Nolan’s Story: Finding His Voice Through Grandview Kids

Ten-year-old Nolan lives in Durham Region with his parents, Krista and Brandon, and his older sister, Lily. When he was 15 months old, a paediatrician recommended the family submit a referral to Grandview Kids for speech-language services. “Nolan’s communication delay was leading to lots of frustration and behavioural outbursts,” said his mother, Krista. “This created a lot of added stress on our family and isolated us from many social experiences.” Grandview Kids began his care by providing Speech-Language Pathology, completing a sensory assessment and referring him to Holland Bloorview’s augmentative communication program.

Nolan received a diagnosis of developmental delay in his early years, which he outgrew by age six. He has since been left undiagnosed, but his parents understand he still needs support with communication, sensory processing and self-regulation. With services from Grandview Kids including speech therapy, occupational therapy, social work and medical care, Nolan has made remarkable progress. Once reliant on his parents to communicate for him, he is now fully verbal and expresses himself well. While he continues to build his vocabulary, his mother says he is “resourceful in making word connections to communicate.”

Krista also became involved with Grandview Kids’ Family Engagement Team and Family Advisory Committee, and later joined the Parent Task Force that helped advocate for the construction of The Jerry Coughlan Building, the organization’s new headquarters in Ajax.

“Both of these groups allowed me to connect with other families and meet amazing children who are happy to share their experiences and resources,” she said. “You don’t feel so alone knowing there are other people who just get it.”

Krista and Nolan attended the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside other Grandview Kids champions, feeling a strong sense of accomplishment after years of advocacy.

Today, Nolan is an inquisitive and active pre-teen. He enjoys playing sports, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. With a focused personality and a strong drive to complete tasks, Nolan thrives in groups with peers who share his interests. Like any child, he wants to feel included and accepted. Nolan also serves as a Grandview Kids Ambassador and has taken part in events such as Run Ajax and the Oshawa Generals’ Nickelodeon Night in November 2024.

During Nickelodeon Night, the Oshawa Generals auctioned off game-worn jerseys and donated $2,524 to Grandview Kids. Nolan and his family were hosted at the game, where he proudly walked onto the ice alone to perform the ceremonial puck drop — the first time a Grandview Kids Ambassador had done so since before the pandemic.

“It’s nice to see how far he’s come thanks to Grandview Kids’ support” – Krista, Nolan’s mom

Ten-year-old Nolan lives in Durham Region with his parents, Krista and Brandon, and his older sister, Lily. When he was 15 months old, a paediatrician recommended the family submit a referral to Grandview Kids for speech-language services. “Nolan’s communication delay was leading to lots of frustration and behavioural outbursts,” said his mother, Krista. “This created a lot of added stress on our family and isolated us from many social experiences.” Grandview Kids began his care by providing Speech-Language Pathology, completing a sensory assessment and referring him to Holland Bloorview’s augmentative communication program.

Nolan received a diagnosis of developmental delay in his early years, which he outgrew by age six. He has since been left undiagnosed, but his parents understand he still needs support with communication, sensory processing and self-regulation. With services from Grandview Kids including speech therapy, occupational therapy, social work and medical care, Nolan has made remarkable progress. Once reliant on his parents to communicate for him, he is now fully verbal and expresses himself well. While he continues to build his vocabulary, his mother says he is “resourceful in making word connections to communicate.”

Krista also became involved with Grandview Kids’ Family Engagement Team and Family Advisory Committee, and later joined the Parent Task Force that helped advocate for the construction of The Jerry Coughlan Building, the organization’s new headquarters in Ajax.

“Both of these groups allowed me to connect with other families and meet amazing children who are happy to share their experiences and resources. You don’t feel so alone knowing there are other people who just get it.”

Krista and Nolan attended the building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside other Grandview Kids champions, feeling a strong sense of accomplishment after years of advocacy.

Today, Nolan is an inquisitive and active pre-teen. He enjoys playing sports, swimming, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. With a focused personality and a strong drive to complete tasks, Nolan thrives in groups with peers who share his interests. Like any child, he wants to feel included and accepted. Nolan also serves as a Grandview Kids Ambassador and has taken part in events such as Run Ajax and the Oshawa Generals’ Nickelodeon Night in November 2024.

During Nickelodeon Night, the Oshawa Generals auctioned off game-worn jerseys and donated $2,524 to Grandview Kids. Nolan and his family were hosted at the game, where he proudly walked onto the ice alone to perform the ceremonial puck drop — the first time a Grandview Kids Ambassador had done so since before the pandemic.

“It’s nice to see how far he’s come thanks to Grandview Kids’ support” – Krista, Nolan’s mom