struggles than we might otherwise be.

And let’s not forget the siblings. Each player on the team has brothers and sisters who come out to watch them play. These sibling supporters have gotten to know each other too. And by doing so, they now have friends who truly understand what it is like to grow up with a sibling on the spectrum. Most importantly, they learn they are not alone. Like the parents, it is essentially another little support group.

The third scenario I witnessed at the tournament almost brought tears to my eyes.

After a shift, one of my son’s teammates returned to the bench visibly upset about something that had happened on the ice. From what I could tell, he was in full “shut down mode” and was going to require some focused intervention.

The MOST AWESOME part was that the intervention did not end up coming from the coaches or the volunteers. It came from the players, as a team. They all rallied around their dejected teammate, encouraged him, and turned the moment around. In an instant, the situation had been defused and the player was out on the ice for his next shift.

I cannot put into words what it is like to see my son be a part of a team like this. Mitchell always dreamed of playing hockey. In addition to making his dream come true, CAN has given him a second home where he feels welcomed and accepted.

CAN has given this to our entire family.

Gary and Mitchell Bryant at the Surrey Stingrays’ first practice of the 2018-19 season.

By offering CAN Hockey, you have created a very rare, very unique support group that has helped us in so many ways. Because Mitchell received a relatively late diagnosis, he missed out on a lot of intervention. We are still learning about what it means for him to have autism. Being able to share our experiences with families that we trust has been invaluable.

So when friends and family ask us what CAN hockey is all about – what the benefits are – I tell them this:

It is about 20 kids, desperate to belong, who have found a second home wearing the same jersey. It is about the irreplaceable community of support that every family member gets to be a part of. Beyond hockey, this program has a much deeper, far reaching impact than I could have ever expected.

This is something real special, folks. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Gary Bryant

Surrey Stingrays 2017-18 team (Mitchell fifth player from the left)

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Aug 2, 2018

By Keara Farnan

As a 22-year-old woman on the autism spectrum, I have certainly faced extremely challenging situations throughout my life and still continue to.

I live with significant social anxiety and depression. I’m not the most confident person, so trying to lead a normal social life is a challenge. Making conversation is quite difficult for me as I’m never sure how to approach new people. Growing up, I was rejected by many individuals who did not care to understand what having autism meant. I lived in a state of constant distress and agitation – often hanging out alone and waiting for the phone to ring.

Excluded by my peers, I questioned my self-worth and whether it was okay to have autism. However, over time, I have learned to appreciate who I am. Someone once told me, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” And I believe this to be very true.

In addition to improving my self-image, I’ve learned that I can also help manage my anxiety by doing the things I love. For me, these things include writing, working out and being a part of the Canucks Autism Network (CAN) community.

I’ve been a CAN participant since 2011 and even began volunteering for the organization a few years later. CAN is my safe place, because I’m free to be whoever I choose and everyone accepts me for who I am.

One of my most cherished memories is the first time I went to CAN Overnight Camp in the summer of 2016. I was quite nervous to be away from home, especially since there were many CAN participants I didn’t know very well. But paired with an extremely understanding support worker for the entire weekend, I felt so at ease. She was kind and non-judgemental about the social anxiety that I struggled with. With her support, Overnight Camp was among the most memorable experience of my life. The weekend was packed with activities, but my favourites were archery and making paracord bracelets.

A female support worker and young adult female camper sit together while making paracord bracelets.

While Overnight Camp has given me a weekend that I can fondly look back at, CAN’s year-round social programs have provided me with a regular way to stay involved. In North Vancouver, the Weekly Social Group allows me to get to know CAN staff, volunteers and participants over the course of 6 weeks in the Fall, Winter and Spring. By meeting weekly with the same group of young adults, I feel more confident in building rapport and developing healthy relationships. Playing games like Family Feud gives me an opportunity to get to know other participants and practice my social skills.

Most importantly, having fun with other young adults with autism has helped me to see that I am not alone – it’s wonderful to see that there are others who share my struggles. Though our challenges may differ, we all have autism in common.

In addition to being involved as a participant, CAN has also given me the opportunity to volunteer at their community and family events. As I continue to mature into adulthood, I want to find more ways to incorporate CAN into my life. By volunteering at events like Family Concerts, Party in the Park and Easter Tea House in Stanley Park, I can also give back.

I see a huge difference in myself since joining CAN seven years ago. I’m more responsible and open to conversation with others who share my diagnosis. I’ve made friends who I spend time with outside of CAN. Forming friendships outside of CAN still startles me, but I realize that if I avoid social interaction altogether, I’ll only delve deeper into my anxiety, instead of overcoming it.

Two female youth sit together while crafting.

Through a lifetime of experience, I’ve become naturally distrusting of others. But because CAN’s staff and volunteers have been patient with me, I’ve learned to open up and engage others in conversation more and more.

My experiences at CAN have helped me go out of my comfort zone to do the things I love in my community. Exercise helps me feel calm and release anxiety. Since 2015, I’ve been working our regularly at Club 16 in North Vancouver. The staff there accept me for who I am in the same way that CAN staff and volunteers do. They treat me no differently than any other member, which is the kind of respect I wish more people would show me.

