CAN supports thousands of families like ours throughout BC. Please join us in making a difference.

This year, to help CAN deliver more programs and events like these, we have signed up to raise vital funding for the cause!

In addition to children's sports & rec, funds raised from CAN Sports Day will benefit a range of youth & adult opportunities, including employment & mental health, as well as autism training for community groups like first responders, educators, businesses and more.

2.5 years ago, our lives changed. Our son Lando, who is now 4 years old, was diagnosed with Autism.

As first-time parents, like so many others, we watched with excitement as he achieved his “first” milestones, even taking his first steps at just nine months old, then everything stopped.  As a mother, I had a feeling that something was not right.  That was when I started my journey with doctors, and assessments.  After the diagnosis we processed this news and I went through all the emotions, but my priority was to understand what Autism was.  I had so many questions; What did this mean for Lando?  What challenges was he going to face socially and academically?  How am I going to be able to support him?  What could I do to give him the best life possible?  I wanted to ensure that I gave him all the tools necessary to thrive in this world.

One activity that Lando absolutely loves is soccer. He played it day and night. He not only played outside but we had a net set up in the house as well that he would play for hours, so I decided to put him in soccer clinics.  I thought he would enjoy this, and it would support his social skills, however I quickly learned that it had the opposite effect.  Even though the coaches were great, Lando could not concentrate.  He kept to himself, or would run away from the group, and he had a hard time complying to the asks of the coach.  I would usually leave the field in tears feeling defeated and helpless.  That’s when I started looking at other organizations to give Lando opportunities to be included and thrive at things he enjoys, then I came across CAN.  This program has incredible instructors that are patient, caring, and have the training to provide a great experience.  CAN has provided that extra attention that normal clinics could not offer.  They use the same behavioral tools that we use at home, and new ones that I have taken back and incorporated at home as well.  Lando is currently in the CAN swimming program and has gone from not being able to get his head wet, or letting go of me near water, to jumping off the edge of the pool and splashing with excitement.  Trying to get him out of the pool now takes a lot of convincing, HAHA.  This is all because of the support we receive from CAN.

Please help us raise our goal so Lando and many other children like him can enjoy the programs that CAN offers, and that will help him build his confidence to excel in this world and achieve his personal goals.

Thank you with all my heart for your support.

Tiffany