TBH.

CAPSTONE PROJECT

by Aseana Acabado

volume 1

March 30, 2023

2

A Grade 12 student's journey of crocheting her way through — to partake in reaching inclusivity for children with special needs.

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Hugh Boyd Secondary School

DOLLARS CAN GO A LONG WAY

@toonie.tbh

REFLECTION QUESTION “What did you learn during your Capstone project?”

RESEARCH.

Hop in and take this rollercoaster ride with me as I go on a journey of enlightenment in Canada’s inclusivity towards children with special needs – specifically in British Columbia. When I started my research, the first question on my mind that I wanted to immediately address was – are there available programs provided by the government that will support families of children with special needs? I came across a brochure uploaded by BC Children’s Hospital that lists the family support services presented by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. As I scanned through it, feelings of relief and envy took over my mind. Back home in the Philippines, I basically grew up with a little cousin that was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We had to take care of her because her parents were both overseas Filipino workers. They planned to go back home once they saved enough to sustain their family. However, her diagnosis became a crucial factor for them to decide to keep on working abroad. Having a child that belongs in the spectrum while living in a third world country means that you would have to be mentally, emotionally, and financially equipped.

The links to all my sources in this project are converted into QR codes for easy access.

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She is nonverbal that’s why she has to regularly attend speech therapy, alongside occupational therapy and special school. Throughout the whole 8 years that I was with her, I couldn’t recall receiving specialized government programs that supported us in catering to her diverse needs like the certain respite fundings, At Home Program (AHP), or the autism funding program that MCFD offers. The only help that we received from the government to get through her needs was the general PWD (Person with Disabilities) privilege of a 20% discount and VAT (Value Added Tax) exemption in her medicine, food, and therapy sessions. Looking at the list was heartbreaking for me because I started realizing how far behind the Philippines and other developing countries are, in terms of the support for children with special needs. Even so, I also saw a glimmer of hope that if we actually decide to settle here in Canada and I get to have my own family in the future, the possibility of being blessed with a child with special needs doesn’t scare me anymore as compared to how that idea did when I was in the Philippines. I know that dealing with that situation will always be tough. However, knowing that the government will support me gives a sense of reassurance that I will not be alone in that journey.

Moving forward, I found out that there are even organizations and websites such as BC Disability that lists more government programs and charities that families can seek help from to ease their daily struggles.

“The goal of BC Disability is simple: we want to help persons with disabilities and allies find what they are looking for!”

I began looking into more details and eligibility for available programs. At this point in my research, everything that I’m reading validates my previous feelings of reassurance and hopefulness as most of their descriptions generally show how much inclusivity is valued in BC.

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ELIGIBILITY FOR CYSN

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“A variety of services for children and youth with support needs (CYSN) and their families are available across the province. You may have additional options for how these services are delivered to you if you live in one of four areas piloting a new approach to CYSN services. These areas are in and around Kelowna, Prince Rupert, Terrace and Smithers. ​ Connect with programs and service providers who can help families on their journey to support each child or young person in their lives. Families can access support like therapy, respite, equipment and guidance.”

ELIGIBILITY FOR AHP “To be eligible for the At Home Program, a child must be: 18 years or younger for Respite Benefits; 17 years or younger for Medical Benefits A resident of British Columbia Enrolled with British Columbia Medical Services Plan Living at home with a parent or guardian Assessed as dependent in at least three of the four activities of daily living (eating, dressing, toileting and washing)

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Eligibility for the At Home Program is reassessed on a regular basis.”

ELIGIBILITY FOR SCD

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“The Supported Child Development Program (SCD) assists families of children who require additional support to access inclusive child care programs. Working with daycares, preschools, family daycares and out of school care programs, we provide consultation services and extra staffing assistance to ensure inclusive practices for children who have a demonstrated need for extra support. We also provide help and information to parents so they can access the kind of care that best suits their child’s needs, and administer financial support on behalf of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.”

Before starting the research, I was well-aware that I will encounter both the progressive side and the issues or setbacks that need to be addressed about the topic of inclusion. At first, I would admit that I got a little overwhelmed with my initial findings regarding the programs that MCFD offers to support children in BC. I thought of it as a done deal and got blinded by positivity due to the lens that I was looking at it from. I viewed the list of programs as someone who just moved here – only comparing its progress from that of the Philippines. As I explored this topic further, I started having a shift in perspective. I tried to put myself in the shoes of the families who are actually being affected by the said programs. I began empathizing with people who reside here – those whom the support is directed to. I fully acknowledge that the government is doing something. Still and all, are they doing enough to make every child included? The following sources assisted me in bringing light to these issues:

ARTICLE FROM THE TYEE “There is no official count of how many child-care sites are accessible for kids with disabilities because there is no provincial definition of what makes a child-care site inclusive.

