Being a parent has never been easy, but the challenges we all face this year especially have definitely made it even tougher. In our ?new normal?, many aspects of our routine, and our children?s routine have been upended. Whether it?s something as simple as foregoing weekly dinner plans to something as challenging as transitioning to a work from home/learn from home environment, our day-to-day lives feel completely different than they did this time last year.
One of the most valuable lessons many of us have learned is the importance of coming together even while staying physically apart. In this new reality, technology has become a crucial tool to keep us connected – from a video call with grandma to keeping up with the latest news – technology has played an important role and continues to play a critical one in our lives as we move forward. With the changes to our current education system, the importance of technology has become even more prominent thanks to the onset of remote and e-learning. That said, unfortunately, many families in Canada lack access to technology, putting them at a great disadvantage. One in 66 Canadian children and youth are diagnosed with autism and for these families, the challenges posed by a lack of access to technology are exacerbated as it not only locks the door to education but also vital support services.
This is why Samsung Canada donated 1,000 tablets to Autism Speaks Canada (ASC) this past spring. ASC received over 4,000 appl...