How EarlyON Helped Lizzie and Sawyer Grow Together
When Lizzie first became a parent during the COVID-19 pandemic, much of her world became smaller.
Most days were spent at home, navigating motherhood while trying to meet the needs of her son Sawyer, who is non-verbal and autistic. Like many parents, she wanted the best for her child, but finding support, resources, and connections wasn’t always easy.
Then she found EarlyON.
EarlyON really brought us many different community connections and friendships. Not only just for him, but for me as well.
A Place to Start
Lizzie and Sawyer first visited EarlyON when he was very young, but it wasn’t until they began preparing for school that they became regular participants.
Before that, the family had already connected with Inclusion Quality Coordinator Cici from Niagara Children’s Centre. Recognizing the benefits EarlyON could offer, Cici encouraged Lizzie and Sawyer to become more involved, helping open the door to new experiences, relationships, and supports.
Through EarlyON, they discovered more than just a welcoming place to play. They found a community where families, staff, and partner organizations worked together to help children thrive. Alongside Cici, Kristin (EarlyON Supervisor) and the EarlyON team helped create an environment where questions were encouraged, milestones were celebrated, and families felt supported every step of the way.
For Lizzie, those connections became a turning point.
Growing Confidence, One Step at a Time
As Sawyer grew, so did his confidence.
With support from EarlyON staff and community partners, Lizzie and Sawyer’s dad learned new ways to support his communication and sensory needs. Tools like visual supports and adapted communication strategies helped make everyday life easier at home.
Over time, she began noticing changes.
Sawyer became more comfortable with redirection, spent longer periods engaged in play, built stronger connections with other children, and developed the stamina to participate in both school and EarlyON programming in the same day.
“It has been such a joy watching him crawl out of the shell and really become his own person.”
For Lizzie, the growth wasn’t limited to Sawyer. Before finding EarlyON, she describes herself as more sheltered and hesitant to venture out into the community. As her confidence grew, she became more comfortable exploring new experiences, advocating for Sawyer’s needs, and connecting with other families who understood her journey.
More Than a Program
As Lizzie learned how to support Sawyer’s unique needs, she discovered something unexpected about herself. The connections, encouragement, and knowledge she gained through EarlyON sparked a passion for early childhood development, inspiring her to pursue her Early Childhood Education studies so she can one day support other families on their own journeys.
Looking back, she sees EarlyON as something much bigger than a program.
“They say that it takes a village to raise a child… EarlyON is the village.”
And for families wondering whether they should give EarlyON a try, her advice is simple: start with the location closest to you and explore from there.
“You’d be surprised what’s within arm’s reach.”