Autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition that impacts brain development and affects a person91裸聊视频檚 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, they91裸聊视频檝e shared a special bond, and have had each other91裸聊视频檚 backs.

Ryan and Charles have autism 91裸聊视频� and hope the lessons shared with their school on April 11, during the Walnut Grove school91裸聊视频檚 first ever DPE Autism Awareness Assembly and Celebration, will prove invaluable.

91裸聊视频淢illions of people have autism, but they91裸聊视频檙e living good lives,91裸聊视频� Ryan said. 91裸聊视频� is helping these children in B.C. to do activities.91裸聊视频�

Ryan hoped the presentation would change people91裸聊视频檚 attitude about autism.

91裸聊视频淲hoever doesn91裸聊视频檛 know, it91裸聊视频檚 a disorder, not a disease,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪ome people make jokes about autism and I91裸聊视频檓 tired of that.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淭hese kids91裸聊视频� they amaze me,91裸聊视频� she said, her voice shaking with emotion. 91裸聊视频淛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.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭his is my passion,91裸聊视频� Binding added. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e worked with these two boys since kindergarten and this is part of this, is seeing them come so far.91裸聊视频�

Binding said she and the DPE team of autism awareness members had 91裸聊视频渨orked tirelessly91裸聊视频� to prepare for the celebration, while raising $1,250 thus far for the through the sales of 134 T-shirts (featuring an 91裸聊视频業t91裸聊视频檚 not autism, it91裸聊视频檚 awetism91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渇ractured fairy tale91裸聊视频� called Cinder-Awesome (co-written by Charles and DPE intermediate resource teacher Adam Knowlson) about a princess with autism.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a lot of fractured fairy tales out there, but this one is by far the best I91裸聊视频檝e ever seen,91裸聊视频� said Ryan, who narrated the play with Charles.

91裸聊视频淥ur goal for all of this is to raise autism awareness and teach children how to be a good friend to someone with autism,91裸聊视频� Binding said.

Charles told the audience 91裸聊视频渨hen we wear (DPE) blue (shirts) it91裸聊视频檚 not only keeping the conversation of autism going around, but it91裸聊视频檚 also making sure those with autism and their families don91裸聊视频檛 feel alone.91裸聊视频�

A journey together

Serendipity brought the boys together, and helped answer questions that Ryan91裸聊视频檚 parents had about their son.

91裸聊视频淚 knew there was something wrong with him at two-and-a-half,91裸聊视频� Ryan91裸聊视频檚 mom Michelle said. 91裸聊视频淏ut with the pediatrician we had, it just wasn91裸聊视频檛 happening. I was very fortunate that Jackie, Charlie91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淪he totally supported me,91裸聊视频� Michelle said.

Michelle remembers the day Ryan was diagnosed. 91裸聊视频淚 did not sleep that whole night. It just engulfs your whole being.91裸聊视频�

Jackie said, 91裸聊视频淲hen you get the diagnosis, they give you the pamphlets and it91裸聊视频檚 almost like, 91裸聊视频榦kay, good luck.91裸聊视频� Then you have to go find the treatment for them, and find out what treatment suits your family because there91裸聊视频檚 lots out there, and find out what works for you, what doesn91裸聊视频檛 work for you, and about funding, and about a therapist91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淚f one91裸聊视频檚 having a bad day, the other one steps up,91裸聊视频� Michelle said. 91裸聊视频淭hey are a support for each other.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭hey have each other91裸聊视频檚 back,91裸聊视频� Jackie said.

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

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 emotional because, I don91裸聊视频檛 know what they91裸聊视频檙e going to do next year, if they91裸聊视频檙e not going to be here anymore,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淭hey won91裸聊视频檛 be in the same class so they won91裸聊视频檛 have that support system as much,91裸聊视频� Jackie noted.

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

91裸聊视频淚 found them when my son was five, and it91裸聊视频檚 amazing to go to (their) programs,91裸聊视频� Jackie said. 91裸聊视频淚f my kid91裸聊视频檚 going to have a meltdown on the floor, it doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter. You don91裸聊视频檛 feel like you91裸聊视频檙e alone and I think that91裸聊视频檚 the biggest thing: to feel you are part of a bigger group and there are more people out there.91裸聊视频�

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

91裸聊视频淭hey probably couldn91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� Michelle said.

91裸聊视频淭his (presentation) is a dream they91裸聊视频檝e had since last year,91裸聊视频� Jackie said, 91裸聊视频渁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.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淩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.91裸聊视频�

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

troy.landreville@blackpress.ca
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