Alvin and Axton connect with their family in new ways through speech therapy
Jacky and Sylvia welcomed twins into their family six years ago: Axton and Alvin. Bright, active boys, the twins love sports and taking hip-hop lessons. Alvin is a budding mathematician who enjoys calculating and playing with numbers. Axton is a builder who likes to create Lego structures.
But in between moments of fun, the family has experienced stress over speech delays that have left the boys struggling to communicate. The family’s doctor flagged the twins’ speech/sound disorders and suggested speech therapy.
The news came at an unsteady time. Sylvia is at home taking care of the boys full-time and Jacky, whose background is in architecture design, is in between jobs and still looking for work. Amid this economic uncertainty, the cost of the therapy sessions was impossible on their own.
The pediatrician recommended applying to Variety for funding. Within months, the family received a grant and the twins started therapy. “Alvin and Aston’s speech is significantly improved. They like to go to [therapy] class after school,” says Jacky. “They have the confidence to communicate with their classmates and teachers. Our children have experienced positive change.”
During the holidays, the whole family will decorate a tree together and go watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve. This year, their celebrations are enriched by a new joy: being able to talk about those shared experiences as a family more easily.
Providing the best support for kids with disabilities and complex health needs often comes with overwhelming financial costs. In 2023, the Representative for Children and Youth estimated that as many as 80,000 children and youth with disabilities are currently not receiving any support in BC. With our medical system under stress, we need creative solutions that can not only step into gaps but also provide more tailored support.
Variety works with so many government and private organizations and care providers, helping bridge gaps so families can afford the care they need. There’s so much work still to do, but we’re thankful to be part of such a dedicated community committed to ensuring all kids are valued and empowered.
“As parents, we feel less stressed about their well-being,” says Jacky. “Variety’s support to our family is a financial asset, with specialized services that we would not be able to afford otherwise.”