Comfort in Community.
How COVID-19 has Impacted Individuals with
Autism and Special Needs & What's Working to Help them in Montreal.
By: Melissa Migueis
"Neurotypicals struggled, but people on the spectrum, their lives came crashing down, and they didn't know what to do..."
- Dr Erwin Neumark, Ph. D.,
Licensed Clinical Psychologist with a Specialization in Autism Spectrum Disorder
DID YOU KNOW?
Note: This figure refers to the number of adults with autism in the U.S.
According to the CDC, there are over 75 million people diagnosed with autism in the world.
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. This pandemic interrupted life in a myriad of ways for people around the world – but it disproportionately impacted the lives of the over 75 million individuals on the autism spectrum, according to Clinical Psychologist Dr. Erwin Neumark.
The province of Quebec forced all health and social services that children with special needs rely on to shut down on March 13, 2020 - This had significant consequences for those with autism.
For one, Neumark explained that there was practically no testing being conducted for six months, which resulted in delayed diagnoses for many children. But even when testing restarted, it was difficult to diagnose children who were wearing a mask as autism can be read through “facial expressions, emotions [and] language,” said Neumark. Some organizations and hospitals pivoted to conducting online testing, but diagnosing a child on Zoom proved to be challenging.
In addition to late diagnoses, COVID-19 forced therapy centers, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, music therapy and art therapy, to shut down. However, in an autistic child’s early years, “intervention is really important,” said Neumark. He added that this impact is going to be seen in years ahead and into adulthood.
Finally, one of the biggest challenges for this population was the loss of routine and lack of “normalcy.”
Listen to the audio story below to hear a mother, and two autism professionals discuss how the pivot to online learning and the new COVID-19 policies and protocols have disproportionality impacted the neurodivergent community.
Although almost all businesses were forced to shut down in March 2020, many of them are
now re-open and available to the Montreal special needs community.
I'm highlighting two autism-friendly Montreal resources that advocate for
inclusivity, acceptance and awareness:
Friendship Circle of Montreal and Caden's Lighthouse.
Friendship Circle
of Montreal
Located in the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, Friendship Circle is a non-profit organization that fosters real friendships for those with special needs.
Every neurodivergent individual is paired with a neurotypical volunteer. Through various programs that nurture social, physical and cognitive skills, the participants with special needs enjoy a non-judgmental environment that promotes friendship, support and inclusion.
It is an enriching experience for both the children with special needs, as well as the volunteers.
Cercle d’Amitié de Montréal | Friendship Circle of Montréal is one of over 80 Friendship Circle’s worldwide.
According to Marcus Autism Center, approximately 52 per cent of children on the autism spectrum struggle to make friends at school. Psychologist Tasha Oswald explains that they experience social anxiety and lack the social skills that are necessary to build friendships.
But, just like neurotypical individuals, people with autism desire and benefit from friendships. According to the Autism Specialty Group, for a child with autism, “a simple friendship can boost self-esteem and confidence, improve their ability to forge connections with others, reduce social anxieties, and help them feel more accepted by others.”
… and that’s the goal at Friendship Circle:
“to provide every individual with special needs the support, friendship and inclusion that they deserve.”
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Gracie (9), left, Paige (6), center, and volunteer Vanessa Ramirez (24), right, sit on the blue gym mats in the gymnasium during the ‘Sunday Circle’ program. “I love Friendship Circle,” said Gracie. Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Constantine (15) and his friends shake their arms and wiggle their fingers to warm up their bodies before playing freeze dance in the “Gross Motor Zone” room during the second half of ‘Sunday Circle’ program.
Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Paige (6) smiles as presses each piano key and listens to the different sounds that each key produces. The piano, which was placed in the corner of the gymnasium at Friendship Circle Montreal, was the first thing to catch Paige’s eye when she entered the room during the ‘Sunday Circle’ program. Photo by Melissa Migueis
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Volunteer Yael Bohbot (17) plays with her buddy in the "Dramatic Play Studio" during the ‘Sunday Circle’ program.
Photo by Melissa Migueis
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Volunteer Yael Bohbot (17) helps her buddy Gracie (9) fill out an “all about me” activity sheet in the art room during the ‘Sunday Circle’ program.
