Autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition that impacts brain development and affects a person香蕉视频直播檚 social relationships, communication, interests and behaviour: Province of British Columbia definition

This was a celebration for Ryan and Charles, and for inclusiveness and understanding.

Dorothy Peacock Elementary (DPE) Grade 7 students Charles Munro and Ryan Laface have been best buddies and classmates since kindergarten.

For seven years, they香蕉视频直播檝e shared a special bond, and have had each other香蕉视频直播檚 backs.

Ryan and Charles have autism 香蕉视频直播� and hope the lessons shared with their school on April 11, during the Walnut Grove school香蕉视频直播檚 first ever DPE Autism Awareness Assembly and Celebration, will prove invaluable.

香蕉视频直播淢illions of people have autism, but they香蕉视频直播檙e living good lives,香蕉视频直播� Ryan said. 香蕉视频直播� is helping these children in B.C. to do activities.香蕉视频直播�

Ryan hoped the presentation would change people香蕉视频直播檚 attitude about autism.

香蕉视频直播淲hoever doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know, it香蕉视频直播檚 a disorder, not a disease,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淪ome people make jokes about autism and I香蕉视频直播檓 tired of that.香蕉视频直播�

How special was this day to those at the school closest to Charles and Ryan? The question caused DPE special education assistant Sandi Binding to cup her hand over her mouth, her eyes welling with tears.

香蕉视频直播淭hese kids香蕉视频直播� they amaze me,香蕉视频直播� she said, her voice shaking with emotion. 香蕉视频直播淛ust their strength and their perseverance to power whatever is put in front of them is amazing. This is their last year here, and this is about letting them shine.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭his is my passion,香蕉视频直播� Binding added. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e worked with these two boys since kindergarten and this is part of this, is seeing them come so far.香蕉视频直播�

Binding said she and the DPE team of autism awareness members had 香蕉视频直播渨orked tirelessly香蕉视频直播� to prepare for the celebration, while raising $1,250 thus far for the through the sales of 134 T-shirts (featuring an 香蕉视频直播業t香蕉视频直播檚 not autism, it香蕉视频直播檚 awetism香蕉视频直播� logo designed by a DPE Grade 7 student), a jersey campaign, and other fundraising initiatives.

The afternoon included a presentation from Charles and Ryan along with the , followed by a short film about autism, and a 香蕉视频直播渇ractured fairy tale香蕉视频直播� called Cinder-Awesome (co-written by Charles and DPE intermediate resource teacher Adam Knowlson) about a princess with autism.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a lot of fractured fairy tales out there, but this one is by far the best I香蕉视频直播檝e ever seen,香蕉视频直播� said Ryan, who narrated the play with Charles.

香蕉视频直播淥ur goal for all of this is to raise autism awareness and teach children how to be a good friend to someone with autism,香蕉视频直播� Binding said.

Charles told the audience 香蕉视频直播渨hen we wear (DPE) blue (shirts) it香蕉视频直播檚 not only keeping the conversation of autism going around, but it香蕉视频直播檚 also making sure those with autism and their families don香蕉视频直播檛 feel alone.香蕉视频直播�

A journey together

Serendipity brought the boys together, and helped answer questions that Ryan香蕉视频直播檚 parents had about their son.

香蕉视频直播淚 knew there was something wrong with him at two-and-a-half,香蕉视频直播� Ryan香蕉视频直播檚 mom Michelle said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut with the pediatrician we had, it just wasn香蕉视频直播檛 happening. I was very fortunate that Jackie, Charlie香蕉视频直播檚 mom, was connected to me because they both were in the class (in kindergarten). She helped guide me through that process of having him diagnosed (with autism) because the school knew there was something wrong with him.香蕉视频直播�

Jackie was the first person Michelle had met who has an autistic son.

香蕉视频直播淪he totally supported me,香蕉视频直播� Michelle said.

Michelle remembers the day Ryan was diagnosed. 香蕉视频直播淚 did not sleep that whole night. It just engulfs your whole being.香蕉视频直播�

Jackie said, 香蕉视频直播淲hen you get the diagnosis, they give you the pamphlets and it香蕉视频直播檚 almost like, 香蕉视频直播榦kay, good luck.香蕉视频直播� Then you have to go find the treatment for them, and find out what treatment suits your family because there香蕉视频直播檚 lots out there, and find out what works for you, what doesn香蕉视频直播檛 work for you, and about funding, and about a therapist香蕉视频直播ο憬妒悠抵辈��

The boys have been in every class together all through their time at DPE.

香蕉视频直播淚f one香蕉视频直播檚 having a bad day, the other one steps up,香蕉视频直播� Michelle said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey are a support for each other.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淭hey have each other香蕉视频直播檚 back,香蕉视频直播� Jackie said.

The thought of them being split apart brings Michelle to tears.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 emotional because, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know what they香蕉视频直播檙e going to do next year, if they香蕉视频直播檙e not going to be here anymore,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey won香蕉视频直播檛 be in the same class so they won香蕉视频直播檛 have that support system as much,香蕉视频直播� Jackie noted.

For both families, the has been there every step of the way.

香蕉视频直播淚 found them when my son was five, and it香蕉视频直播檚 amazing to go to (their) programs,香蕉视频直播� Jackie said. 香蕉视频直播淚f my kid香蕉视频直播檚 going to have a meltdown on the floor, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 matter. You don香蕉视频直播檛 feel like you香蕉视频直播檙e alone and I think that香蕉视频直播檚 the biggest thing: to feel you are part of a bigger group and there are more people out there.香蕉视频直播�

The progress Ryan and Charles have made since kindergarten amazes their moms.

香蕉视频直播淭hey probably couldn香蕉视频直播檛 sit in the classroom for 25 percent of the day when they first started kindergarten, and now they are completely different boys, and I give all the credit to the staff at the school,香蕉视频直播� Michelle said.

香蕉视频直播淭his (presentation) is a dream they香蕉视频直播檝e had since last year,香蕉视频直播� Jackie said, 香蕉视频直播渁nd the school has let them have this dream, and let them shine, and to be able to let them shine and be themselves, and show the school who they really are, and what autism is.

They want friendships, too. They may not know how to go about it, and they may go about it a different way but they want acceptance just as much as everybody else.香蕉视频直播�

One in 66 children diagnosed

April is Autism Awareness month in B.C., and a recent report from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows one in 66 Canadian children and youth ages five to 17 are on the autism spectrum.

Laurie Mawlam, the executive director at Autism Canada, says the report shows that the prevalence of autism is on the rise.

香蕉视频直播淩egardless if this increase is due to better diagnostics, increased awareness or increased incidence, there is an urgent need for a national autism strategy. This long awaited Canadian data will be invaluable for planning and budgeting for services to support Canadians living with autism.香蕉视频直播�

The finding is based on analysis of 2015 data supplied by six provinces and one territory.

troy.landreville@blackpress.ca
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