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.

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!

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

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

Today we walked with hundreds for the 6th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada at Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

And of course, we blew bubbles!

We had a booth at the resource fair where we shared our lives and experiences as people who loved someone with autism and sold our bubble blowers by donation with partial proceeds benefiting the event.

We’d like to thank everyone who donated to Team Bubbles Make Him Smile for this fundraising event. Your contribution and continued support are always appreciated!

Until next year folks...!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

PS Big shout out and thank you to Autism Speaks Event Coordinator, Anya Walsh, for having us at the event!

Bryce was born July 2nd, 2001 at 7:06am. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He was a very happy baby, always smiling and cooing and slept through the nights. People would always comment how happy and relaxed he was compared to other babies.

This is Bryce’s story.

When Bryce was 12 months old, it was brought to our attention from a pediatric physiotherapist that regularly visited the daycare Bryce attended, that Bryce had a tendency of looking at things through his peripheral vision instead of making direct eye-contact. It was her recommendation to speak to our pediatrician as she said it wasn’t ‘typical’. Bryce had all his vaccinations, recommended by his pediatrician, and he met his baby milestones like crawling and baby talking. Anything we thought he may be behind on learning was disregarded by people telling us that all children are different and learn at different times. We didn't know any better as young, first time parents.

Bryce had little development in communication and social behaviour but improved in gross motor skills yet hadn't started walking. Bryce was 18 months old and it wasn’t until I was fed up with carrying him and pushing strollers everywhere that I physically put him against a door and made him walk to me repeatedly until he figured out that he had legs, and that’s what they were used for. It was at this time that we discovered that Bryce had to be pushed and taught skills that ‘typical’ developing children pick up naturally by observing parents and peers. From that day on Bryce would walk everywhere.

In February 2003, a subsequent referral to another pediatrician indicated that Bryce had a “global developmental delay and some abnormal mannerisms” that needed further investigation. She was concerned about Bryce’s language development, social development and thought he had possible features of autism. She made a referral in June 2003, when Bryce was almost 2 years old, for a full developmental assessment at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children because of the pediatric physiotherapist that expressed concerns about autistic features she observed in Bryce at daycare. The pediatric physiotherapist reported: frequent sideways cocking of the head while looking at lights; lack of eye contact; no words; inability to follow commands; delayed gross motor milestones; fascination with wheels, tags, and fans; and self-feeding with fingers only (no utensils).

Bryce was almost 3 years old when we finally got to see Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children for diagnostic testing. The majority of the diagnostic tests were play based due to his young age and lack of verbal or signing communication skills. A month later, we sat down in a little room with a doctor, and were informed of Bryce’s results.

On June 9th, 2004, Bryce was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by the Pacific Autism Resource Centre at Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children. The summary said that he displayed several features consistent with autism spectrum disorder including, delayed language, limited eye contact, self-stimulating behaviour, repetitive play, and delayed pretend play skills. His receptive and expressive language skills were also severely delayed and based on his age, his symbolic abilities, such as pretend play, were also delayed.

I remember crying and feeling so sad and not fully understanding what it is that they were telling us. We didn’t know anything about autism. I remember thinking to myself about the future and what was going to happen. We were told not to look too far ahead and to take each day by day.

Please consider making a donation as we walk to raise money for research and awareness at the 6th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada, Sunday, September 29th, 2013. It took 2 years for Bryce to be diagnosed. Those two years could have been spent on early intervention. It’s with your donation that families won’t have to wait as long. Please help. Thank you for your support and contribution!

Follow our blogs as we share our lives with you and our experiences as people who love someone with autism.
https://www.bubblesmakehimsmile.com

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya, Daniel, and Bryce

Donate here: http://events.autismspeaks.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=16164&referrer=cmr:99E426AA2124

We will be participating at this years 6th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks in September. Thousands of people attend this event in hopes of raising awareness and funds for autism.

We will be blowing bubbles and selling our bubble blowers with partial proceeds benefiting the event. We are looking for a sponsor or generous donation to help secure a booth at the event. We can display anything you like, hand out anything we’re allowed to, and wear your merchandise, etc!

