Introducing Steven

Steven is a charming young man with a great sense of humour and is very well liked. He has overcome many obstacles.

He was diagnosed with autism at the age of 4. He had a speech delay that his pediatrician said not to worry that "boys take longer to talk", but I knew something more was going on.

Later in public school he received another diagnosis of severe intellectual delay.

Anxiety is something Steven faces daily even something as simple as walking up the street to the mailbox used to feel overwhelming and a source of fear. But Steven worked through it.  He now walks to the community centre on his own. He no longer wants to take the school bus to school, he prefers to walk. 

Steven has stepped out of his comfort zone again and again. He has shown incredible growth and determination in his pursuit of independence. There was a time when professionals said that Steven would not be able to ride a bike or to go on the monkey bars but he didn't let those words define him, not only did he try, but he also succeeded, and he did it very well.

One of Steven’s most significant achievements has been learning to take public transit by himself to attend his social skills program at the Centre for Dreams. The Centre for Dreams has played a big role in helping him develop life skills and confidence.

Steven is starting to prepare his own meals and taking more responsibility with his chores.

He continues to surprise us daily with his amazing accomplishments. Another milestone was going on a weekend trip with a group of boys from his boy’s social group.

One of Steven's greatest joys is traveling, he has a deep love for Greece, not just for its beauty but for the rich culture that he fully embraced. He is also taking a class to learn Greek while earning a high school credit and has even taken up Greek dancing. He has come a long way.

Whether it's mastering the monkey bars, learning to ride a bike, taking the bus on his own, or learning a new language, Steven tackles every challenge with determination and perseverance, and despite these challenges, Steven is working hard towards his high-school diploma with the dream of one day working for the TTC.

We are excited to see what is next for Steven and all his new achievements.

We can only imagine the amazing things he will accomplish next.

So proud of him. Way to go Steven!