young adult Archives - Canucks Autism Network

May 30, 2019

Each year, Canucks Autism Network (CAN) delivers over 500 programs and events throughout BC. Since 2012, our programming has included opportunities for youth and adults.

As the broader autism community calls for a stronger voice in organizational leadership, we are committed to actively engaging our youth and adult members as leaders at CAN. As our members continue to mature into their adult years, leadership roles become increasingly important.

Last August, we began to formalize this process by inviting all of our members ages 13 and up to join our Youth and Adult Advisory Committee.* In less than one year, feedback obtained from these CAN members has already made a significant impact on program offerings.

*The name of this group has since changed to Youth and Adult Leadership Committee to more accurately represent this group’s active role in organizational decision making.

A group of 11 youth and young adult Canucks Autism Network members and Canucks Autism Network staff — Some members of our original Youth and Adult Advisory Committee with CAN staff at the first formal meeting in August 2018

Our members asked for more opportunities to develop life skills – how to take transit, cook and do laundry. They highlighted a need for more vocational opportunities – how to build a resumé, attend an interview and gain experience. They also re-iterated the need for values that CAN has already brought into their lives — social connection, skill building opportunities and community engagement.

Changes Made to Program Offerings

In direct response to the voices of our members, Canucks Autism Network reached out to community partners to develop new opportunities throughout the 2018-19 program year.

In Surrey, we connected with Avia Employment Services and WorkBC to host two resumé building workshops. Participants made valuable first contact with two employment services, created or improved their resumes, and learned about how to access further services as needed.

Six youth and young adults work in pairs at computer cubicles — CAN and WorkBC staff work with youth & adult members to build their resumes.

CAN’s Explore Volunteering program continued to provide the opportunities our members had requested in our meetings — to gain volunteer experience, work skills, communication and social skills and to sample job opportunities.

Every Saturday morning, participants visited community organizations like Rogers Arena, Vancouver International Airport and Science World. Participants practiced their skills with a range of tasks, including food and beverage services, customer service, administrative work, custodial duties, and gardening.

In addition to work skills, the program also addressed member interest in developing interpersonal skills at work. “I’ve discovered that I’m more capable and compatible with others than I thought,” Brayden shared after volunteering in the Union Gospel Mission (UGM)’s thrift store this past April.

A male young adult organizes a clothing rack at a thrift store — Read more about Brayden’s experience volunteering with UGM through CAN.

To diversify job sampling opportunities, CAN reached out and secured an opportunity for participants to explore trades. Tradeworks hosted a session for our members to learn basic woodworking skills this past September.

In addition to these employment-focused events and programs, CAN added more opportunities focused on mental health. These have included a mindfulness and yoga session and an intro to cooking class in collaboration with Coast Mental Health in Vancouver.

Finally, to address requests for support accessing public transportation, CAN has initiated conversations with BC Transit and Translink. We are currently in the process of developing transit accessibility events in Vancouver and Victoria.

There are still many more exciting program options to explore! During the process of sampling new programs this past year, the CAN team and its Leadership group members have decided on new areas of focus for youth and adult programs:

Social and life skills
Employment and volunteering skills
Physical and mental health
Arts and technology

Youth and Adult Members as Leaders and Advocates

In addition to new programming spearheaded by our members’ suggestions, the CAN team has been proud to support many of our youth and adult leaders in positions of leadership and advocacy.

Last fall, CAN member Sylvain shared his story with the Presidents Group about finding a successful inclusive employment placement with CAN. In total, we currently employ 12 individuals on the autism spectrum across our programs and events. Meanwhile, an additional 42 are giving back as volunteers.

In the community, CAN members Keara, Kayla, Tyell and Tilman have represented the organization at various events hosted by partnering organizations. They have promoted the inclusion of autistic adults in various community spaces at events with the City of Surrey, Vancouver Opera and MEC.

A male and two female young adults at an info table — Tilman (left) with CAN and Power To Be staff members at a MEC rock climbing event.

Kayla (left) and Keara (2nd from right) joined our office staff to represent CAN at the Vancouver Opera’s first-ever relaxed performance this past spring.

As CAN members continue to grow their education, experience and skill set, it is our hope that many more will begin to apply for positions with the organization. We are so excited to see the diversity of our team continue to grow as representation of individuals across the spectrum increases in leadership positions at CAN.

We can’t wait to engage with our members to do more to make our communities more inclusive.

Next Steps

To all our CAN members aged 13+ — if you are interested in getting involved in CAN leadership or community advocacy, we want to hear from you!

For those in the Lower Mainland, our next CAN Youth Leadership Committee Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 19 from 6:00-7:30pm at the CAN office (1788 West 8^th Ave, Vancouver). CAN members can RSVP online or email sarah.armstrong@canucksautism.ca for more details.

For those in our Vancouver Island, Kelowna or Kamloops regions, please get in touch with us for ways to get involved. Email sarah.amrstrong@canucksautism.ca.

We look forward to hearing from 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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May 25, 2018

Canucks Autism Network (CAN) is thrilled to announce that Robbie Hsieh has joined our office team in the position of Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator.

In this newly-created role at CAN, made possible through a generous multi-year grant from the North Growth Foundation, Robbie will be working alongside volunteers and staff with autism or other identified barriers to employment. This will include creating accessible recruitment processes for new applicants, creating supportive employment opportunities and developing youth and young adult programming focused on leadership and personal development.

To support these new initiatives and the evolution of CAN’s current youth and young adult programs, Robbie will be working in partnership with CAN’s new Youth Advisory Committee (stay tuned for further details on this new committee).

Robbie brings with him a highly extensive background working in CAN programs and a wealth of experience facilitating employment opportunities in the community. Robbie first joined CAN as a volunteer in 2012. In the six-and-a-half years since, countless children, youth, young adults and families with autism have benefited from Robbie’s enthusiasm and expertise as both a program staff and volunteer. A male child and a male adult pose for a photo on an outdoor field.

Outside of CAN, Robbie previously worked for Open Door Group as Associate Program Director, connecting numerous individuals with disabilities to successful job opportunities. Robbie is also currently a Social Innovation Fellow at RADIUS SFU, where he is working with other local change makers to address challenges in refugee and newcomer settlement and integration, health promotion, the future of education, and the future of work in Vancouver.

As CAN celebrates its 10th anniversary of creating barrier-free and accessible environments for individuals and families with autism across BC, we are thrilled to be expanding these efforts within our hiring processes.

“I am extremely excited to be joining CAN in this position,” said Robbie. “CAN’s vision is for every individual with autism to be understood, accepted and supported in all community spaces, and I am very excited to work alongside individuals with autism to advance our employment and leadership initiatives to further this vision province-wide.”

Robbie’s work will also extend outside of our walls, as he works with community partners to share CAN’s knowledge about autism in the workplace and facilitate bridging opportunities for community placements. Robbie has already initiated conversations with a number of community groups and is eager to connect CAN’s volunteers and staff to other exciting opportunities in their local communities.

In all of these activities, Robbie looks forward to working closely with all key stakeholder groups, including CAN’s Youth Advisory Committee, other self-advocates, community partners, and supporters of accessible employment across the province.

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