A community of support for children with autism and their families
F or a parent of a child with autism, it is easy to remember that exact moment in time when the dreams you had for your child shatter before your eyes.
In 2008, my husband and I listened in shock and disbelief as medical professionals diagnosed our son, Oliver, as a nonverbal autistic. In the following years, we worked to navigate the overwhelming world of autism but struggled to find adequate support. My husband and I learned that it was easier to stay home than attempt public outings due to the risk of meltdowns, tantrums and resulting stares.We were living a life of isolation.
Then one day, we heard about the Canucks Autism Network (CAN). My older boys were seven and five at the time and lived in separate worlds.We were desperate for help so we decided to attend CAN’s soccer camp.We had low expectations. Little did we know, our lives were about to change.
When we arrived back home after the soccer camp, something amazing happened. My boys went into our backyard and passed the ball back and forth. My eyes welled with tears. I immediately called the Canucks Autism Network office to thank them. For the first time ever, my boys were acting like brothers.
Two years later, we learned that our third and youngest son also had autism.As you can imagine ,it was an incredibly difficult time for us. However, the emotional weight was lifted because of our involvement with the Canucks-Autism Network. This time, we had a community of support.
Over the years I have met so many families like mine, all of whom have gone through the same denial, anger and sadness. Thanks to CAN, we have now found hope, happiness and connection. The support my family has received through CAN has been life changing. Because of CAN, my boys have life skills and possible; abilities abilitiesthat I that never their imagined typical peers and families take for granted. Because of CAN, my boys can now play soccer, swim, ski, and skate and I am thrilled to say that my middle son Oliver is now on the CAN hockey team. Being a hockey mom was a dream I gave up years ago, but thanks to CAN, my dream has now been realized.
CAN transported our family from a world of isolation into a world of hope and possibility, and for this I am eternally grateful.
To access Canucks Autism Network programs, families must complete an online membership application that includes an annual fee of $25 per family member with an autism diagnosis. This fee is fully refundable through autism funding provided by the Ministry of Child and Family Development.