By Angie Sullivan
A small crowd cheered at the Autism Unplugged Learning Centre in Keswick as a flag was hoisted into the grey sky in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2.
Kathy Orme from Keswick has a three-year-old grandson who attends the learning centre, and said, “The Autism Unplugged Learning Centre means the world to our family. It has made a huge difference in Christopher’s life. He’s been attending for a year and was non-communicative before.”
After the ceremony, a tour was given to everyone in attendance of the centre, showing a welcoming space with games, toys, quiet rooms, a jungle gym, a fish tank and various learning environments.
Robin Konstantopoulos, director of Autism Unplugged Learning Centre, gave a presentation outlining her teenage son’s learning journey and developmental accomplishments which brought tears to the eyes of some of the attendees.
Konstantopoulos explained the prevalence of autism in communities like Georgina is far greater than many people realize. She stressed the need for education, awareness of available resources for families, and more support.
“Autism prevalence in Canada is most often cited at about one in 50 children, or roughly two percent, based on data from the Public Health Agency of Canada,” Konstantopoulos said. “That said, this number is widely understood to be an underestimate. The numbers could be as high as 1 in 30 children.”
In Georgina, she estimates the impact is substantial.
“Georgina has roughly 10,000 children under the age of 18. Based on current estimates, that would mean approximately 200 to over 300 children on the autism spectrum, depending on how prevalence is measured,” she said.
Taylor Snow is an instructor and therapist at the centre, and said, “My whole life, I’ve wanted to work with special needs children, and I’ve been working at this wonderful place for eight months. My son, Jack, is on the spectrum.”
Mayor Margaret Quirk took part in the flag-raising ceremony and said, “This is a very important day. By learning more about autism and embracing neurodiversity, we help build a more inclusive community where everyone can thrive.”
If parents are wondering if their child is on the spectrum, The Autism Unplugged Learning Centre can help with next steps.
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