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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 17, 2014 | 12 Show helps raise awareness Ontario's Largest Indoor Amusement Park OPEN GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER SUNDAY! continued from p.4 The variety show was more successful than in 2013, raising $7,000, compared to $5,000 last year. It took place April 6, the day the Town of Oakville proclaimed as Autism Awareness Day. Milton Councillor Mike Cluett presented a municipal proclamation to Project Autism. "We're continuing this trend in raising awareness for autism in Canada within our municipality in Halton. One in 68 children are diagnosed with some form of being on the spectrum," said Cluett, noting a recent fundraiser raised $4,700 for the National Service Dogs. Project Autism was founded about a year ago, "born out of a sheer need" for services parents wanted, Lee said. The group's I Can program is a complimentary six-week course designed to increase social interaction, learning and development for children and young adults, as well as their siblings. The Oakville charity currently serves about 280 families. "A lot of times you hear about (autism), but you don't truly experience it in a positive environment. You always experience it in a supermarket or somewhere a kid is melting down and that's when you truly see it," said Lee. "But there's another side to it where they flourish and they're doing amazing work and they can do things other kids can do." Oakville MPP and Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn said Project Autism is an organization that brings people together so they "don't feel alone in dealing with the issue." "If this was an issue that had been with us for 200 years and we were just coming to grips with it, the government would generally have a good handle on it," said Flynn. "But the government is learning about autism at the same time parents are." The labour minister cited the new ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and Development facility coming to Oakville in 2017 as an example of the government "expanding the institutional" side of helping families deal with autism. The approximate 73,000-sq.-ft. facility will offer autism services such as intensive behavioural intervention and applied behavioural analysis. "When we first took over (Ontario) in 2003, young people were only able to get certain treatments until the age of six. It didn't matter if they needed the treatment anymore or not, they got cut off. We stopped that immediately," said Flynn. "When you talk to the organizers of Project Autism, you really get a much better handle as a politician as to what the needs are." Funds generated from Sunday's fundraiser will support the Autism Dog Services and Rainbow of Joy, a community project helping autism spectrum disorder families afford specialized summer camps and social groups, as well as applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) therapies. Formoreinformation,visitwww.projectautism. ca. Refreshing your favourite place to play. NEW... NEW... ROCK `n' CLIMB! DROP & HOP! NEW... Easter Bunny hops in April 5-19! XD SIMULATOR! Plus Ferris Wheel, Train, Carousel, Arcade, Bumper Cars, and more! Check us out at fantasyfair.ca 500 Rexdale Blvd at Hwy 27, located inside the Woodbine Centre 416-674-5437 Recycle your unwanted Electronics April 26th, 11 am to 2 pm only.* Dorval Crossing, WEST ­ Parking lot near Tim Hortons. Look for the Electronics Drop-off area. The first 100 customers to drop off their unwanted electronics will receive a voucher for $10 off a large pizza at Boston Pizza (one voucher per family). *Electronics accepted: computer monitors, keyboards, laptops, digital cameras, cell phones, fax machines, televisions & audio equipment. Please remove any confidential information from your e-waste before dropping it off. We are not responsible for any confidential information left on your e-waste. Sponsors: Over 60 Shops & Services located at the QEW & Dorval Drive Visit dor valcrossing.com for more information PROUDLY MANAGED BY