[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
this is a picture that was drawn by a
this is a picture that was drawn by a grade 4 student what do you guys see
grade 4 student what do you guys see
grade 4 student what do you guys see here obviously someone being hurt
here obviously someone being hurt
here obviously someone being hurt someone being bullied so I’m being
someone being bullied so I’m being
someone being bullied so I’m being tormented but why is that well maybe
tormented but why is that well maybe
tormented but why is that well maybe she’s new to the country
she’s new to the country
she’s new to the country maybe her English isn’t that good maybe
maybe her English isn’t that good maybe
maybe her English isn’t that good maybe she’s just different maybe she has
she’s just different maybe she has
she’s just different maybe she has autism this is familiar scene for myself
autism this is familiar scene for myself
autism this is familiar scene for myself because my own brother is diagnosed with
because my own brother is diagnosed with
because my own brother is diagnosed with autism in fact the bullying was so bad
autism in fact the bullying was so bad
autism in fact the bullying was so bad in elementary school they become so much
in elementary school they become so much
in elementary school they become so much his nose was bleeding profusely in the
his nose was bleeding profusely in the
his nose was bleeding profusely in the corner of the playground for the entire
corner of the playground for the entire
corner of the playground for the entire lunch hour no one was there to help
lunch hour no one was there to help
lunch hour no one was there to help now this isn’t uncommon seen autism
now this isn’t uncommon seen autism
now this isn’t uncommon seen autism affects 1 in 68 individuals but can also
affects 1 in 68 individuals but can also
affects 1 in 68 individuals but can also cost financially as well as we talked
cost financially as well as we talked
cost financially as well as we talked about earlier autism can cost upwards of
about earlier autism can cost upwards of
about earlier autism can cost upwards of $60,000 in a year and this does not even
$60,000 in a year and this does not even
$60,000 in a year and this does not even go to the emotional hardships that
go to the emotional hardships that
go to the emotional hardships that families go through here’s a picture of
families go through here’s a picture of
families go through here’s a picture of my brother and I and throughout his
my brother and I and throughout his
my brother and I and throughout his whole life really my family really held
whole life really my family really held
whole life really my family really held on to the belief that he can be
on to the belief that he can be
on to the belief that he can be productive and a happy member of society
productive and a happy member of society
productive and a happy member of society and I’m really proud to announce that
and I’m really proud to announce that
and I’m really proud to announce that he’s currently finishing up his degree
he’s currently finishing up his degree
he’s currently finishing up his degree at University of Toronto music so doing
at University of Toronto music so doing
at University of Toronto music so doing very well for himself but what made the
very well for himself but what made the
very well for himself but what made the difference for him first was genuine and
difference for him first was genuine and
difference for him first was genuine and meaningful relationships after school he
meaningful relationships after school he
meaningful relationships after school he had a program we’d go meet friends
had a program we’d go meet friends
had a program we’d go meet friends developing social skills and that’s the
developing social skills and that’s the
developing social skills and that’s the place where he found his best round
place where he found his best round
place where he found his best round there he found his previous girlfriend
there he found his previous girlfriend
there he found his previous girlfriend there a place to just be himself but
there a place to just be himself but
there a place to just be himself but unfortunately after a couple months this
unfortunately after a couple months this
unfortunately after a couple months this program disappeared because of funding
program disappeared because of funding
program disappeared because of funding issues it provided him a place to be
issues it provided him a place to be
issues it provided him a place to be himself without fear of bullying and a
himself without fear of bullying and a
himself without fear of bullying and a place to connect with other peers not in
place to connect with other peers not in
place to connect with other peers not in a bullying sense
a bullying sense
a bullying sense not just paid older professionals and
not just paid older professionals and
not just paid older professionals and lastly this place give the parents and
lastly this place give the parents and
lastly this place give the parents and caregivers let’s get plugged into the
caregivers let’s get plugged into the
caregivers let’s get plugged into the resources they need support their
resources they need support their
resources they need support their families however this isn’t always the
families however this isn’t always the
families however this isn’t always the case I’ve worked in summer camp and
case I’ve worked in summer camp and
case I’ve worked in summer camp and recreation for over eleven years
recreation for over eleven years
recreation for over eleven years throughout different communities all
throughout different communities all
throughout different communities all across the city and I’ve seen many kids
across the city and I’ve seen many kids
across the city and I’ve seen many kids grow up with special needs and fall
grow up with special needs and fall
grow up with special needs and fall through the gaps this kid his name is
through the gaps this kid his name is
through the gaps this kid his name is Jerry and throughout his childhood years
Jerry and throughout his childhood years
Jerry and throughout his childhood years he as well supported at home at school
he as well supported at home at school
he as well supported at home at school even throughout the summer he had the
even throughout the summer he had the
even throughout the summer he had the staffing he had the supports at home to
staffing he had the supports at home to
staffing he had the supports at home to really thrive but as adolescent gets
really thrive but as adolescent gets
really thrive but as adolescent gets kicks in and as as puberty comes into
kicks in and as as puberty comes into
kicks in and as as puberty comes into play high school bullying you really
play high school bullying you really
play high school bullying you really wanted to expand you want to make
wanted to expand you want to make