The walk is on Sunday, September 29th, 2013 at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park. This will be our third consecutive year blowing bubbles and selling bubble blowers at the Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks event. We have a great relationship with the events manager and our bubble blowers contribute greatly to the wonderful atmosphere and draw a lot of attraction. In previous years our booth fee was waived, but due to costs and space, we endure the registration fee this year. The booth is $250 and comes with a 6 foot tent and two chairs and access to 2,500-3,000 registered walkers of all ages and demographics.

The only restrictions for booths are that we’re not allowed to sell merchandise or material, raffles or draws are not allowed due to permit restrictions, and no food, candy or drinks may be distributed due to public health restrictions. Pamphlets, business cards, hand-outs, free swag, etc are allowed.

The walk is a great way to promote your services to the Greater Vancouver Area’s autism community!

If you’re interested or know someone who may want to sponsor us please contact us!

Thanks so much!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya, Daniel, and Bryce

Check out our previous years at the event:

Here’s a video we made of the Vancouver’s 4th Annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks 2011.

Here’s a blog we wrote about Vancouver’s 5th Annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks 2012.

Join us for Vancouver’s Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada Kick Off Event!

When: Sunday June 9th, 2013 at 9:30am

Where: Join us at Playland for a FREE morning adventure of over 30 rides and attractions, including two new family rides.  Let’s celebrate autism awareness and announce exciting 2013 Walk details!

This is Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada’s way to say thank everyone for their fundraising support and volunteer efforts for the Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks event while they welcome new and returning teams!

9:30am – Registration, Puzzle Piece Colouring Station, and Refreshments

10:00am - 2013 Vancouver Walk overview and a special autism research presentation by Dr. Pat Mirenda (Director of The Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration in Autism (CIRCA) at UBC)

11:00am - Free visit to Playland!

Reserve Your Spot Today!

This event is FREE, but space is limited. Please email vancouver @autismspeaks.org to RSVP before June 6th, 2013. Please include your team name, and the number of adults/children in your group.  This event is open to everyone, so please invite new families to join in this wonderful day. If you haven’t already registered your Team for the Walk, please register here and help us reach our goal of raising $230,000 to support research and family services!

Team Fundraising Contest!

They’re giving away free tickets to Go Bananas Playcenter! 3 lucky Teams will win 2 tickets each!

Grand Prize includes a weekend accommodation for a family at the Century Plaza Hotel & Spa!

To be eligible to win, your Team thermometer must reach $500 by June 8th, so continue your fundraising today!  We will randomly select a winner from the teams eligible. Check out the Team Captain Tools on our website for some great fundraising ideas!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya, Daniel, and Bryce

Hope we’ll see you at our Kick Off Event!

Today we walked for our son.

It was the 5th Annual Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Canada at Stanley Park, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We had a booth in the resource fair, where we shared our story and sold our bubble blowers by donation with $1 from each proceeds benefiting the event. The day was full of laughter and smiles. Huge shout out to our Facebook friends who stopped by our booth to say Hello! Always a pleasure!

Oh, and of course, we blew bubbles!

Can’t wait till next year!

Thanks for reading,
Tanaya

Check out our Facebook Page for more pictures that we took.

For more pictures from the event, please visit Vancouver Walk Now for Autism Speaks Facebook page.

Join us for British Columbia’s 5th Annual Walk Now For Autism Speaks!

Sunday, September 30, 2012
Lumberman’s Arch – Stanley Park
2099 Beach Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a family-friendly FUNdraising event for the entire community! Come out and enjoy a playland of activities for children of all ages. Slides and bouncy houses, sand/water/bubble stations, crafts and face painting, mascots, music and other entertainment, special guests, and more!

Our goal is to raise $300. British Columbia’s goal is $300,000.

Please show your support and help us reach these goals!

