Tavish's Story: Progress, Pride & Possibility

Tavish was born on December 30, 2000, at Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, on avery snowy day during what felt like a record winter storm. He arrived 11 days past his due date after a long and difficult labour that lasted more than 30 hours. Because of the prolonged labour, Tavish was born with a large caput on his head and remained in the hospital for five days after birth. Even through those early challenges, Tavish brought so much joy into our lives from the very beginning. His first year was both hectic and joyful, and one thing that always stood out was his beautiful smile, which continues to brighten our days.

As Tavish grew, we began to notice that some developmental milestones were delayed. Around his first birthday, we saw concerns in areas such as cognition, verbal development, eye contact, and social interaction. Tavish was formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at around 30 months of age. Like many families, receiving that diagnosis brought many emotions and many questions about what the future might look like. We decided to move to Toronto to be closer to family, and that support became an important part of our journey as we learned how best to care for and advocate for Tavish.

Over the years, Tavish has shown us his own unique way of experiencing the world. He is, for the most part, a smiling, happy young man who brings warmth to the people around him. He loves watching movies, especially animated films and Disney movies, and enjoys television shows, going to the movie theatre, eating his favourite foods, and visiting restaurants. He also enjoys vacations, hiking, swimming, and spending time with family members. One of Tavish’s most beautiful qualities is his honesty. He always speaks the truth, does not understand what a lie is, and never makes things up. His sincerity is one of the many things we cherish about him.

We are incredibly proud of Tavish and all that he has accomplished. He has basic verbal skills and is able to complete self-hygiene and grooming tasks with prompting. He follows instructions well and responds especially well to structure, routine, and clear expectations. Tavish loves schedules and is often able to move through familiar routines almost on autopilot when he knows what is expected. He also has a remarkable memory for dates and events. He can often remember important dates going back many years and connect them to specific events, the day of the week, and who was there. That ability continues to amaze us.

Like many families who have a loved one on the autism spectrum, we have also had to work through barriers. Tavish does best with routine, and changes need to be explained to him ahead of time. His social interactions are still somewhat limited, mostly to immediate family and the staff and guests at The Centre for Dreams. He is not always able to clearly communicate health concerns or discomfort, and he still needs prompting for some safety-related tasks, such as crossing roads. At age 18, medication became necessary to help manage anxiety and improve sleep. These challenges are part of daily life, but so are patience, perseverance, and the many small victories that come with time and support.

There have been many proud moments along the way. Tavish graduated from Bur Oak Secondary School in 2021, which was a major milestone for him and for our family. He was also involved in the school play In My Shoes in 2015 and performed in Windsor, Ontario. Moments like these reminded us that growth can happen in many different ways and that every achievement deserves to be celebrated.

Our connection to the Centre for Dreams began through one of Tavish’s teachers at BOSS, who suggested that Dreams would be a good fit for him. Looking back, that was one of the best pieces of advice we received. When we toured the Centre, we were immediately impressed by the welcoming environment, the quality of the facilities, and, most of all, the warmth and professionalism of the staff. We felt that this was a place where Tavish would be understood, supported, and encouraged to continue growing.

Since joining the Centre for Dreams, we have seen meaningful changes in Tavish. He has grown in his personal life, social skills, confidence, and independence. He is more social, more self-assured, and better able to keep himself occupied as long as he has something engaging to do. At home, he now helps with chores and is able to manage many of his daily tasks with less prompting. He also remembers to take his medication both at Dreams and at home, which has been a significant step forward in his independence.

One of the most encouraging changes has been in his overall sense of calm and well- being. Tavish has less anxiety than before and shows fewer self-stimulatory behaviours, such as rocking, hand flapping, and mumbling. He appears more settled and more connected. Perhaps the clearest sign of the impact Dreams has had is how much he looks forward to going each week. He is happy there, and as parents, that means everything to us.

The Centre for Dreams has made a truly meaningful difference in our lives. It has given Tavish a place where he can continue to grow, build confidence, and be part of a caring community. It has also given us peace of mind to know that he is surrounded by people who understand him, respect him, and want the very best for him. We are deeply grateful to The Centre for Dreams and to every staff member who has played a role in Tavish’s journey. Their kindness, patience, encouragement, and dedication have had a lasting impact on Tavish and on our entire family. It is not easy to put into words how much that support has meant to us, but it has been truly invaluable.

Tavish’s journey has been one of resilience, love, and steady progress. He has taught us to appreciate every milestone, every step forward, and every moment of joy. We are so proud of the young man he has become, and we are thankful to everyone at Centre for Dreams for helping him continue to thrive.