wanted to expand you want to make friends you want to develop his own
friends you want to develop his own
friends you want to develop his own social skills you know find a girlfriend
social skills you know find a girlfriend
social skills you know find a girlfriend but unfortunately at that age the
but unfortunately at that age the
but unfortunately at that age the programs disappear you know not really
programs disappear you know not really
programs disappear you know not really well supported throughout the teenage
well supported throughout the teenage
well supported throughout the teenage years so instead of making friends and
years so instead of making friends and
years so instead of making friends and going out in the community he was stuck
going out in the community he was stuck
going out in the community he was stuck in the basement by himself and he wasn’t
in the basement by himself and he wasn’t
in the basement by himself and he wasn’t even allowed to go outside on the fear
even allowed to go outside on the fear
even allowed to go outside on the fear of embarrassment by his family so it’s
of embarrassment by his family so it’s
of embarrassment by his family so it’s very heartbreaking situations and it’s
very heartbreaking situations and it’s
very heartbreaking situations and it’s very numerous growing up as a brother
very numerous growing up as a brother
very numerous growing up as a brother with autism brother with someone with
with autism brother with someone with
with autism brother with someone with autism it was very difficult I was also
autism it was very difficult I was also
autism it was very difficult I was also I knew he was different but I was very
I knew he was different but I was very
I knew he was different but I was very charging to see him being picked on by
charging to see him being picked on by
charging to see him being picked on by his peers it was very difficult to see
his peers it was very difficult to see
his peers it was very difficult to see him scolded by teachers who don’t
him scolded by teachers who don’t
him scolded by teachers who don’t understand even the glares that we
understand even the glares that we
understand even the glares that we received from the different families
received from the different families
received from the different families that we went around and because of this
that we went around and because of this
that we went around and because of this I acted out I was angry at this is
I acted out I was angry at this is
I acted out I was angry at this is myself away from my family but I
myself away from my family but I
myself away from my family but I remember this one instance and this is
remember this one instance and this is
remember this one instance and this is in high school where when there’s
in high school where when there’s
in high school where when there’s someone older really beating out and
someone older really beating out and
someone older really beating out and bullying a poor student taking his money
bullying a poor student taking his money
bullying a poor student taking his money and really I took the active role I
and really I took the active role I
and really I took the active role I decided not to get involved because I
decided not to get involved because I
decided not to get involved because I thought this would not affect me at all
thought this would not affect me at all
thought this would not affect me at all I assumed later learn that this same
I assumed later learn that this same
I assumed later learn that this same bully
bully
bully was also bullying my brother I was upset
was also bullying my brother I was upset
was also bullying my brother I was upset I was angry I really want to really
I was angry I really want to really
I was angry I really want to really teach this kid a lesson but then I
teach this kid a lesson but then I
teach this kid a lesson but then I realized that as much as I want to
realized that as much as I want to
realized that as much as I want to distance myself away from my brother
distance myself away from my brother
distance myself away from my brother away from my family
away from my family
away from my family the thought of him or someone like him
the thought of him or someone like him
the thought of him or someone like him being tormented for being different
being tormented for being different
being tormented for being different really got to me
really got to me
really got to me so instead of bullying the bully we try
so instead of bullying the bully we try
so instead of bullying the bully we try to find the benefit of bullying really
to find the benefit of bullying really
to find the benefit of bullying really build from that moment not just for him
build from that moment not just for him
build from that moment not just for him but also people like him as well so
but also people like him as well so
but also people like him as well so these stories carried on as I transition
these stories carried on as I transition
these stories carried on as I transition to University where I met a lot of
to University where I met a lot of
to University where I met a lot of friends and we talked about our own
friends and we talked about our own
friends and we talked about our own experiences with autism will there be a
experiences with autism will there be a
experiences with autism will there be a family friend neighborhood and as we
family friend neighborhood and as we
family friend neighborhood and as we discussed and grew it included future
discussed and grew it included future
discussed and grew it included future doctors future nurses future educators
doctors future nurses future educators
doctors future nurses future educators and we even talked to other students
and we even talked to other students
and we even talked to other students with autism we talked about the
with autism we talked about the
with autism we talked about the crippling anxiety they feel in social
crippling anxiety they feel in social
crippling anxiety they feel in social situations and as up as the perspectives
situations and as up as the perspectives
situations and as up as the perspectives group our idea of what autism means to
group our idea of what autism means to
group our idea of what autism means to individuals it means the families and
individuals it means the families and
individuals it means the families and means communities also grew too and we
means communities also grew too and we
means communities also grew too and we learn three important things the first
learn three important things the first
learn three important things the first important thing is that recreation based
important thing is that recreation based
important thing is that recreation based therapy recreation based programming or
therapy recreation based programming or
therapy recreation based programming or is as good and less costly than
is as good and less costly than
is as good and less costly than cognitive behavioral therapy producing
