“Thank you, mama.”
That sentence could make any mom smile. But it’s an even bigger milestone for three-year-old Skylar, who stopped speaking for nearly two years. Now, Skylar is beginning to find her voice.
It’s exciting for her parents, Kassandra and Jamie, to discover just how much knowledge Skylar has picked up. “Colours, numbers, all this information she was actually absorbing during the whole time she wasn’t able to talk to us,” Kassandra says.
The family has lived in West Kelowna for the past couple of years. They’re a busy household, with a daughter in high school, a one-year-old son and Skylar in the middle—plus a brand-new puppy. Their calendar is full of school, errands and family outings on the weekends.
When Skylar was very young, she seemed to be developing at the same pace as other children her age, but then she stopped speaking. She often didn’t respond when her parents tried to get her attention and they noticed repetitive movements, such as spinning or shaking her head.
Due to these concerns, Skylar started attending Starbright Children’s Developmental Centre in Kelowna when she was about one and a half. Staff at the centre suggested Skylar get an early autism assessment and recommended applying to Variety for funding.
Skylar received Variety funding for the assessment and was diagnosed with autism and a global delay, meaning her development is slower than most children her age. With a formal diagnosis, Skylar qualifies for over $100,000 in government funding for occupational and speech therapy until she turns 19.
“It’s going to give us access to things we wouldn’t have been able to afford or accomplish for her,” Kassandra says.
“Testing a child’s development and the way their brain is wired early on means they get more intervention sooner, which can mean they’ll be affected less by these conditions in the long term.”
Skylar is an active, goofy kid who loves puzzles or any toy she can take apart and figure out how to assemble. She’s also a fan of the animated preschool TV show Bluey (it was the theme of her recent birthday party). As she learns how to navigate her world, her parents are learning along with her.
Finding her the right care, with the added support from Variety, provides hope and relief instead of feeling overwhelmed and stuck. “There’s always a lot of stigma around autism and other non-neurotypical conditions,” Kassandra says. “The best thing a parent can do is say, ‘You know what? This doesn’t change my child being an incredible kid, but let’s figure out what they need.’”
Early intervention is crucial to help Skylar during these important developmental stages. That’s why we offer a range of grants for assessments, mobility and medical equipment, specialized therapies, tuition and tutoring, and mental wellness care.
The average income for households Variety supports is just over $40,000 a year, meaning the costly but necessary supports their children need are out of reach for many parents.
Last year, Variety delivered 6,646 grants to children and families in more than 240 B.C. communities. This funding fills gaps in health care or private insurance coverage, enabling the most long-term impacts for kids and their families.
Thanks to her determination, dedicated family and the right therapies, Skylar will continue to grow and learn to communicate, on her own time and in her own way.
“I’m looking forward to finding out a little bit more of who she is and what she wants,” Kassandra says.