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"We hear talk constantly about inclusion, and it’s really stabbing to hear that word constantly, and yet not experience any glimmer of it,’ said Brenda Lenahan, president of BC Complex Kids Society, a grassroots advocacy organization for families of kids with disabilities.”

These alarming matters add to the list of reasons as to why inclusivity is being questioned. I will not dive into specifics regarding this issue, but you can watch the video to learn more about the details and perspective of the families involved.

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In addition to all the articles that I’ve read, the 2020 report from the Representative of Children and Youth submitted to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, ultimately opened my eyes to the hardships and sentiments of families as they try to make ends meet for nurturing their children with special needs. They’ve included stories from 10 CYSN families throughout the report, revealing how they battled with life during the pandemic. I will be quoting some of their lines that resonated with me, and share my commentaries along the way.

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“There is no data on how many B.C. families have children with special needs.”

RENATA, MARCO, & DYLAN Approvals must be done before receiving funding for a specific equipment that a child needs. Children with special needs are special for a reason – each will require a diverse approach in order to improve their situations. Most of these said approaches can only really be determined by those who are with them all the time. Oftentimes, there should be a huge sense of urgency to fulfill these requests for it to work. As someone who has experienced living with a child that is part of the spectrum for 8 years, I would say that it is also important to take note that children with autism follow a routine – one that is mostly too specific, to the point that you can’t just take it away from them in a snap. It takes a lot of time for them to adjust and accept it. An overwhelming amount of tantrums, shouting and crying should be expected from them. Their therapies must be consistent or else – they’ll lose progress and grow aggressive.

“First you do the paperwork, then mail things back and forth, and the next thing you know, it’s six months on and the whole point of needing that piece of equipment is lost,” she says. “The loss of therapies and activities for children with autism because of COVID19 has created “a black hole” year for their families, notes Renata. Autism funding ends when a child turns 18. Families with teenagers are losing months of support for their children at a time when there aren’t that many more months of it left, she says.”

CYSN and government funding needs an assessment to consider a child eligible for funding. Families in remote B.C. regions have to travel for long hours, costing them thousands of dollars just to get a private assessment to receive the said funding. The pandemic has made it worse – leaving them with no choice but to just wait.

ANNA & ZAC “I’m a strong advocate, but I’m worried,” says Anna, who previously worked with adults with autism and recognized it in Zac when he was a toddler. “My son is going to be five by the time he’s assessed. At six, we get less funding, but that reduction is based on him having received the extra support before age six. Which he hasn’t received.” Zac has a number of other disabilities as well, and sees specialists for speech, hearing and vision problems. They all say he needs to be assessed for autism, says Anna. “But we haven’t been able to make it happen.”

BOBBI & FRASER “That families have to go to charities in the first place is “not OK,” notes Bobbi. “It is not the responsibility of charities to provide basic medical necessities for our kids, but they have been picking up the slack for our failed government programs for years.” “It’s one problem that you CAN solve with money,” she adds. “The financial stress, knowing that we can’t make ends meet – that affects our kids’ development, as we are expected to fill in the funding gaps. Support inclusion. Support our kids’ development needs.”

A respite provider costs $25 per hour – only 10 hours can be supported by the $256 monthly funding from MCFD’s At Home Program (AHP). To make the situation worse, only one of their twins is eligible to receive the money. The other has been waiting for approvals for over two years already. The public funding also doesn’t cover equipment and high cost therapies crucial for sustaining children with complex disabilities.

MARIA, JON, & TWINS “What bothers her more than having to top up inadequate government supports is the feeling that her boys are being short-changed, with no apparent thought to the benefits of investing in children with disabilities. “Please, government, think long term!” she urges. “If you don’t fund a stander for my child when it’s recommended, you’ll pay hundreds of thousands of dollars later in surgical costs, and the pain for him will be so much more.”

To wrap it all off, the research portion of my capstone project has indeed brought me to a rollercoaster ride. All the sources combined directed me to experience going through the ups and downs of Canada’s ongoing journey towards inclusivity for children with special needs. As a result, the knowledge that I’ve acquired from looking into a variety of lenses regarding this issue has fueled me to pursue this fundraising project with a passionate heart. I was able to have a better grasp as to how charities and foundations significantly transform and affect the lives of the disadvantaged members of the community, trying to fill in the gaps from the support given by the government – something that I would be honored to take part of. I’m keeping all of this in mind as I carry on with changing my vision into reality – the birth of Toonie to Be Healthy.

