Anyone reflecting on 40 years of their own lives must marvel retrospectively at what life had in store them. For myself, little did I know that 40 years ago I had what would become a life shaping opportunity prompted by my then softball coach to work at a summer camp in the Delaware Water Gap for children and adults with developmental disabilities. In those days, we still used the “R” word for intellectual disabilities and North Americans were just getting around to legislating into action the ideas that people with any kind of disability had a right to be included and to have full access to schools and places in local communities. We were still debating about the “appropriateness” of shaving sidewalk curbs in order to remove barriers for a person using a wheelchair. Most people today wouldn't even remember a time when these now common design practices for accessibility weren't the norm.
Back at Holiday House Camp, while I was trying to figure out how to communicate with a young camper (who unbeknownst to me at the time had autism), Autism Ontario (then called OSAC – Ontario Society for Autistic Children) was just being formed by parents who had decided that the status quo for services and supports for their children with autism was no longer acceptable. People like Bob Hart, Gerry and Elizabeth Bloomfield and Simone Lusty who had a vision – perhaps with a couple of hundred dollars – and dogged determination to educate the community, encourage research and treatment, to engage government leaders in responding to their children and supporting families through the development of local chapters. These were the pioneers that led the way to years of advocacy and determination to understand this puzzling diagnosis, to change our education system to teach these children, to find a place for them to call home as they became adults, and ultimately, to know what would become of their children with autism when they were gone.
Since that time a lot has changed while other things have remained the same at Autism Ontario. We've had as many as 33 Chapters, we've seen thousands of volunteers come and go, and more recently have had over 100 staff members -particularly during summer camp season. Board members and Chapter Leadership Council members and staff have spoken with countless media members and provincial leaders about public policy, programming, treatment and funding. We've had our voice represented across the province by families who live the story every day and who can speak with credibility and integrity about what that means for them and other families like them in local communities. We have consistently represented a range of voices and experiences rather than a narrower view on any particular topic of interest to children and adults with ASD and their families. Over the years our Gerry Bloomfield awards reflect a diversity of contributions and political leanings, but all have helped to change the landscape in Ontario.
Please take time to read the stories that celebrate our 40th anniversary. Listen to the worry and the weariness, the pride and the hope, and the knowledge, insight and determination to tackle what remains undone in Ontario. We are so honoured that people took the time to share a bit of themselves with us at this point in our journey as an organization. I hope that might lead you to get involved with our work and our mission. We need every bit of help we can get to make Ontario a place of acceptance and opportunities for all people with ASD.
Margaret Spoelstra
Back at Holiday House Camp, while I was trying to figure out how to communicate with a young camper (who unbeknownst to me at the time had autism), Autism Ontario (then called OSAC – Ontario Society for Autistic Children) was just being formed by parents who had decided that the status quo for services and supports for their children with autism was no longer acceptable. People like Bob Hart, Gerry and Elizabeth Bloomfield and Simone Lusty who had a vision – perhaps with a couple of hundred dollars – and dogged determination to educate the community, encourage research and treatment, to engage government leaders in responding to their children and supporting families through the development of local chapters. These were the pioneers that led the way to years of advocacy and determination to understand this puzzling diagnosis, to change our education system to teach these children, to find a place for them to call home as they became adults, and ultimately, to know what would become of their children with autism when they were gone.
Since that time a lot has changed while other things have remained the same at Autism Ontario. We've had as many as 33 Chapters, we've seen thousands of volunteers come and go, and more recently have had over 100 staff members -particularly during summer camp season. Board members and Chapter Leadership Council members and staff have spoken with countless media members and provincial leaders about public policy, programming, treatment and funding. We've had our voice represented across the province by families who live the story every day and who can speak with credibility and integrity about what that means for them and other families like them in local communities. We have consistently represented a range of voices and experiences rather than a narrower view on any particular topic of interest to children and adults with ASD and their families. Over the years our Gerry Bloomfield awards reflect a diversity of contributions and political leanings, but all have helped to change the landscape in Ontario.
Please take time to read the stories that celebrate our 40th anniversary. Listen to the worry and the weariness, the pride and the hope, and the knowledge, insight and determination to tackle what remains undone in Ontario. We are so honoured that people took the time to share a bit of themselves with us at this point in our journey as an organization. I hope that might lead you to get involved with our work and our mission. We need every bit of help we can get to make Ontario a place of acceptance and opportunities for all people with ASD.
Margaret Spoelstra
