When the throws a 10th birthday party in Surrey next month, the event invitation will be a rare one for many of the special guests who attend.
Some kids with autism just donB次元官网网址檛 get invited to a lot of birthday parties, and Surrey resident Irene Brown knows the feeling.
B次元官网网址淢y son (Josiah) has been invited to only two birthday parties B次元官网网址� one for another autistic child and one for a kid in his class,B次元官网网址� Brown said. B次元官网网址淏irthday parties are very rare for him to attend.B次元官网网址�
So, it was a special moment this week when Josiah read aloud the personal invitation he received for CANB次元官网网址檚 big bash, planned for Saturday, July 7 at Surrey Civic Plaza.
B次元官网网址淚t was exciting when he got it in the mail,B次元官网网址� Brown recalled with a smile. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a big party, too. ItB次元官网网址檚 a great idea.B次元官网网址�
Games, live entertainment, inflatables, a dunk tank, vendors and more will be part of this particular party, a first-ever event organized to celebrate CANB次元官网网址檚 10th anniversary of providing sports and recreation programs to people and families living with autism.
The organization, founded in 2008 by Vancouver Canucks co-owners Paolo and Clara Aquilini, also aims to increase autism awareness and provide related training in communities across B.C.
Admission is free at the , which is open to the public from noon to 6 p.m. on July 7.
Special B次元官网网址渟ensory-friendly hoursB次元官网网址� will take place that morning, from 10 a.m. to noon, for those who may have difficulty dealing with large crowds and loud noise. During that time, noise-cancelling headphones will be available for rental.
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The inspiration for the birthday event came from B次元官网网址渢he countless stories of children with autism who are excluded from birthday parties,B次元官网网址� according to an advisory from CAN.
In the weeks leading up to the party, the organization mailed out some 1,700 personal invitations to kids and youth with autism, B次元官网网址渕arking the first-ever birthday invite for many of the recipients.B次元官网网址�
Bobs and Lolo will entertain during the event, as will the band Famous Players.
B次元官网网址淲e look forward to welcoming hundreds of children, youth, young adults and families with autism, as well as hundreds more from the general public,B次元官网网址� stated Katy Harandi, president and CEO of Canucks Autism Network.
She called the festival B次元官网网址渁n unprecedented celebration of the incredible successes that our thousands of members have accomplished throughout CANB次元官网网址橲 10-year history.B次元官网网址�
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Surrey is home to close to 15 per cent of CANB次元官网网址檚 province-wide membership, which hovers around 4,000 families, the organization says. Not surprisingly, Surrey has the largest number of children and youth with autism of any city in B.C., according to Ministry of Child and Family Development stats cited by CAN.
Residents of the Green Timbers area of Surrey, the Brown family has taken advantage of many CAN programs for Josiah and his two older sisters, including bicycle riding lessons, soccer, baseball and swimming, along with movie screenings and visits to the holiday light display at VanDusen Botanical Garden in Vancouver.
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The programs are becoming more popular, said Brown, who welcomes more of them coming to Surrey.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been great for us,B次元官网网址� she explained. B次元官网网址淲e tried doing the regular rec programs, but it just wasnB次元官网网址檛 the right fit.B次元官网网址�
At Newton Recreation Centre a couple of years ago, Josiah entered into a soccer program where some of the ball-handling skills were a bit challenging for him.
B次元官网网址淪o they got those kids to participate in other ways, such as collecting cones and setting up the games,B次元官网网址� Brown recalled. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 neat how they got everyone involved in some way.B次元官网网址�
A fan of numbers, Josiah noted the CAN birthday party will be held in the year he, too, turns 10.
The boy has a bright mind for science- and geography-related topics, and has a passion for the Titanic, BC Ferries boats and tape measures.
B次元官网网址淵ou can show him a silhouette of a BC ferry, and he can tell you the name of it B次元官网网址� the Queen of whatever,B次元官网网址� his mother said.
Get him going about Pangaea, earthB次元官网网址檚 old super-continent, and Josiah just canB次元官网网址檛 stop talking.
B次元官网网址淢y son talks about Titanic like yours talks about cars, you know,B次元官网网址� Brown said. B次元官网网址淜ids with autism are the same as the rest of the kids, and do things just like other kids, and this (party in Surrey) is a celebration of that, I think, and the whole city is invited.B次元官网网址�
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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