Toonies for Autism (Updated)

Michael Boyer talks to classmates about living with Autism.

To look at 7-year-old Michael Boyer you wouldn’t think there is anything wrong with him, but Michael has Autism and this week he shared information about his condition with his classmates at Vincent Massey School.

“My brain works differently than yours,” he explains to his peers.

“It’s just another way of being.”

Boyer went from class to class sharing his story in order to promote ‘Toonies for Autism’ a fundraising campaign that the school is hosting today to increase awareness and raise money for research for Autism Ontario.

After telling his story to each class, Boyer then encouraged each student to come to school Friday with a toonie and dress up in Autism Ontario’s colours purple and orange.

Autism is defined as a developmental disability that prevents individuals from properly understanding and responding to what they see, hear, and sense. This results in severe problems of social relationships, communication and behaviour.

Boyer’s parents say raising a child with Autism is challenging, but it has been less stressful with the awareness campaigns and supports that are in place for families.

“It has its trials,” says mom Elizebeth.

“But it is getting easier because there is so much support, and people are starting to see that Autism just isn’t the character out of the movie Rain Man.”

Diagnosed in 2003, Boyer is considered high functioning and his Educational Assistant Amy Hopkins says she has witnessed a major transformation in her student over the past couple of years.

“There has been a significant change since he started school.”

“When he started Kindergarten he was not toilet trained or speaking,” she says.

Hopkins says her role is to offer social support and help kids like Boyer fit in and understand what is acceptable behaviour in the class, and by all indications Boyer is excelling.

“A lot of the kids in the didn’t event know he had Autism.”

“He has a circle of friends and everyone just accepts him,” says Hopkins.

Today’s event is just one more way Vincent Massey is building a more welcoming environment for all children.

The Students of Vincent Massey got behind Boyer and raised $967.56 for Autism Ontario.