I realize that my life is always going to be a challenge, because having autism isn’t easy. There’s never a day where I don’t experience challenges and setbacks – and wish to be a neurotypical girl. I may have trouble making friends, developing romantic relationships, and finding a job. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up.

I yearn for acceptance from others who do not understand autism, but I’ve learned that I’m not able to control how others perceive me or treat me – only how I view myself.

I wanted to share my story because above all, I find strength in writing. It helps me let go of negative thoughts. And I find great importance in being able to properly convey my experience – and it’s much easier for me to write than to speak with others. Words are powerful.

I have been recently published on numerous occasions in The Mighty, an online community for individuals with disabilities. My articles have addressed my challenges trusting others, making friends and my sensitivity to touch.

I am currently working on several other pieces, including the challenges of dating, and aspire to write a memoir detailing my experiences as a woman with autism. Through my writing, I hope to inspire others to tell their story and speak openly about their challenges.

I can’t wait to share it with the CAN community.

Later this month, Keara will be participating in the CAN Youth & Young Adult Advisory Group’s first meeting to discuss the future of our programming for participants aged 13+. If you are a youth or young adult CAN member and would like to participate, find more details and RSVP on our online form!

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Jun 25, 2018

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.

An elementary school classroom pose for a photo holding handmade arts and crafts projects.

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.

Learn more about fundraising for the CAN Birthday Festival on Saturday, July 7 at Surrey Civic Plaza!

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Apr 17, 2018

Every year, Canucks Autism Network (CAN) invites our volunteers to apply for one of four $500 scholarships to access ACT-Autism Community Training workshops.

Applicants are asked to share why they volunteer with CAN and why they want to receive funding for additional autism training.

Among the four recipients this year is Kyle Boyle. Since 2015, Kyle has volunteered in CAN’s Overnight Camps, Skate and Hockey programs, as well as at Fundraising Events, Family Events and in the office. After becoming a CAN support worker, he still continued to volunteer in our programs and events.

Here is Kyle’s volunteer testimonial:

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When I was 10 years old, I used to play hockey in my driveway and pretend I was Markus Naslund. When I went to hockey practice on Saturday mornings, I would pretend I was Trevor Linden prepping for a game. As I grew older, I realized not everyone grows up sharing these similar experiences.

This is why I began volunteering for Canucks Autism Network (CAN).

The most meaningful experiences I have had while volunteering with CAN are found in the small moments. They are in the smiles of the 18 kids stepping onto the ice every Saturday morning.

A youth hockey team and their coaches pose for a team photo.
CAN’s Vancouver Orcas at the 2018 Special Hockey Tournament in Kelowna. Kyle in top row, third from left.

They are the moments when the fastest, most skilled player on the team stops on a clean breakaway and passes to a player lagging behind so he has the chance to score his first goal.

They are in the moments in between plays when you’re learning about your participant’s favourite animal or their fascination with Zambonis.

They are in the moments when parents recognize the CAN logo on your jacket while you stand in line for coffee and tell you how much CAN has impacted their family.

It’s these small moments that make volunteering for CAN such a special and rewarding experience.

From what I can tell, it’s small moments such as these that makes CAN so meaningful for the families too. Earlier this month, I traveled with the Vancouver Orcas (one of CAN’s two adaptive hockey teams) to Kelowna, where they participated in the annual adaptive hockey tournament.

When I was a kid, my father would take me to Tim Hortons after every hockey practice for a chocolate croissant and a chocolate milk. (As you can tell, I love chocolate.) Growing up with sisters, I always looked forward to those moments when it was just me and my old man.

During the tournament in Kelowna, I had the privilege of having a long conversation with one of the hockey dads. He told me how he shares a similar tradition with his son – Timbits after every CAN practice. His son’s favourite? Chocolate.

For me, spending time with my dad was the best part of playing hockey. It is so humbling to be a part of making that experience a possibility for CAN families too.

It is amazing to see how CAN impacts families beyond the successes on the ice. Every week at CAN, I get to see the enormous impact that the proper level of support can have on a child with autism. And as a graduate student at UBC, I get to look forward to how my experience at CAN will benefit my future career in health care. Having developed the necessary skills to support children with autism, I hope that I can – at least in part – fill a gap in the healthcare system in BC. Be a missing puzzle piece, if you will.

Although I was asked to share my own personal experience volunteering, CAN has never been about the individual. As such, I contacted other members of CAN’s volunteer family and asked them what the bright green Canucks Autism Network volunteer shirt means to them.

I’d like to share a few of those comments. One individual said, “it represents giving hope for children with autism to play sports and be involved in their community.”

Another said “dedication, passion, positivity, and the burning desire to make a difference in the lives of children and families living with autism.”

For me, it’s ensuring that every kid in CAN’s hockey program gets to step on the ice and pretend they’re Bo Horvat or Brock Boeser. It’s helping facilitate the bond between a father and son that hockey can make possible.

And for all the participants in CAN programs, I hope that when they see the green volunteer t-shirt, it means that they see a friend.

Kyle at Overnight Camp in 2015 — his first experience volunteering with CAN.

Learn more about volunteering with CAN at canucksautism.ca/volunteer.

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