DNTO

In Canada, one in every 68 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. It is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in the country - but not many people truly understand what it is.

There's a common saying in the autism community: "If you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism."

On this Now or Never, you'll learn about autism from people who are surviving and thriving with the disorder in their own unique ways. And you'll discover the challenges people with autism are tackling head on.

Who's one person you need to reconnect with?

We've all had the experience of losing touch with somebody important to us. And often, it's easier to just stay apart rather than reach out.

But on this Now or Never, you'll meet Canadians who have taken a risk and reconnected with somebody from their past - from a young man who needs a pep talk from his old high school teacher, to two brothers ripped apart by war, and a woman who wants to thank the lifeguard who saved her life.

It's not easy pounding the pavement to find a job. It's even harder when something keeps getting in your way.

This Now or Never, follow Canadians as they hustle to find employment and find out how they're turning challenges into opportunities.

We're featuring true stories as they unfold, including a woman who's using vocal tics to her advantage in job interviews and an ex-con who's petitioning to overhaul the justice system so that he can chase his dream career.

As we get older, we tend to trade things like sleepovers, swingsets and being silly for working late and worrying. So this week on Now or Never we're on a mission to re-awaken the eight-year-old in all of us.

Summer is here, and it's up to you to make the most of it. On this Now or Never, get inspired by people who are motivated to cross big items off their summer bucket list.

A woman with terminal cancer spends what could be her last summer doing what she loves - performing on stage.

A two-spirit traditional dancer attends his first LGBTTQ powwow.

A young runner with autism prepares for the Special Olympics.

And Trevor and Ify take the ultimate Now or Never road trip!

Passing down your knowledge is important, whether it's teaching your kids how to cook a traditional dish or training potential athletes.

When you don't impart your wisdom there can be big consequences. Family recipes are forgotten, languages disappear and legacies are lost. So on this Now or Never, we're on a mission to keep those special talents, skills and stories alive by passing them along.

It's pride season in Canada. And now, more than ever, people are having conversations about gender.

And there is a lot to figure out: what society says you can and can't wear; which bathrooms you can use; and just how far you need to go to feel right in your own body.

For many people, those questions don't require much thought. But for the guests on this episode, they're in the middle of challenging their gender identity right now - from a non-binary comedian figuring out how to talk about identity on stage, to a trans teenager's gender reveal party and a class of students studying to become drag queens.

We're right in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, which means that Muslims around the world are demonstrating their faith by fasting from sunrise to sunset.

Across all religions, there are people whose faith is challenging them right now. Whether it's sacrificing food and water for the day, committing good deeds, or stepping in to ceremonial sweat lodges — belief is something that motivates billions of people every single day.

On this Now or Never, meet folks whose faith has inspired them to take action.

We've all had big — and not so big — things that we've given up on. But on this Now or Never, meet people who have no quit at all. If there's an obstacle, they'll find a away around it. If there's a road block, they'll just go through.

A refugee who lost his fingers trying to cross the Manitoba border, gets a new bionic prosthetic... and debuts a new play inspired by his life.

A life-long smoker takes a drag on his very last cigarette, and tells us what he's doing this time to make it stick.

And a matchmaker who resorts to unusual measures to help young Muslims navigate a challenging dating scene.

Rites of passage mark the end of the life you've known and the beginning of something new. Life is peppered with these transitional moments: some of them you look forward to, others you dread.