Donate or Join Team BubblesMakeHimSmile.com here:
http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca/team/BMHS2012

For more information about the event please visit: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca/

We will be blowing bubbles with our bubble blowers at this event!

My footage from British Columbia’s 4th Annual Walk Now for Autism Speaks in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Join us for British Columbia’s 4th Annual Walk Now For Autism Speaks!

Sunday, September 25, 2011
Nat Bailey Stadium
4601 Ontario Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Walk Now for Autism Speaks is a family-friendly FUNdraising event for the entire community! Come out and enjoy a playland of activities for children of all ages. Slides and bouncy houses, sand/water/bubble stations, crafts and face painting, mascots, music and other entertainment, special guests, and more!

Our goal is to raise $300. British Columbia’s goal is $300,000.

Please show your support and help us reach these goals!

Donate or Join Team BubblesMakeHimSmile.com here: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca/team/BubblesMakeHimSmile

For more information about the event please visit: http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.ca/

Sending out a shout-out and big thank you to the Terminal City Rollergirls (TCRG) for inviting our family to your roller derby event and for your contributions that you are making to the autism community!

Another special thanks to “Pretty Painful” of Public Frenemy of TCRG who got us tickets to their event. Thanks so much!

A little back story: “Pretty Painful” noticed our bubbles at Canada Day for Canada Place and while we spoke briefly, she mentioned her league would be participating in the Walk Now for Autism event this year. We had no intentions of participating this year, but I remember thinking it’s really great that the community is getting more involved every year.

She later contacted us on our website interested in getting one of our bubble blowers and after corresponding back and forth in emails, we learned more about her and that she was a member and skater for the Terminal City Rollergirls and as part of the Community Service Committee that they’d be fundraising for Autism Speaks Canada for their upcoming bout on August 13th. She also mentioned that they would also be participating in the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade, too.

She continued saying that she was thinking they might be able to work with us or at the very least get us tickets to their roller derby event and if we were interested to let her know. She even went above and beyond seeing if it was possible for us to be able to sell our bubble blowers at the event. Never had gone to a roller derby before, and of course not going to pass up her generousity, we accepted immediately!

So Bryce got to meet “Pretty Painful” (who we think is pretty awesome). We also stopped by the Walk Now for Autism Speaks booth they had set up there. The woman running the booth has a daughter on the spectrum (which, always seems to be a huge deal to me for some reason, as most of our interactions with people who love someone on the spectrum is usually online.) She gave us some rub on tattoos (and a couple for my cheeks, hehe), an Autism Speaks car magnet, and generously upgraded our invite to free V.I.P. seating passes, which they were selling to raise funds for TEAM TCRG for the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event this year.

I personally believe everything happens for a reason. It was just really inspiring how everything just happened the way it did. Inspired by “Pretty Painful” and Terminal City Rollergirls extreme generousity towards us and giving their time to the autism community, we have decided that this year we will be participating in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event as well and to not take away from Team TCRG and their fundraising efforts, we’ll tell ya about that in another blog. :)

Thank you again TCRG and “Pretty Painful”! We really did have a great time and wish you tons of success!

Thanks for reading,
Bryce, Tanaya, and Daniel

Oh, and incase you were wondering, Public Frenemy totally squashed the competition!

About Public Frenemy:

The new crew in town with a hip hop theme.
The colours they wear are bright orange and green

A Frenemy is an enemy who acts like your friend.
By keeping your enemies closer this team will transcend.

Straight from the Roller rink to Terminal City,
These girls are sassy and street, while always lookin’ pretty.

They’re jokesters but they skate with style and skills.
Guaranteed if you’re up against them, they’ll give you the chills.

To their fans they are Public Frenemy #1.
With mean hits and crazy footwork, they’re always having fun.

Next season the other teams will be in shock,
Cause this team isn’t another Jenny from the block.

With the beats from the boom box of real hip hop,
Watch all as Public Frenemy rises to the top!

Know your Frenemy!!

For more information about Terminal City Rollergirls or Public Frenemy, please visit this website: http://www.TerminalCityRollergirls.com/