REFLECTION QUESTION “How did the project go?” If I was asked to describe the whole process of this project, even the word “strenuous” would be an understatement. From deciding on the materials to selling the products, it was mentally, emotionally, and physically draining. Be that as it may, the taxing feeling can never compare to the fulfillment that I’ve felt in successfully completing this project. Join me, as I walk you through the fruition of Toonie to Be Healthy!

PROCESS.

MAKING THE BEES “Why did you choose bees?” I initially tried out this Youtube tutorial in the summer of last year because I found it really cute and I was hoping to make some for my friends. While I was thinking of a topic for the Capstone proposal, I was trying to crochet one of these bees to clear my mind. Eventually, I just thought to myself – why not do this then? From there, ideas rushed into my head until I decided to finally stick with it. I realized that bees are the perfect symbols of dedication, hard work, and generosity. These creatures are fully dedicated to following their queen and protecting their colony. After all their hard work of pollinating and producing honey, they are generous enough to let people harvest it from them to use for a variety of purposes. These values align exceptionally with the core of my fundraiser project – dedicated to be of service to the community, rooted from collective effort and generosity.

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MATERIALS USED YARN All were randomly purchased by my mom at a thrift store with a 50% discounted price. I left the balls of yarn in storage for quite some time because I never thought of a crochet project where the colors are suitable.

BEADS I brought the whole set with me from the Philippines.

KEYCHAIN The gold craft cord and craft rings are purchased from Dollarama.

BEE FILLERS Polyester fiber fill or polyfill is a commonly used stuffing in toys or crafts. It is actually what most crochet tutorials on youtube would recommend as a durable filler. Even so, aside from respiratory concerns from toxic chemicals in polyester, polyfill production can be a source of pollution due to the issues on VOCs, microplastic pollution in oceans, etc. Although it can be made from recycled materials to limit its harmful effects on the environment, using alternatives is still the best option. In addition, polyfills are usually a bit costly, making it impractical to choose for a fundraiser project as it can significantly affect the affordability of the products.

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I have read several articles, debates or discussions on how eco-friendly cotton balls are. However, I came to the conclusion that the toxic substances such as nail polish remover or skin care fluids poured into the cotton balls are the ones that make them less biodegradable than they actually are. Since I will only be using clean ones for this project, contamination will most likely not be an issue. I have also taken into consideration that cotton balls can easily break, that’s why I made sure to generously fill and pack the bees densely to increase the durability. All of these reasons combined with its cost efficiency – retailing for only $1.25 in Dollarama, led me to ultimately choose cotton balls as my fillers.

IDEAS I’ve been giving a variety of crocheted keychains to my friends. It’s just something that they like receiving from me as they can utilize and put it anywhere. Most of the time, they would tell me that a lot of people notice and compliment them for it, asking where they got it. Due to this, I realized that turning these tiny bees into keychains would help me in spreading this project and reaching others efficiently. I also added a marketing trick on the keychains. I made two types of “chains” – one is beaded, while the other is a gold craft string. In my experience, people would usually find the beaded chain as more aesthetically pleasing than the gold string. With that in mind, I created a deal where if they buy two bees, they can receive one “special bee” with a beaded chain and one “ordinary bee” with a gold craft string chain. If they only buy one bee, they would just get an “ordinary bee” with a gold craft string. This means that for every purchase of a pair of bees, you’ll get an ordinary and a special one. This effectively increased the rate of my sales, as people started buying in twos instead of just one.

“How long does it take you to make one?” For the first bees that I’ve made, I would admit that I was really too slow. It takes me over an hour to crochet a tiny bee body as I am very meticulous when it comes to the alignment and sizes of the stitches. I want to make it as neat and as presentable as possible because I am selling it. In addition to that hour, it takes me over 30 minutes to add the other parts such as crocheting the wings, tying the eyes and cheeks, and attaching the chains. It nearly felt impossible to finish 50 bees. However, since I’ve been doing it almost everyday, I started getting faster. Towards the end, it only took me 30 mins to crochet each bee body, as my hands were already relying on familiarity and muscle memory. I didn’t have to think and count the stitches carefully anymore. I also developed techniques on adding the other parts as well, such as sorting the beads and cutting the strings beforehand to save some time. Overall, I was able to finish one bee from the first stitch up to the finished keychain product in only 40 minutes – 30 minutes for crocheting and 10 minutes for the parts.

