Who is Helen Ries? What her parents were like and her brother is like? What family life was like growing up with a sibling with special needs.  Immediate challenges faced upon the passing of her parents and situations that she had to deal with that frustrated her.  The reality of poverty and the disabled. What she wished her parents had put in place. What she wished would change. How her situation affected her own life and her families. The impact of the inaccurate perceptions of others. What policy changes she wishes would take place. What would she advised her parents if she could have. What she wished the public would know. Why a Will is vital. What she would like the world to know about looking after a sibling: main challenges, benefits, and joys.  Her two amazing contributions to the disability world and how to get involved.

Who are Mr. Ted Kuntz, Mr. Tim Ames, and Ms. Rebecca Pauls. The history of PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network). The importance of planning for our children's future. Benefits of PLAN. Creating social connections. Who can access PLAN. Types of supports offered. Who are plan members. Financial planning. Wills, trusts and estates. Why a will is vital and why it’s important to work with a professional. RDSP. Workshops and retreats offered and how to register. Who are caregivers. Laws, policies and government. How to join and be a lifetime member. What they love about their work. Autism in their own words.

The history of RAPS (Richmond Autism Parents Support). People welcome at meetings. When and how often do meetings take place? What happens when you are there? Meeting of the minds. Special guest speakers and talks that can take place. Participant anonymity, confidentiality, and group safe haven. Benefits of attending. What Tara and Pam would like you to know about autism.

Who is Master Michael Sirota? The history of Sirota’s Alchymy and Martial Arts Life Skills Centre. The philosophy. Why it’s important for people with challenges. The merit badge and belt system explained. Motivational visual aids. Inclusive martial arts education for everyone! The benefits of participating. Programs offered. How to register. Minimum and Maximum ages. Costs. Skills and training. The impact of the training. The future goals. Qualifications needed for educators. Online certifications courses. His greatest accomplishments. Strengths and benefits of the program. Autism in his own words.

Answering theses 3 questions: “What have you learned about yourself having a child with autism?” “What makes your marriage work considering that 80% of parents with a child with autism don’t?” “What are some of the revelations you’ve had about having a child with autism?”

Who is Mr. Al Etmanski? What is the Registered Disability Savings Program (R.D.S.P.). What are its features? Canada before the program existed and how he came up with the idea. The history and genesis of the R.D.S.P. Challenges of getting it started. The role Mr. Jim Flaherty played in its implementation. Building a network of champions. How to apply and documentation needed. The future of the program. Why it’s important to plan for the future for our children. A Will and a Trust. Why people don’t plan for the future. His book “Safe and Secure: Six steps to creating a personal future plan for people with disabilities”. Why a social network is important for families. What he’d like the world to know about autism.

Who is Ms. Jenny Story? What was her childhood like? Her views of autism and some of her difficulties. Embracing her individuality. The world through her eyes. Bullying in schools and what she would like educators to know. Her loves and hobbies. How having a wonderful and positive parent is beneficial. What would make life easier? How autism is a contributing factor to her success. What she would like to see in the community and the future. Why she loves animation. Her experiences at Vancouver Film School. What she would like employers to know. Her book Dysnomia. Her inspirations. Autism in her own words.

Who is Ms. Tiffany MacInnis? The history of Zajac Ranch For Children. The camp philosophy. Celebrating personal achievements. Programs offered and leadership development possibilities. Camp and medical facilities, medical staff and accessibility. Staff qualifications. Who can go? Camp ratio and safety. When to apply and registration details. Cost and funding. Benefits of participating and how to become involved as a staff or volunteer. What she finds rewarding about her job, the open house, and autism in her own words.

Ms. Janet Walmsley’s personal struggles, positivity and fortitude to beat all the odds. A family helping others. How autism can make a family closer. “Autism is not a death sentence but a richly deserved life sentence” explained. Her amazing and brilliant daughter Jenny. Her wishes for the future. Absurd beliefs she’s heard and how ignorance affects the autism community. Why she feels autism is a gift. ANCA. How her acting career helped her. Celebrating each moment of life to the full. Her final thoughts and autism in her own words

Janet Walmsley her story before her daughters diagnosis and after. Signs of autism. Hearing the words: “Your child has autism.” Why the autism label and being a “momma bear” is vital. Why she wrote the book “The Autistic Author and Animator, A Mother’s View of a Daughter’s Triumph.” The Dream Team. Importance of early intervention and advocacy. The Sunrise program. Her worries. Respite care. Keep positive. Her biggest frustrations. What she learned about herself and her advice to others.