All Nicholas Willows wanted was to be able to join his friends outside; and his friends wanted the same.

Nicholas is a bubbly three-year-old with a contagious smile and has a laugh that could melt anyoneB次元官网网址檚 heart. His mom and dad says he makes friends everywhere he goes and his preschool program leader says he has an amazing sense of humour.

Nicholas also has Cerebral Palsy, Joubert Syndrome, Polymicrogyria and Epilepsy. As a result of these rare brain malformations he is bound by a mobility chair and his communication is limited to mostly non-verbal cues.

B次元官网网址淚magine a U.S. highway interchange system thatB次元官网网址檚 all fine and good,B次元官网网址� says NicholasB次元官网网址� mother Jennifer Carson. B次元官网网址淣ow imagine thereB次元官网网址檚 a bunch of construction and you have to take a bunch of detours and back roads. ThatB次元官网网址檚 basically whatB次元官网网址檚 going on in his brain.B次元官网网址�

For the past two years Nicholas has been going to the Preschool B次元官网网址� Group Daycare run by Teen Education and Motherhood Programs (TEAM), a program provided by the non-profit Beacon Community Services. The program, which provides child care and support services to young parents and families on the Peninsula, is located at the former site of Saanichton Elementary, now the home of the Individual Learning Centre at 1649 Mt. Newton Cross Rd., in Saanichton.

With little effort, Nicholas has made many preschool friends since he started, many who fight over who gets to sit with him at lunch.

B次元官网网址淥ne of them gives him kisses everyday she sees him B次元官网网址� another one will rub his hand on his cheek and then pat him on the head,B次元官网网址� says Meredith Barwick, TEAM childrenB次元官网网址檚 programs and counselling services manager. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 non-verbal, sort of gentle communication and love for him.B次元官网网址�

The real challenge was accessibility and inclusion for Nicholas. The path leading to the preschoolB次元官网网址檚 play yard was essentially broken patio stones, overgrown with grass and covered in rock and dirt. Despite this, staff still managed to get Nicholas and his mobility chair outside everyday with the others through adapted methods. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 until the particularly harsh winter hit that staff realized something needed to change.

One day a heavy snowfall kept Nicholas indoors, away from his friends.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 when Barwick made it her mission to make the play yard more accessible and inclusive.

Although supported by School District 63, TEAM relies on parent fees, government funding and community donations for operating costs and equipment upgrades for the programs.

After being denied several grants and even emergency funding grants, Barwick called on the community for help.

B次元官网网址淚 talked to everyone I could. It didnB次元官网网址檛 matter if it was at the Lacrosse Box, or wherever,B次元官网网址� Barwick says. B次元官网网址淚 told everyone that the yard needed to be accessible.B次元官网网址�

Through word of mouth, a sequence of community donations started rolling in and after about a months time, the preschool not only had a freshly paved pathway for Nicholas to use, but a completely revamped outdoor space.

The space, which was basically dirt and rock before, now has new asphalt pathways, a new fence surrounding the area, play equipment and a pergola built by a volunteer with donated materials.

Beacon Community Services employees, parents and children recently came together to move donated soil and spread donated grass seed. In fact, Barwick says one of NicholasB次元官网网址� preschool friends was so eager to help Nicholas out he told his parents he was too excited to sleep the night before.

All of this community time and effort came together for one little boy.

B次元官网网址淲e think itB次元官网网址檚 great,B次元官网网址� says Dave Willows, NicholasB次元官网网址� dad. B次元官网网址淪o many places just arenB次元官网网址檛 inclusive B次元官网网址� the biggest part is Meredith has actually thought about accessibility.B次元官网网址�

Recently both parents have been visiting elementary schools on the Peninsula in preparation for NicholasB次元官网网址� upcoming year. Willows says that one school, which has a new outdoor play structure, boasts its accessibility; but in reality, that might only mean one wheelchair ramp, while the rest of the space is inconveniently covered in wood chips.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 this philosophy B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 not fully inclusive unless you can use it in an inclusive way,B次元官网网址� says Barwick.

The picnic table in her revamped outdoor space has a custom-built cut out for Nicholas to pull up to and the sandbox has a special bench for him to sit on. This level of accessibility is not found in most community spaces, even ones that say theyB次元官网网址檙e accessible.

Carson agrees saying, B次元官网网址淪o many daycareB次元官网网址檚 themselves arenB次元官网网址檛 even accessible. TheyB次元官网网址檙e either in top floors of churches or basements B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 great to have found a space for him to go thatB次元官网网址檚 accessible.B次元官网网址�

Barwick says theyB次元官网网址檙e the only inclusive daycare on the Peninsula, but it wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been possible without help from the community. Now Barwick wants to give back.

Island Savings Simple Generosity Grant

Island Savings, a division of First West Credit Union, is giving out a $50,000 grant to one organization to further a community-focused project, program or initiative. This grant is one of three that First West is distributing to support organizations in the regions it serves B次元官网网址� $150,000 distributed in support of Canada 150.

Barwick has applied for the grant. The funding would allow TEAM to achieve a fully accessible play yard at the Saanichton location, which would benefit generations of children on the Peninsula. Things like a nature playground that includes equipment for children with large muscle gross motor challenges and several year-round shelters for children to play in are part of the vision.

The winner of the grant is decided through the most number of public votes. Barwick needs your vote. To vote, visit The deadline to vote is Friday, June 23. Only one vote per person. Winners will be announced Thursday, June 29.