Autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition that impacts brain development and affects a personB次元官网网址檚 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, theyB次元官网网址檝e shared a special bond, and have had each otherB次元官网网址檚 backs.

Ryan and Charles have autism B次元官网网址� and hope the lessons shared with their school on April 11, during the Walnut Grove schoolB次元官网网址檚 first ever DPE Autism Awareness Assembly and Celebration, will prove invaluable.

B次元官网网址淢illions of people have autism, but theyB次元官网网址檙e living good lives,B次元官网网址� Ryan said. B次元官网网址� is helping these children in B.C. to do activities.B次元官网网址�

Ryan hoped the presentation would change peopleB次元官网网址檚 attitude about autism.

B次元官网网址淲hoever doesnB次元官网网址檛 know, itB次元官网网址檚 a disorder, not a disease,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪ome people make jokes about autism and IB次元官网网址檓 tired of that.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淭hese kidsB次元官网网址� they amaze me,B次元官网网址� she said, her voice shaking with emotion. B次元官网网址淛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.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his is my passion,B次元官网网址� Binding added. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e worked with these two boys since kindergarten and this is part of this, is seeing them come so far.B次元官网网址�

Binding said she and the DPE team of autism awareness members had B次元官网网址渨orked tirelesslyB次元官网网址� to prepare for the celebration, while raising $1,250 thus far for the through the sales of 134 T-shirts (featuring an B次元官网网址業tB次元官网网址檚 not autism, itB次元官网网址檚 awetismB次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渇ractured fairy taleB次元官网网址� called Cinder-Awesome (co-written by Charles and DPE intermediate resource teacher Adam Knowlson) about a princess with autism.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of fractured fairy tales out there, but this one is by far the best IB次元官网网址檝e ever seen,B次元官网网址� said Ryan, who narrated the play with Charles.

B次元官网网址淥ur goal for all of this is to raise autism awareness and teach children how to be a good friend to someone with autism,B次元官网网址� Binding said.

Charles told the audience B次元官网网址渨hen we wear (DPE) blue (shirts) itB次元官网网址檚 not only keeping the conversation of autism going around, but itB次元官网网址檚 also making sure those with autism and their families donB次元官网网址檛 feel alone.B次元官网网址�

A journey together

Serendipity brought the boys together, and helped answer questions that RyanB次元官网网址檚 parents had about their son.

B次元官网网址淚 knew there was something wrong with him at two-and-a-half,B次元官网网址� RyanB次元官网网址檚 mom Michelle said. B次元官网网址淏ut with the pediatrician we had, it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 happening. I was very fortunate that Jackie, CharlieB次元官网网址檚 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.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淪he totally supported me,B次元官网网址� Michelle said.

Michelle remembers the day Ryan was diagnosed. B次元官网网址淚 did not sleep that whole night. It just engulfs your whole being.B次元官网网址�

Jackie said, B次元官网网址淲hen you get the diagnosis, they give you the pamphlets and itB次元官网网址檚 almost like, B次元官网网址榦kay, good luck.B次元官网网址� Then you have to go find the treatment for them, and find out what treatment suits your family because thereB次元官网网址檚 lots out there, and find out what works for you, what doesnB次元官网网址檛 work for you, and about funding, and about a therapistB次元官网网址�B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚f oneB次元官网网址檚 having a bad day, the other one steps up,B次元官网网址� Michelle said. B次元官网网址淭hey are a support for each other.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hey have each otherB次元官网网址檚 back,B次元官网网址� Jackie said.

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

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 emotional because, I donB次元官网网址檛 know what theyB次元官网网址檙e going to do next year, if theyB次元官网网址檙e not going to be here anymore,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey wonB次元官网网址檛 be in the same class so they wonB次元官网网址檛 have that support system as much,B次元官网网址� Jackie noted.

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

B次元官网网址淚 found them when my son was five, and itB次元官网网址檚 amazing to go to (their) programs,B次元官网网址� Jackie said. B次元官网网址淚f my kidB次元官网网址檚 going to have a meltdown on the floor, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter. You donB次元官网网址檛 feel like youB次元官网网址檙e alone and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 the biggest thing: to feel you are part of a bigger group and there are more people out there.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淭hey probably couldnB次元官网网址檛 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,B次元官网网址� Michelle said.

B次元官网网址淭his (presentation) is a dream theyB次元官网网址檝e had since last year,B次元官网网址� Jackie said, B次元官网网址渁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.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淩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.B次元官网网址�

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

troy.landreville@blackpress.ca
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