Variety BC funds specialized therapies for children with ADHD and anxiety

Photo: Contributed

Variety BC funds equine therapy, helping children like Evelyn learn and develop.

Evelyn was the kind of toddler for whom baby gates were no obstacle; she’d just climb over them. By the time she was seven months old, her mom Nicole had taught her to climb stairs.

“I just knew that I had to work with this child. There’s no holding her in,” Nicole says. “I need to meet her where she’s at, honour who she is, and just try to build the skills that she needs to be herself—but be herself safely.”

At around two or three years old, Evelyn’s mom started to notice difficulties with emotional regulation. Evelyn attended school for several years where these difficulties grew, and eventually her severe anxiety and ADHD made being in the classroom too hard to maintain.

Photo: Contributed

“We decided to homeschool, which basically meant that I had to put my career on hold,” Nicole says. “As a single mom, I had to make a really hard decision to find ways to support my family without being able to work because she needed full-time care.”

Now Nicole is figuring out how to re-integrate part-time work into their family’s life, while still homeschooling Evelyn. But it’s been a challenging season, and paying for any kind of specialized support for Evelyn has been almost impossible.

Nicole applied to Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC to fund equine therapy for Evelyn, who loves animals of all kinds. During her first equine sessions at Kamloops Therapeutic Riding Association, she was paired with an active horse named Suede who was new to the program. The two bonded quickly.

“There was something magical when they were together,” her mom says. “They were both calm. It was really the most interesting thing to watch.”

Therapeutic riding can contribute to cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being in many ways, including improving mobility, balance, and co-ordination, developing concentration and learning skills, and growing independence and self-confidence. As the horse responds based on Evelyn’s own reactions, it is teaching her to be more aware of herself.

Nicole says she’s so grateful, as she never could have paid for this experience for Evelyn on her own.

Many of the families Variety supports experience similar stressors and financial pressures. The average income for families who apply is just over $40,000 a year. In many cases, one parent needs to stay home; and for single moms like Nicole, there are even fewer options.

Behind each of these stories are dedicated parents who continually find creative ways for their kids with disabilities and complex health needs to thrive; but due to circumstances, help and essential supports are often just out of reach. Every Variety grant fills a gap in health care or private insurance plans, helping families get the best care for their children.

On Feb. 23 tune in to Variety’s annual Show of Hearts on Global BC so that you can help Variety make an even bigger impact on families in Kamloops and across B.C.

This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.