cognitive behavioral therapy producing
cognitive behavioral therapy producing anxiety the second thing was that of the
anxiety the second thing was that of the
anxiety the second thing was that of the amounts barriers that families goes
amounts barriers that families goes
amounts barriers that families goes through to get the resources they need
through to get the resources they need
through to get the resources they need whether it be financial or being in
whether it be financial or being in
whether it be financial or being in underserved neighborhoods and the last
underserved neighborhoods and the last
underserved neighborhoods and the last thing was a peer based social programs
thing was a peer based social programs
thing was a peer based social programs allow teenagers to not only practice
allow teenagers to not only practice
allow teenagers to not only practice their social skills but also to create
their social skills but also to create
their social skills but also to create their own social support networks for
their own social support networks for
their own social support networks for the teenage years and beyond so knowing
the teenage years and beyond so knowing
the teenage years and beyond so knowing all these things I went to my best
all these things I went to my best
all these things I went to my best friend his name is Brandon went to him
friend his name is Brandon went to him
friend his name is Brandon went to him like look how many how much good we can
like look how many how much good we can
like look how many how much good we can do in our community we know these things
do in our community we know these things
do in our community we know these things we could do this free weekly programming
we could do this free weekly programming
we could do this free weekly programming and look how many how much people can
and look how many how much people can
and look how many how much people can benefit from this so he said yes let’s
benefit from this so he said yes let’s
benefit from this so he said yes let’s do this for two months so on July 2014
do this for two months so on July 2014
do this for two months so on July 2014 we started autism teenage partnership
we started autism teenage partnership
we started autism teenage partnership and after the first two months we were
and after the first two months we were
and after the first two months we were very proud of ourselves we’re able to
very proud of ourselves we’re able to
very proud of ourselves we’re able to show that we can do this as young people
show that we can do this as young people
show that we can do this as young people all students working full-time jobs or
all students working full-time jobs or
all students working full-time jobs or full full course loads we’re able to do
full full course loads we’re able to do
full full course loads we’re able to do this with volunteers no paid staff on a
this with volunteers no paid staff on a
this with volunteers no paid staff on a moderate budget and the community was
moderate budget and the community was
moderate budget and the community was getting all the benefits we thought to
getting all the benefits we thought to
getting all the benefits we thought to ourselves no one the root cause why stop
ourselves no one the root cause why stop
ourselves no one the root cause why stop here let’s expand to other locations and
here let’s expand to other locations and
here let’s expand to other locations and from that no other root issues two years
from that no other root issues two years
from that no other root issues two years later we’ve launched over three programs
later we’ve launched over three programs
later we’ve launched over three programs across Canada serve over 80 participants
across Canada serve over 80 participants
across Canada serve over 80 participants with autism both adults and teenagers
with autism both adults and teenagers
with autism both adults and teenagers with diverse diagnosed see is not just
with diverse diagnosed see is not just
with diverse diagnosed see is not just autism and our motto is building
autism and our motto is building
autism and our motto is building confidence we’re not only build
confidence we’re not only build
confidence we’re not only build confidence with our participants but
confidence with our participants but
confidence with our participants but also what the volunteers are able to use
also what the volunteers are able to use
also what the volunteers are able to use your classroom learnings and with our
your classroom learnings and with our
your classroom learnings and with our parent group who is able to really
parent group who is able to really
parent group who is able to really connect with other caregivers and get
connect with other caregivers and get
connect with other caregivers and get the resources they need I’ll never
the resources they need I’ll never
the resources they need I’ll never forget my brother being bullied I never
forget my brother being bullied I never
forget my brother being bullied I never forget him being hurt I remember feeling
forget him being hurt I remember feeling
forget him being hurt I remember feeling defeated powerless there’s nothing I
defeated powerless there’s nothing I
defeated powerless there’s nothing I could have done but instead of
could have done but instead of
could have done but instead of indifference or anger or frustration we
indifference or anger or frustration we
indifference or anger or frustration we were able to use our lived experience to
were able to use our lived experience to
were able to use our lived experience to find the benefits of bullying to build
find the benefits of bullying to build
find the benefits of bullying to build from that experience so my challenge for
from that experience so my challenge for
from that experience so my challenge for you is to really embrace the difference
you is to really embrace the difference
you is to really embrace the difference it’s embrace the challenges that you go
it’s embrace the challenges that you go
it’s embrace the challenges that you go through whether it be a personal
through whether it be a personal
through whether it be a personal professional and share it with the
professional and share it with the
professional and share it with the people you care about witnessing my
people you care about witnessing my
people you care about witnessing my brother bullied changed my life and if a
brother bullied changed my life and if a
brother bullied changed my life and if a small group from this city is able to
small group from this city is able to
small group from this city is able to enact change imagine what we can do
enact change imagine what we can do
enact change imagine what we can do together if you just share our stories
together if you just share our stories
together if you just share our stories thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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