As a mother, I will never give up on my child. As a mother of a child who has autism, I will never give up hope.
I look into his eyes and I see all the potential that he has to offer to this beautiful world and I just know that one day the world can see what I see.

Follow my blog as I share my life and my experiences as a person who loves someone with autism.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Walking for Autism Awareness and Acceptance

Today we blew bubbles at the 7th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

Walking for autism awareness is important to me because it’s an opportunity for me to help bring much needed attention to autism. To me, it’s not about how much money was raised for the event, it’s about being part of a community. A community that understands and supports each other.

I mean, how many people can say they got to meet Darth Vader and the Star Wars Troopers AND support autism awareness, all in the same day!

Regardless of why you walk, or who you’re walking for, we walk together. Together we bring awareness to autism and that’s important. With 1 in 68 children now diagnosed with autism, awareness is key to understanding and acceptance.

After all, isn’t that what we all want? To be accepted?

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

Check out our Facebook page for more pictures of the Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks event.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Bubble Blower Giveaway Colouring Contest! (CLOSED)

We’re giving away a bubble blower!

Our bubble blowers are sold out, but we saved one just for you! This contest is open to everyone!

How to enter:

1. Click on the Autism Awareness ribbon graphic below to save and print.

2. Colour it!

3. Take a picture of it or scan it, and share it on our Facebook wall or tweet it to us (be sure to tag @TweetBMHS so I’ll see it!)

Deadline: You have until 11:59pm on Tuesday, September 30th, 2014 to enter.

A winner will be selected at random and announced on our Facebook page and Twitter Wednesday, October 1st, 2014.

autismawarenessribbon8

Thank you for helping spread Autism Awareness!

Good luck!

Tanaya

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

What to expect on the first day of school for a child with autism

With a handful of first day of school’s under my belt, I am pretty confident that three things will always happen on the first day of school (and weeks to follow) for my son.

1. Chaos. Expect the first day of school to be chaotic.
The school is sorting out previous students, new registrations, and assigning students to teachers. They have a ton on their plate. This process usually takes about a week before you know who your child’s teacher and support staff will be.

2. Frustration. There is nothing more frustrating than wanting to know everything on the first day and being told it’s going to take a week to get everything sorted out. Meanwhile you’re biting your nails wanting to know when your first Individual Educational Plan (IEP) is, which Educational Assistant (EA) is working with your child, what a typical day for your child will look like, and what will the upcoming year consist of.

3. Overwhelmed. If the kids running around all over the place wasn’t overwhelming enough for you or your child, the amount of information overload that takes place on the first day of school definitely will. School supplies list, trying to remember teachers names, location of classrooms, even what to wear on the first day, can all feel overwhelming!

I want to say that it gets easier each year, but it doesn’t. Every school year will feel like it’s the first day of school all over again. The good news is that after a hurricane, comes a rainbow, and you’ll find with weeks to come, that everything will work out.

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Bryce is excited to go back to school!

Bryce found his school supplies for tomorrow (first day back to school) and decided he wanted to write in his journal a little early …

Our summer vacation was extended a little longer due to a teachers strike that started back in the end of June and was recently resolved this past weekend. Bryce would write in his journal everyday about what he did at school or over the weekend and I think he really misses that since he decided to write in it today.

Bryce is excited to go back to school! Oh, and here’s his new haircut!

Wish us luck in our new school!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

Monday, September 1, 2014

Please walk with us!

Join us Sunday, September 28th, 2014 at Science World, Olympic Village for the 7th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada! Team Bubbles Make Him Smile will be blowing bubbles to make you smile!

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder that affects how a person interacts with their world. Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests', and activities.

Autism statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify around 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys) as on the autism spectrum–a ten-fold increase in prevalence in 40 years.

  • This new estimate is roughly 30% higher than the estimate for 2008 (1 in 88), roughly 60% higher than the estimate for 2006 (1 in 110), and roughly 120% higher than the estimates for 2002 and 2000 (1 in 150). 
  • Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average.
  • Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism.
  • There is no medical detection or cure for autism.

Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada is the single most powerful event to raise critically needed funds for services, advocacy, awareness, and research to help people with autism spectrum disorder. Please join us and register today!

Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada

If you’d like to show your support please donate to Team Bubbles Make Him Smile! Thanks so much!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya