Annual Autism Speaks Canada Walk set for return this weekend

September 21, 2023 · 0 Comments

Written By PAULA BROWN

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

The autism community in Dufferin County will be coming together once again to take part in the annual Autism Speaks Canada Walk.

Leading the helm of this year’s event will be the 2023 walk ambassador, 11-year-old Orangeville resident Tyler Clinch.

“I feel very honoured and excited to take on this role,” said Tyler. “We have been participating [in the walk] since it started in Orangeville and I thought it was my turn to share my story.”

Tyler was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder a couple months shy of his second birthday after showing signs of being non-verbal and having limited social cues. After receiving his diagnosis, Tyler began speech therapy and participated in a daily program called the Early Start Denver Model until age 3.

Attending school has played a significant role in Tyler’s life, allowing him to thrive both academically and socially with his classmates. Two passions of Tyler’s include math and coding.

“Autism means that my brain has some special abilities that are different from everyone else. My biggest strength is math and how my brain works fast to answer the questions. I am smart and love being in school with my friends,” said Tyler.

Tyler and his family have taken part in the annual Autism Speaks Canada Walk in Orangeville since its inception.

“We are super proud of him to be engaging with the community this way. Tyler is very proud of his autistic abilities and strength, so it’s a huge step for him being able to acknowledge his autism and expressing it into the community,” said Tyler’s mom, Krista Clinch.

Taking on the role of ambassador for the 2023 Autism Speaks Canada Walk in Orangeville, Tyler hopes he can be an inspiration for other local youth to be proud of their autistic abilities.

“Having autism does not make you less valuable as a person,” he said.

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can include impairments in speech, non-verbal communication and social interaction combined with restricted and repetitive behaviours, interests or activities. ASD presents differently in each diagnosed individual, which is why it is referred to as a spectrum.

According to a 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY), one in 50 or 2 per cent of Canadian Children between the ages of 1 and 17 were diagnosed with ASD.

Founded in 2006, Autism Speaks Canada (ASC) is a non-for-profit organization focused on promoting the acceptance of people with autism and being a catalyst for autism research breakthroughs. ASC also works towards increasing childhood screening, timely interventions, and improving the transition to adulthood for people with autism.

The idea behind the annual Autism Speaks Canada Walk is to serve as a fundraiser for the work done by Autism Speaks Canada.

This year, the fundraising goal in Orangeville for the walk is $17,000, and at the time of print, the event has raised just over $8,500. Team Ty, represented by Tyler Clinch, is one of the top teams for donations, having raised over $2,700 thus far.

Those interested in donating or registering to participate in the Orangeville Autism Speaks Canada Walk can do so by visiting https://autismspeakscanada.akaraisin.com/ui/walk2023.

The 2023 Autism Speaks Walk in Orangeville will be held on Sunday (Sept. 24), and will start at 11 a.m. at Fendley Park.