Toonie for Autism Day: a success story
By Emmanouela Dimas
As a newcomer to the field of Special Education/Autism, my learning curve stood at a 90 degree angle and I felt the impact of the daily frustrations and challenges. I also knew that my heart was in it and that my ultimate job was to help my students. In March 2001, Jan McQuay, my educational assistant at William Dunbar P.S. in Pickering, brought a Toronto Star article to my attention entitled, “Going the Distance for a Cure,” about Durham Regional Police Sergeant John Keating planning an 11,800 km. cycle across the United States to raise $10 million to help find a cure for autism. Inspired to help, I sought the support and approval of my principal.
Our first event was a Community Walk-a-thon in May, 2001. All proceeds from the Walk were to go to The Geneva Centre for Autism in Toronto. When I met Bonnie McPhail through her daughter Alicia, I felt as if I’d known her for years. We were a great team. As community notices went out, the phone began to ring. Kathy Deschenes from The Geneva Centre for Autism asked me, “Do you realize what you’ve started?” I had no idea where it would take us, but I did know that there was a great need for awareness. People needed to be informed about autism and the education had to begin with young students. An educated child becomes an educated adult.
As plans for the Walk began, our school committee got to work. The idea of ‘Loonie for Autism’ was born as we brainstormed fundraising potential. If every student could bring in $1, our school alone could raise about $750.
Realizing that other schools also had students with autism, we challenged them to join our cause. Loonie Day became an intense passion. Initially, few schools responded, but to our great delight approximately 350 students and community members participated in our Walk-a-thon. Even local politicians came to support our great cause. Our two fundraising events raised over $8,000 for The Geneva Centre, but more importantly, we cast a stone that would soon have a tremendous ripple effect.
These events left a tremendous impact on William Dunbar students. A new attitude of caring, understanding and acceptance emerged. Mainstream students integrated and became ‘buddies’ with the students in my Primary Associated class. It was heartwarming and touching to observe.
Bonnie and I were flooded with calls and letters offering congratulations and praise for our efforts. Margaret Whelan, Executive Director of The Geneva Centre, agreed a portion of the money would subsidize work-shops for educators, parents and caregivers from the Durham Region and towards training camp counselors in autism at Grandview Rehabilitation and Treatment Centre in Oshawa.
In June 2001, Bonnie and I contacted Ron Harrison, a long time friend of John Keating and his Cycle Manager on the Cycle USA event. With Ron’s expertise and suggestions things just seemed to fit together. A leave of absence from my teaching job enabled me to devote my full time and attention to autism. Often I worked on the side, leaving Bonnie and Ron to run the show and we’d meet to discuss and get filled in on the details.
In early September, we broached the idea of TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY, in lieu of Loonie for Autism, with Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director of Autism Society Ontario (now Autism Ontario). We started the new school year with a province-wide challenge to all schools, across all boards to participate in TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY. Our gratitude and acknowledgement go to Ron’s wife, Maria, for her campaign design concept. Her incredible information package was mailed to more than 5,000 schools. Printing was also generously donated by J.F. Moore Lithographers. We encouraged all municipalities to declare a calendar day, officially branding the last Friday of April - TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY.
The first province-wide TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY campaign in 2002 had 44 school boards across Ontario participating, raising over $90,000 for autism awareness and research. Each year TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY gains momentum, raising $130,000 in 2003 and more than $225,000 last year (2004). I am optimistic for the continued success and growth of TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY throughout Ontario and eventually across Canada.
As a teacher, I have gained new insights from these events. I have seen students take a giant step forward to reach out with care, patience and compassion. I have observed growth and a developing sense of awareness within them and their inter-actions with their special friends. I am overcome with a profound sense of personal and professional satisfaction as I reach out to others with love, acceptance, patience, guidance and hope for what we may all become together.
I am extremely proud of what TOONIE FOR AUTISM DAY has become. I truly pray that research will find a cure or preventive measure. Knowing that we’ve made a difference in someone’s life makes it all worthwhile.
WHAT MATTERS
One hundred years from now,
It will not matter what kind of car I drove,
What kind of house I lived in,
How much I had in my bank account,
Nor what my clothes looked like.
But the world may be a little better
Because I was important in the life of a child.
Author Unknown
Note: Not to be reproduced without permission of Together for Autism