Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Silvia Senna

CHRIS ROSE WALK FOR AUTISM

‘The most supportive environment’; Chris Rose Therapy Centre raises funds to support individuals with autism

Apr 22, 2024 | 12:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism has been running since 1989 and, on Saturday (April 20), held its 13th Annual Chris Rose Walk for Autism. The event raised funds to promote programs and services for the children, youth and adults at the centre. The organization’s is to empower each individual to achieve their social, emotional, academic and vocational goals.

“Before we moved here, we were locked into our house. We couldn’t communicate with them. They couldn’t communicate with us, and we just couldn’t take them anywhere,” said Gwen Langer, one of the many parents who attended the event. The Chris Rose Therapy Centre has changed the life of her two children.

“[The centre] gave them a way to communicate with us, which then brought down the behaviors because they can then ask us what they wanted and we can actually get their responses to things. And it just allows them to be able to go into public. It teaches when scouts like waiting in line, waiting their turn, you know, just giving them a bit of a community,” Langer told CFJC Today.

And it was to help individuals like Langer’s children that longtime Kamloops educator Chris Rose first got involved with the centre back in 1996.

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“I had been involved with [special education] for many years, first of all as a teacher of the hearing impaired and so it was wonderful, just a wonderful extension of my work. I kept wondering what I was going to be doing after, in retirement. And I thought this was a wonderful opportunity in retirement to be involved with a group such as this,” Rose explained.

The centre offers different kinds of therapy to help children and adults overcome their challenges.

“Not every child is at the same place when they start and they don’t end at the same place. That’s the strength of this centre — it’s really looking at the individual, moving them to where they want to be, where their families need them to be. That’s really what we’re working towards,” explained Wanda Eddy, the centre’s executive director. “We really support the families and make sure that we can have the children and our adults that we work with be what they want to be.”

And the parents see the improvements in their children’s behaviour.

“The centre has changed Matthew’s life,” said Tammy Chabot about the difference the centre has made for her son. “He’s learned a lot more fine motor skills and life skills. He’s learning how to explore foods and new tastes, which is a big struggle for him. He’s worked on toilet training. He’s worked on all areas of his life skills. It’s been the most supportive environment he could be in.”

However, it’s not only the children who have their lives changed for the better.

“[It] changed the whole family’s life,” Chabot told CFJC Today.

“It allowed us to be able to have a life, go to work, have them participate in sports with staff who were trained to help them navigate the community and what’s expected of them,” added Langer.