A family’s journey of growth, advocacy and belonging

Celebrating Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month!

Autism does not look the same for everyone, even within the same family. For Brett and Celine, raising three children on the autism spectrum meant learning to celebrate differences, advocate fiercely and find strength in community. Along the way, their family discovered the life-changing support of Grandview Kids, a place that helped their children grow, communicate and belong. 

Married for nearly 17 years, Brett and Celine are raising their three children, Elle (14), Liam (12) and Connor (9) in a home filled with music and creativity. Their family time often includes walks near the lake, playing board games or curling up on the couch with popcorn for movie nights. Like any siblings, they disagree on things, but they are usually quickly replaced with laughter. Each child brings something special to the family dynamic.  

Elle is the family’s tech expert. She creates funny reels, edits photos and captures family memories. She is a huge fan of the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” series and even took part in a play inspired by it last summer in Ajax. For Elle, storytelling, whether through books, theatre or technology, is a way to express herself and connect with others. Liam, the middle child, is known for his humour. He proudly embraces the role of the family’s “dad joke” master. He will happily approach strangers to share a silly joke and watch their reaction. Beneath the jokes is a deeply kind and affectionate boy who loves cuddling babies and playing with younger kids. Connor, the youngest, has an uncanny ability to read a room. An empath by nature, he is quick to recognize others’ feelings. His humour is a little more complex, goofy and clever all at once. 

Behind these everyday moments is a strong network of support that has shaped their journey. One of the earliest and most influential members of that support system was private speech-language pathologist Debbie, who has worked with Liam since he was two years old. Alongside professionals at Grandview Kids, including speech-language pathologist Melany, Debbie helped the boys develop the communication skills that have opened their world. “They literally brought voice to our lives,” Celine says.  

Through speech therapy, the family learned how to support their sons’ communication, engage in and connect in meaningful ways and build relationships through play and interaction. Their infant and child development worker, Karla, also played an instrumental role in helping Celine and Brett navigate services and funding programs they did not know existed, making additional therapies possible. 

The family’s journey with Grandview Kids began when Liam was just eight weeks old. After spending several weeks in the hospital as a newborn due to illness, he was referred to the Grandview Kids’ previous torticollis clinic to address the involuntary contraction of his neck muscles. At the time, Celine admits she did not even know what Grandview Kids was. By six months old, Liam was not babbling or rolling over, so their paediatrician recommended accessing speech therapy at Grandview Kids. When Liam was eight months old, Brett and Celine attended their first parent workshop called “More Than Words.” Since then, the Centre has become a constant presence in their lives. 

At two years old, Liam was diagnosed with expressive language disorder by their Grandview Kids developmental paediatirican, Dr. Siapno. While the diagnosis was hard to hear, Celine still felt there might be something more going on. She noticed subtle differences, like limited eye contact, little interest in cuddling and a strong preference for doing things independently. At 34 months, after reassessment, Liam received an official autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis. Although the process had been emotionally exhausting, the diagnosis ultimately brought relief. “It meant someone finally saw him,” Celine says. “And we finally knew how to help him.” 

Connor’s journey unfolded more quickly. Having already walked a similar path with Liam, Celine and Brett recognized familiar developmental patterns early on, limited babbling, slower motor milestones and reduced eye contact. At just 22 months old, Connor was also diagnosed with ASD. This time, the experience felt different. “I already knew,” Celine explains. “I could see he was just like his big brother. And I knew we would be okay.” 

Elle’s path looked very different from her brothers’, who were both nonverbal and using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices in their early years. Elle, on the other hand, spoke early and often. Autism was never initially considered since her parents thought speech was the biggest indicator of ASD. As she got older, bullying at school began to take a toll, and professionals initially wondered if she might have generalized anxiety. During an appointment for Connor, Dr. Siapno asked Celine about the rest of the family. As she spoke about Elle, Celine became emotional, prompting an assessment. At eight years old, Elle was also diagnosed with ASD. For Elle, the moment was unexpectedly meaningful. “She told the doctor she finally felt like she was part of the family,” Celine recalls. “She said she ‘finally belonged.’” 

Over the years, the family has accessed many programs and services through Grandview Kids, including audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic recreation, social work, summer camp and education at Grandview School. For Celine, the most powerful part of Grandview Kids has been the sense of community, one fostered strongly through the Family Engagement Program. 

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she remembers sitting in the waiting room in the old Grandview Kids Ajax location while children played together. Even kids who could not speak were laughing and connecting. Parents exchanged quiet looks of understanding, sometimes even silent “thank-yous.”  

she remembers fondly. Special events like pyjama parties, holiday celebrations and community programs have created lasting memories. These moments ensured the children could see others like them and feel included. Connor even met his best friend at Grandview School. 

Today, the impact of those supports is evident. Celine often wonders whether the boys would be as verbal as they are today without the early speech therapy they received. Connor also gained a major milestone through therapeutic recreation, learning how to ride a bike. This skill gave him newfound independence. “These are everyday things people take for granted,” Celine says. “But for us, they were huge.” Elle has also found her voice as a leader. She participates in the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) at Grandview Kids and hopes to one day create a subcommittee to help other youth share ideas and advocate for change. At school, she is already helping educate peers about disabilities and accessibility. 

Still, the journey is not without challenges. Social misunderstandings can make school difficult at times. This is especially true for Elle, who loves sharing information and speaking passionately on topics she cares about. Her direct communication style has sometimes been misinterpreted, leading to bullying in the past. She has become skilled at masking, hiding her autistic traits to “fit in” socially. “It’s exhausting,” Celine says. “And she shouldn’t have to do that forever.” Connor continues to experience anxiety at school, while Liam sometimes faces misunderstandings when people assume his autism only matters on certain days. 

Like many parents of neurodivergent children, Celine often thinks about the future, wondering what adulthood will look like and hoping her children will find meaningful work, independence and communities that embrace them for who they are. At the same time, she reminds herself that progress does not always follow a typical timeline. “People just need to take a breath,” she says. “Life is life. People are people.” She also hopes others will reconsider common expectations, like the emphasis on eye contact. “For our family, eye contact was never important,” she explains. “You can still connect with someone without looking directly into their eyes.” 

Instead, Celine believes society should focus more on acceptance and patience, recognizing that everyone grows and learns at their own pace. “There is so much emphasis on the ‘cannot,’ but we need to celebrate the ‘cans’ instead.” For parents on a similar journey, her message is simple: trust yourself and find your community. “You know your child better than anyone. Keep asking questions until someone listens.” And when the road feels overwhelming, remember that you don’t have to walk it alone. Sometimes, the right community can make all the difference, and for Brett, Celine, Elle, Liam and Connor, that community has been Grandview Kids.