We’re here to listen and help you see the world through the lens of an autistic child.
We’re here to listen and help you see the world through the lens of an autistic child.
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To encourage everyone to love, hope, and dream. Remember, we are with you at every phase of your life in helping the autistic child. Do not let your difficulties fill you with anxiety. It is only in the darkest nights that stars shine brightly - Ali (RA)
Hope Heals Foundation is a registered charity.
Its charitable registration number # 773739222RR0001
Hi!
I, Syed Viquar Ahmed, am an accomplished licensed psychotherapist, educator, and administrator with over 25 years of experience in various institutions. Being an educator and a registered psychotherapist, I understand the nuances of children's neurodivergence issues like autism, ADHD, speech/language delay, anxiety, phobias, unfounded fears, social interaction issues, sensory issues, mobility problems, cognition issues, and behavioural problems. No two children on the spectrum are the same. I love the quote, "Autistic children don't come with a manual, but they come with parents who know everything about the child." It is a team effort to raise these children, involving parents, professionals, and the children themselves. These children have the potential to achieve anything in the world; they need a little push. We need to see the world through their lens. It is not an easy task. However, we can all make it easier by supporting each other in this endeavour.
Our Treasurer and founder, Uzma Lateefi is a kind and compassionate, proud mother. She loves children more than anything in this world. She goes beyond just meeting children’s needs; she truly listens and makes space for them to be their authentic selves. It’s about understanding their unique ways of expressing themselves—through words, actions, or even what’s left unsaid. She knows she won’t always get it right, but she shows up with love, learns and grows alongside children, and makes them feel seen, heard, and valued for who they are, celebrating their joys and supporting them through every challenge, no matter how confusing or unexpected.
A couple of years ago, Uzma started researching autism. It was a learning curve in working with children who have difficulty with communication, emotion regulation, truancy, unfounded fears, and other learning disabilities. She has extensive knowledge of autism. She has dedicated her life to supporting individuals with autism and neurodivergence.
Upon enquiring from the affected families, we found that the autistic kids and families need support, especially the ones who fail to secure government funding. We can understand the pain and struggles of those families. This influenced our decision to start a charity mainly to help those families.
According to the National Library of Medicine, research has shown that a lack of perceived social support among parents of children with autism is the most significant indicator of the development of mental health problems and hurts parental stress and family socialization. It is also found that an absence of social support services contributes to parents facing more challenges to their parenting skills associated with the child’s characteristics, which in turn exacerbates parental stress and depressive symptoms. We want to achieve the following goals:
Increase understanding:
We aim to create documentaries about the shared experiences of autistic individuals and share them on our website. We hope to raise awareness about autism and showcase the dreams, aspirations, and goals of the autistic community. These will be offered free to educate a broader audience about autism and the autism community.
Participation in discussions:
We aim to partner with the corporate sector, including Apple and Bell, to lead discussions on making the workplace more inclusive and accommodating for the autism community. We invite researchers, policymakers, and self-advocates to participate in the autism seminars. The primary goal is to discuss the issues faced by autistic adults as they age.
Provide inclusive experiences:
We aim to partner with places of worship – including mosques, churches, synagogues, and temples- to accommodate autistic children and youth. We want to partner with our local municipality of Stouffville to provide special movie nights, swimming classes, and basketball practice for autistic youth and children. We could form a local autism advocacy group for the autistic community of Stouffville. We can partner with the YMCA to dedicate exclusive days for autistic children and youth at Canada’s Wonderland and Canadian National Exhibition, CNE. Generally, autistic kids love water. A lot of autistic children drown in water due to a lack of training in swimming. Hence, we would like to start swimming classes for autistic children in partnership with the local municipalities. Generally, autistic individuals can’t understand the nuances of communication. Hence, they are widely misunderstood. Consequently, they encounter problems with law and order and the police. We aim to bridge this gap by forming a liaison group that educates the police on the use of autism-specific de-escalation techniques.
Syed Viquar Ahmed - Psychotherapist
Founder and President
B.Sc., CAMS., M. Sc., B. Ed., OCT., Hon. Spec., Spec. Ed., PQP II., PARS., M. A. (Coun. Psyc)
Certified Anger Management and PARS Course Provider.
Goals:
1. Increasing global understanding and acceptance of autistic people
2. Increasing early childhood screening and timely interventions
3. Improving the transition to adulthood
4. Ensuring access to reliable information and services throughout the lifespan
5. Provide resources to individuals who fail to get the government funding autistic child
Need for government funding:
According to CBC News, dated July 26. 2023, there are many parents of autistic children waiting to get resources and therapy that is considered a lifeline for these children. Without proper support, these children cannot integrate into mainstream society. Furthermore, it takes a heavy toll on the families of t
Need for government funding:
According to CBC News, dated July 26. 2023, there are many parents of autistic children waiting to get resources and therapy that is considered a lifeline for these children. Without proper support, these children cannot integrate into mainstream society. Furthermore, it takes a heavy toll on the families of these children. Often, the parents of these children exhibit signs of stress, burnout, depression, and anxiety. This is where we could make a difference by providing therapy or resources to these affected families for free.
Hope Heals Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organization. Soon, it will be a national charitable organization.
Fundraising Initiatives:
1. Increase exposure: Exposure and awareness are often the first steps towards achieving other nonprofit goals, such as increasing fundraising dollars or recruiting more great volunteers. Exposure can be achieved through a targeted and well-thought-out marketing campaign. These days, social media, email or SMS mark
Fundraising Initiatives:
1. Increase exposure: Exposure and awareness are often the first steps towards achieving other nonprofit goals, such as increasing fundraising dollars or recruiting more great volunteers. Exposure can be achieved through a targeted and well-thought-out marketing campaign. These days, social media, email or SMS marketing, press coverage and advertising are the main avenues through which charities and nonprofits can increase their awareness of the autistic child.
2. Raise funds: Fundraising events for autism support are great for raising funds and spreading awareness about your organization's mission. We may set up a donate button on our website or social media channels to collect funds year-round. Our volunteers will also be a key source of donations, as studies show that most volunteers support causes with time and money.
Understanding and managing Autism and ADHD can be overwhelming, but with the right resources and support, it becomes much more manageable. By learning more about these conditions, we can better support those affected children and foster a more inclusive and understanding community. At Hope Heals Foundation, you'll find a wealth of information designed to help you understand these conditions better. Click on the button below for more in-depth resources. Our foundation aspires to be an autism charity.
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