“I’m twenty five years old and I’ve been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I’ve always dreamt of this place, a place where I don’t have to think twice about being myself. A place where I feel loved, cared and most importantly accepted. I see my parents working around the clock, taking shifts to take care of me. On some days it is utter chaos and I see the bags under their eyes. I see that they have reached their epitome of exhaustion, but it doesn’t stop them. I feel an urgent need to be independent.

When I try to be independent, people look at me strange, and sometimes it seems like I’m always asking for help… but I’m not. And most often they call me ‘disabled’. What does that even mean? Everyone has their own way of shining, and I too have mine. I’m differently-abled and I can!”

There lies a slight discomfort and fear behind the word disability. When we see a person with a disability it is almost as if we have no idea how to react. We tend to pity them, ignore them or even go to the extent of mocking them. It’s almost as if we’ve come into contact with a Martian and don’t know what to do! We become quick to making the assumption that they CAN’T.

Due to the abundance of limitations and labels that have been placed on individuals with a disability, they often face a constant battle between what society thinks they are capable of versus what they are actually capable of. Perceived limitations cause society to have lower expectations of the differently abled making them less independent.  

Annai Thantha Illam (ATI) is a cross-disability organization engaging and empowering Canadian Tamils with physical and intellectual disabilities, and their caregivers. It is ATI’s vision to create a facility for the differently abled and provide them with the appropriate services and supports, as well as respite care.

ATI has reached out to approximately 30 families thus far through their day programming and a newly implemented summer program, Different Abled Independent Living Initiative (DAILI). This has been a great success as it was their first major step to help enhance the independent living skills of the differently abled.

On Friday, August 12th 2016, ATI will be holding its first ever outdoor awareness event ‘Summer Sizzle- Beats & Barbecue’. This event will feature food vendors such as Fusion by T, Beavertails, Rio Ice Cream and many more! Event guests will also be treated to scintillating performances provided by Toronto’s very own local talents Sunsea Music, Prima Dance School and PK Arts.

With your support, we can provide more services and achieve positive results that will help individuals with disabilities to live as independently as possible and with the dignity that every human being deserves.

It’s YOUR time to create change! BE DIFFERENT!