“An activity like this allows the volunteer and buddy to connect because they’re finding out about each other’s interests,” explains Friendship Circle Montreal’s volunteer coordinator Jayme Persiko. It also gives the children with special needs a chance to express themselves and speak about their interests and hobbies, which may be difficult to do without a directed worksheet. Photo by Melissa Migueis
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
A group of eight children aged five to 15 years old with special needs and their neurotypical buddies talk and laugh in a circle in the “Gross Motor Zone” room minutes before a movement class begins during the second half of the ‘Sunday Circle’ program. Photo by Melissa Migueis
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Children with special needs play with indoor scooters alongside their neurotypical buddies during free play in the gymnasium.
Playing with scooters in a group helps children focus on teamwork and sportsmanship. It also helps them develop fine and gross motor skills, social and emotional skills, and cognitive skills, according to author Tony Larson. Photo by Melissa Migueis
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 20, 2022
Volunteer Vanessa Ramirez (24) and participant Paige (6) use molds to make animal shapes out of kinetic sand in the art room during the ‘Sunday Circle’ program.
Kinetic sand is a great sensory toy for neurodivergent children as the soft and squishy texture of the sand can help relieve stress, says Melissa Finch of Autism Adventures.
Photo by Melissa Migueis
"My favorite part about volunteering at Friendship Circle is getting to see the kids having a sense of community and friends and I love being part of that. Seeing them leaving really happy and smiling is the best!"
- Vanessa Ramirez, volunteer of four months
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 21, 2022
Participant Olivia (23), left, smiles under her mask and gives a thumbs up after participant Alan (20), right, hands her a picture of a winter tuque that he coloured in the art room during the ‘Art & Dance’ teen and young adult program.
“This is for my friend Olivia,” said Alan with a huge grin as he walked across the art room to hand it to her. Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 21, 2022
Dance instructor and movement coach Melanie Sirois leads a choreography for a group of 15 teenagers and young adults with special needs, and their neurotypical buddies in the “Gross Motor Zone” room.
Dance and music increases overall cognitive processing, stimulates social interaction, increases self-expression and lowers anxiety for individuals with special needs, says certified Autism Movement Therapist Allyson Marie. Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 21, 2022
Participant Alan (20) giggles with happiness and excitement as a bright yellow scarf lays over his head during the dance class. Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 21, 2022
Participant Alan (20), left, gives a thumbs up as he and his buddy Shannon Meyrink (25) dance with a yellow and purple scarf during the freestyle movement portion of the dance class. Photo by Melissa Migueis.
FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE MONTREAL: February 21, 2022
Participant Katherine (38) and volunteer Eva Sénéchal (22) dance to an upbeat song with a purple scarf during the freestyle movement portion of the dance class.
According to Porchlight, a project of the Pacific Autism Center for Education, dancing with props – like colourful scarves – helps facilitate movement for individuals with various disabilities, as well as helps them build imagination and creative skills.
Photo by Melissa Migueis.
"My favorite part about volunteering is learning about how I can do my part to learn and be inclusive to ultimately be a better active ally to people with particular needs or challenges."
- Eva Sénéchal, volunteer of seven months
Caden's Lighthouse
Located in Montreal West, Caden's Lighthouse in Montreal's first public Snoezelen room and adapted gym -- catering to the sensory needs of individuals on the autism spectrum.
According to special education teacher Amanda Triassi, autism is a sensory disorder.
Watch the video below for a basic overview of how stimuli can impact children with autism:
For further clarification, individuals with autism often get overwhelmed and overstimulated by the different stimuli around them, according to autism consultant Kim Segal.
When their limbic system – part of the nervous system – is dysregulated, it goes into “flight or freeze mode,” said Segal. This is when children will “shut down” and regress, or when they will choose to “run off.”
In situations like these, sensory tools that meet their sensory needs can soothe their brain and calm down their limbic system.
That’s why a Snoezelen room – or a multisensory environment – is so beneficial.
Take a look at Montreal’s first public Snoezelen room and adapted gym:
Caden’s Lighthouse was forced to be closed for 8 months, said Ricci. But now that they’re open, they have a strict cleaning regime to ensure that the space remains safe and sanitary for all their visitors.
Everything is cleaned by hand using non-toxic products, explained Ricci. For objects that cannot be cleaned by hand, Ricci has incorporated a fogging system.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been exceptionally challenging for individuals with special needs and their families. But luckily, this population can find
comfort in community,
knowing that there are resources in Montreal that are inclusive & accepting.