SELLING THE BEES While I was doing the proposal back in December, I was really scared with the idea that no one would want to actually buy the bee keychains. I know that although I am doing this for a good purpose, my target market is just concentrated on my friends, schoolmates, classmates, and peers – some are already earning on their own, yet most are still dependent on the allowance that their parents give them. With these factors in mind, I was really determined to price the bees as affordable as possible – leading me to set its base price as 2 dollars. This decision did not only help me reach my quota, but it also crucially influenced the name of my project. When we moved here, my little sister picked up the Canadian term “toonie” that is formally referred to as the 2-dollar coin. From there, I was able to make a catchy project title – Toonie to Be Healthy. In the logo, I intentionally spelled the “Be” part as “Bee” to give emphasis on what I’m selling. However, the actual project title will remain as “Toonie to Be Healthy”. It also helps that the acronym of the project is “TBH”, same with the online slang that means “to be honest”. This leaves an impact on people as it allows them to remember it easily.

“What challenges did you face?”

Making time to crochet 50 bees - In my proposal, I’ve set a goal of finishing all the bees from winter break until January. I wasn’t able to follow this and ended up extending the product-making up until the month of February. During winter break, I had to worry about a project on Social Justice, along with my final exams on Chemistry 12, Anatomy and Physiology, and Precalculus 12. I was only really able to fit the Capstone project at the beginning of the second semester. As a result, the researching and selling part had to be pushed back.

Convincing people to purchase one Given the fact that I am technically an international student that has only been in Canada for over a year, my introverted side gets a bit dominant in these kinds of situations. Although I have developed friendships with my peers, I am still not confident enough to approach a lot of people and introduce my fundraiser project. I had to muster up a lot of courage to sell the bees to them.

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

@toonie.tbh

I have uploaded a timelapse video of myself while crocheting to give people an idea of its process. I'm planning to upload more of these videos in the future.

Aside from pictures and video updates, I thought of posting some affirmations to serve as a sweet reminder to everyone once they see it on their Instagram feed. It's a simple idea that promotes validation and inclusivity, highlighting Toonie to Be Healthy's mission.

I'm planning to post these pictures as Instagram stories of @toonie.tbh.

These are some feedback snapshots from customers, showcasing where they placed the keychains that they purchased.

DONATING PROCESS “Why did you choose to donate to Variety BC and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation?”

DONATION.

As I read through articles while I was researching Canada's inclusivity towards children with special needs, Variety BC is the organization that keeps on showing up – from reports to family stories, it’s almost like a household name. As a result, I got a sense of how big of an impact they have on the province. I looked into them further and got inspired with the stories of the “Variety Kids” that they continue to cater. Having the word “variety” on their organization name also touched a soft spot in my heart for I seek to be an advocate of inclusivity in today’s day and age. Meanwhile, choosing BC Children’s Hospital Foundation is meant to rekindle the passion that I once had in aspiring to enter the medical field. I’ve always been fascinated with the revolutionary advancements to medical technology and how doctors continue to find cure to the inconceivable. To be a part of that would indeed be fulfilling – even more so that the foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life of children, giving them a chance to experience living as how it should be.

VARIETY BC “For over 55 years, Variety – the Children’s Charity has been supporting children & youth with special needs across BC. With the help of our generous donors, we are continually working towards a future where we can say YES! to every child in need of our help. With the help of our supporters, we are always striving to respond when gaps in the system are identified. Together we are meeting the needs of families and affecting change in the province.”

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BCCHF ”Your donation will fund the groundbreaking research and advanced technologies that are needed to conquer childhood illnesses. Since 1982, BC Children's Hospital Foundation has worked with children, families, caregivers and hundreds of thousands of British Columbians to raise funds to support BC Children's Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute.”

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STEP 1 Go to Variety BC's website and click the donate button.

STEP 2

Choose the kind of donation and the amount that you will give.

variety.bc.ca

STEP 3 Fill out the form provided for the billing address of your credit card statement.

STEP 4

Click secure payment and a form asking for your credit card details will show up.

variety.bc.ca

STEP 5 A confirmation of your donation must show.

variety.bc.ca

STEP 1 Go to BCCHF’s website and click the donate button.

STEP 2

Choose the kind of donation and the amount that you will give.

bcchf.ca

STEP 3 Fill out the form for your contact info, followed by the credit card details.

