Thrive & Grow Support Services

Thrive & Grow Support Services Empowering neurodiverse children age 3-14 through a child-led approach, fostering growth, and creating a supportive community for families to thrive together.

Okay my friends! What are your tips/tricks/suggestions on toilet training neurodiverse children? We've looked into the c...
09/07/2025

Okay my friends! What are your tips/tricks/suggestions on toilet training neurodiverse children?

We've looked into the conventional methods like sitting the child every 20 minutes, allowing the child to go commando during the day, staying indoors and monitoring the child's food/drink intake. I've found that there isn't a lot of resources for supporting our diverse children learn to use the toilet.

For our busy bodied children, some of these methods are not attainable from the beginning.

What are some strategies to aid in working towards a child using the toilet? Do you have experience in supporting a neurodiverse child in toilet training and have success?

Drop a comment and let us know 👍🏻



We've been a little busy this summer and this is one of our highlights. We traveled to Alberta last week to visit my par...
08/06/2025

We've been a little busy this summer and this is one of our highlights.

We traveled to Alberta last week to visit my parents and siblings. We ventured to Waterton Lakes National Park where we soent time at the beach, road Italian bikes, and ate ice cream. I got sun burnt even with sunscreen but these tan lines made some good memories ☀️

In other news, since November 2024, I now support 4 families. It's been an incredible 2025 so far working with each child and their parents. I absolutely love what I do every day. Coming into your homes is such a privilege and I am so thankful to my families for trusting me.

Hope everyone is having a great summer!

Kaitlyn

One of our programs is focused on life skills. Life skills include a lot more than just making your bed in the morning. ...
05/20/2025

One of our programs is focused on life skills.

Life skills include a lot more than just making your bed in the morning. For children who may have neurodiverse needs, these skills may be more tricky for them. My attempt with our life skills program is to engage in various outings to stores, cafes, and other commonplaces in our community.

This drawing is mine, from one of my sessions with a child. One of the ways I try to engage with my clients is through perspective sharing. Perspective sharing is such a great way to engage in conversation. For this context in a cafe and doing art, here are some perspective sharing phrases we can use with our learners:

1️⃣ "I was thinking about how cozy it feels in here with the music and art. Do you feel it that way too, or is it different for you?"
> This gently encourages sensory and emotional awareness, giving space for the child's unique take.
2️⃣ "You chose such cool colors—I wonder what made you pick them?"
>Engages curiosity and invites the child to share their thought process in a low-pressure way.
3️⃣ "Sometimes when I draw, I get lost in my own world. Does that happen to you too?"
> This phrase helps create connection through shared experience and leaves room for the child to relate or explain their own experience.










Happy Mother's day to all the amazing mama's out there. Huge shout out to the mama's who are their children's advocates....
05/11/2025

Happy Mother's day to all the amazing mama's out there.

Huge shout out to the mama's who are their children's advocates. The mums who continue to look for answers when things don't seem right or you're faced with dismissive providers. To the mums who continue on because they have no choice but to continue on. You are seen mum's. You are amazing & I hope you are spoiled and encouraged today and every day.





My favorite part of this support worker gig is the life skills component. I like the opportunity to collaborate with par...
05/05/2025

My favorite part of this support worker gig is the life skills component. I like the opportunity to collaborate with parents and have their consent to take their child out to try new things. Life skills and executive functioning go hand in hand. These outings are interactive - often involving the child to create a checklist and preparing to go to new places.

There are many steps that are taken before going into a store. For children with high anxiety, getting shoes on to leave the house is anxiety inducing. So, we take our time and we take body breaks in between. Often, the car playlist becomes the responsibility of the child and this supports their autonomy and making the car another safe place for them.

We build life skills often by doing things. We are engaging with the brain and creating new paths for confidence to build. The more we get out, the easier some of these outings or tasks will be. Slowly but surely, we will get there. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

At Thrive & Grow Support Services, we believe every child is AMAZING just the way they are!Autism means that some kids s...
04/27/2025

At Thrive & Grow Support Services, we believe every child is AMAZING just the way they are!

Autism means that some kids see, feel, and understand the world in their own special way. Some kids might love hugs, and some might not.Some might talk a lot, and some might show their feelings in other ways.Some kids are super good at remembering facts, building things, or noticing tiny details others might miss!

We are here to celebrate all the wonderful ways kids shine. We create safe, happy spaces where every child feels seen, heard, and loved.

You are smart. You are strong. You are YOU. And that’s the best thing you can be!

Want to learn more about how we support kids? Send us a message — we can’t wait to meet you!

When I was in grade 8, my social studies teacher made a rule at the beginning of the year that we don't say the r word. ...
04/21/2025

When I was in grade 8, my social studies teacher made a rule at the beginning of the year that we don't say the r word. This has stuck with me ever since.

This word is gross. I worked for an employer who works with the public who used this word often. I confronted them about this and they continued to use this word. I don't know why we need use this word at all. Even this weekend and being with family, several family members use this word for humor or just as "normal" language.

Why is this word gross? Let me tell you:

1. It dehumanizes – The word has historically been used to mock and demean people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, reducing them to a label rather than recognizing their humanity.

2. It reinforces stigma – Using the word continues to spread negative stereotypes and shame around disabilities, contributing to social exclusion.

3. Language evolves – Just like we’ve moved away from other outdated or offensive terms, society grows by choosing language that reflects respect, dignity, and inclusion.

4. It hurts real people – Many individuals and families who have a loved one with a disability have shared how painful it is to hear that word used, especially in a casual or joking way.

It's not funny, this isn't cute, and it's gross to use the r word as humor.










I am a nerd for politics which makes it hard to stay silent on some issues I find deeply personal. Robert F. Kennedy Jr....
04/16/2025

I am a nerd for politics which makes it hard to stay silent on some issues I find deeply personal. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK for short) continues to perpetuate a harmful narratives about autistic people and this needs to be addressed.

As Canadians, we are watching what's going on in America. We are witnessing some wild stuff but it's these comments by RFK Jr. that continue to promote harmful narratives about autism here in Canada too. What is so harmful about his comments, you ask? Let me tell ya:

🚫 Stigmatization of Autistic individuals.
Kennedy's rhetoric often portrays autism in a negative light, describing it as a, "preventable disease," & refers to autistic individuals as "vaccine injured." Such language dehumanizes autistic people and reinforces damaging stereotypes, suggesting that they are broken or a sub-class of human. This ideology often promotes social exclusion & discrimination.

🚫 Exploitation of vulnerable families.
Kennedy's organization, "Children's Health Defense," has been long criticized for exploiting the fears of parents by promoting misinformation. This can lead families to pursue unproven & potentially harmful interventions, which then delays effective treatment and support.

🚫Diversion of resources from supportive services.
By focusing on discredited theories, Kennedy's approach risks diverting attention and funding away from essential services that support autistic individuals & their families, such as educational programs, therapy and community resources. These misallocations could hinder the development and well-being of those on the autism spectrum.

We as Canadians are striving to be inclusive of people of all abilities. It's wild how these comments have affected people in our community. Autism is not bad, it's not something to be feared. Autistic individuals are incredible humans with potential. They are not their label, they are humans, worthy of respect and love.

What do you think about RFK Jr. recent comments? Share in the comments.

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Chilliwack, BC

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