Imagine this...
Imagine your child or someone you love being unable to access the learning opportunities that every child deserves—opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive in a safe, supportive environment.
At Janus Academy, we specialize in making this vision a reality for children with autism and their families. Each student’s journey is unique, and every success story is a testament to the power of specialized education.
Hear Vol and mom, Darcy's journey to Janus Academy...
From infancy, we all knew something was different about my son, fearing the unknown or yet to be discovered. As he missed each childhood milestone, and multiple diagnoses later—including autism, seizure disorder, and global delays in every spectrum—my heart sank into despair. So I tried harder, seeking information, resources, and answers wherever I could. I carried him for years because he wasn’t strong enough to hold himself up to walk. Then when he could, he ran everywhere. While he babbled constantly, wanting to share everything about the world around him, he could not talk in a way others could understand, with only me sharing his daily frustrations and struggles.
Preschool and Kindergarten were a positive experience, but the public school system—even with specialized programming—could not meet his unique and complex needs. He became frustrated and anxious. Unable to advocate for his needs effectively left me feeling helpless. Only six months ago, my neighbour and I had to drive him to school because he refused the school bus, sometimes sitting in the parking lot for hours, only to be sent home later for acting out. My heart ached reading his school journal, filled with notes about his “inappropriate behaviour,” leaving him unteachable—or so I was told.
When assessments at the Children’s Hospital confirmed what I had been told, I wept over the steering wheel. Those reports didn’t reflect my son; they didn’t know him the way I did. Armed with determination, I taught him to read using captions on every device in the house and then one day, he began spelling out messages like “I love you Mom.” Around that time, a wonderful sponsor learned about his story and opened the door for him at Janus Academy. This September was the first time I have slept through the night in years because my son is finally happy and engaged at school. He hops in the vehicle each morning, eager to tell his teachers about this or that, and his school journal is now full of “good behaviour” and even “excellent.”
My son is now learning math, which I had been told before was impossible to teach him, language arts, geography, science, soccer, music. He is feeling welcome and that he belongs, sleeping through the night with no more nightmares, making friends, and feeling like other children. Thank you, Janus Academy!!”
This transformation is only possible because of YOU.
Your generosity ensures that children like Vol have access to highly trained, dedicated educational teams, and individualized learning plans that allow them to reach their full potential.
This year, YOU can give the Gift of Education by helping us decorate our tree!
With each decoration chosen, you help ensure each student’s learning potential is maximized.
AND YOUR GIFT CAN GO 50% FURTHER
Gifts will be eligible for a 50% match* from the Government of Alberta.
Charities are eligible for a maximum of $5,000 in matching funds.
All donations are eligible for a tax receipt and are received with great appreciation.
Together, we can provide the specialized education that transforms lives—not just for the students, but for their families, too. Let’s make this holiday season brighter for the children and families of Janus Academy.
Donate Today. Transform Lives.