STEP 4 A confirmation of your donation must show.

bcchf.ca

REFLECTION QUESTION

TAKEAWAYS.

“Where to next? Is there a way to continue this further, or do you have other interests you'd like to pursue? Are there any gaps in your experience or learning that you would wish to pursue further?” In order to effectively answer these questions, I will first go back to my project proposal to analyze if I was able to accomplish my goals, and state the modifications that I did along the way. The inquiry question has been answered. Crocheting skills improved in terms of the reduced amount of time it takes me to finish a bee (I got faster in completing a crochet project in general), and neater and more even stitches were observed (My work has been more presentable and marketable). A deeper knowledge on Canada’s inclusivity towards children with special needs was acquired. Preconceived notions were clarified, and the importance of charities and non government organizations were highlighted on my end. The support and funding gaps that I discovered intensified my passion in continuing and bringing this project with me as I move forward to my future endeavors. Proposal of 100 bees was lessened to 50, taking into consideration the time and resources left to finish them.

In accordance with the number of bees created and the 2 dollar base price, the 200 dollar goal was also reduced into half – 100 dollars. Toonie to Be Healthy was able to split the profit in half and donate to both Variety BC and BC Children’s Hospital Foundation – 50 dollars each. An instagram account was created, but the written journal was not made due to certain circumstances associated with time.

Back when I was way younger than I am today, I vowed to myself that someday, I will be rich enough to help the underprivileged. This project made me realize that I don’t have to be an affluent individual in order to lend a hand. Toonie to Be Healthy is an embodiment of my vision – one that was once too far-fetched. A hundred dollars may not be as significant for some, but this donation marks the commencement of my journey in living a life full of purpose, redirecting the world towards inclusivity. It’s not even a question as to whether or not I’ll continue this project. It is without a doubt that I will bring this with me in my forthcoming expedition to adulthood. I have thought of points of improvement to assist me in expanding this project to contribute to more organizations as they try to cater, support, and fill in the gaps of the system.

Aside from using cotton as my fillers, I’m considering utilizing and recycling single-use plastic and scrap fabric to stuff my projects in the future. It’s like hitting two birds in one stone as I’ll be able to maintain affordability and lean towards a more eco-friendly approach. As I have previously mentioned, my initial target market for this project only includes my friends, schoolmates, classmates, and peers. I played it a bit safe since I only really have to promote my products inside of school and within my inner circle. To align with my plans of reaching more people, I’m planning to expand my market by including adults that are generally in the workforce. This will give me leeway or a sense of freedom when it comes to the products that I want to sell, considering that they’ll be able to afford purchasing larger crocheted projects. This move would also be to my advantage as I bear in mind my post secondary plans – I’ll be socializing more, building my network further. In addition, I’m also thinking of exploring social media platforms such as the Facebook marketplace or turning my Instagram account into an actual online shop. Last December, I volunteered to help set up Steveston’s Christmas Craft Fair where they gave an opportunity to over a hundred small businesses within the community that are mainly selling handmade crafts. I will watch out for these events and grab the chances to introduce Toonie to Be Healthy.

In accordance with my future plans, aside from bees, I’m also open to selling a variety of crocheted projects once my target market has been expanded. One of the recent projects that I tried was a crocheted bucket hat with a heart applique. I could replace the heart with a bee to align with my branding. With whatever I decide to sell in the future, I’ll make sure to include several factors in pricing. In crocheting and selling the 50 bees, I didn’t really take into consideration questions such as, “How long did it take me to finish one? Would the price that I settled with be enough to account for all the expenses while at the same time provide a financial gain?” My mind was set on donating the whole 100 dollar profit without thinking of leaving some money to purchase new materials and sustain future projects of Toonie to Be Healthy. Kids Helping Kids Foundation created a list of children’s charities that I’m looking forward to donating to in the future.

“Founded in 2003, the Kids Helping Kids Foundation was established with the goal of encouraging philanthropy in youth. After a fundraising experience with a group of children in early 2003, it became apparent that there was a tremendous benefit to the youth involved. Not only did the fundraising experience raise self esteem and give a positive feeling about their actions, it also left them with a sense that they could and wanted to do more for others, thus the root of philanthropy were generated. The Kids Helping Kids Foundation is a registered charitable foundation that matches funds raised by youth to benefit other charitable children’s charities. What better way to encourage philanthropy than by doubling their efforts? Philanthropic minded youth of today become philanthropic adults of tomorrow.”

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