Raising Arizona: How a lack of autism services brought one family's life crashing down

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“It was a very hard but very rewarding journey,” said Jennifer. “I thought I would be able to give my kids the world and more.”

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Andrew worked at the call centre for 11 years. The family bought a van. There were trips to Disney and employment benefits to help provide care for Arizona, who uses a feeding tube and also has a visual impairment.

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Their Kanata rental townhouse had cost $2,250 a month. After they lost Geraldine’s townhouse, Jennifer found that rental options large enough for the family would cost at least $2,800. That would leave about $600 for the rest of the month including food, medication, supplies for Arizona and other necessities, she said.

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“Everything kind of happened so fast. And when my mom passed away, it was like everything came crumbling down. I just felt like I lost control,” she said.

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“I’ve been in contact with social workers. I’ve been in counselling, seeing my doctor regularly because of my state of mind. And it’s all because one little girl can’t go to school all day.”

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Adjusting to life in the shelter, a former retirement home, has been difficult for Arizona, said Jennifer. Their two-room unit is equipped with a microwave and a refrigerator. Arizona doesn’t have her own room. Her chief chief delights are her tented bed, music, trips to the local park and the Youtube singer Ms. Rachel.

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“Arizona is struggling hard with this transition, because she doesn’t have her own space,” said Jennifer. “She’s cooped up in a room. She’s not sleeping. It’s affecting her mentally. She’s self harming more. She’s showing more these aggressive behaviours.”

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Jennifer and Andrew try to get one picture with their daughter, Arizona, 4, where she isn’t screaming or thrashing about. She has autism and doesn’t like strangers or cameras, so getting her picture taken is an ordeal. Recently, the last full-time education assistant in Arizona’s classroom left and caused all the walls to fall for the family, forcing Jennifer to leave her job and landing them now in a shelter. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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While Arizona qualifies for a full-time spot in an autism class or at Clifford Bowie or Crystal Bay, the OCDSB’s two schools for children with multiple exceptionalities, its unclear so far whether there will be a space for her, said Jennifer.

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The Ontario Autism Coalition’s 2023-24 special education survey found that six per cent of all special education students were completely excluded from school, even though they were entitled to attend. About 38 per cent of students on modified schedules were attending for reduced hours because schools did not have enough resources to support the student safely full-time, according to the report.

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Pasma said the Nickersons’ situation is the only case she knows of where a family was forced to move to a shelter — but there are cases where families fear losing their home.

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“It affects the family’s entire life,” she said.

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Andrew Nickerson has been looking for work. He estimates he has applied to 100 jobs in sales, marketing and call centre jobs and has been interviewed for 10 jobs with no offers.

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I has been hard going public with their story, he said.

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“It is very scary to have her story out there. This is Arizona’s story. But this is for all children like her who only get 25 per cent, and for parents who have to jump through rings of fire.”

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In some ways, Jennifer considers herself lucky. She has only praise for the staff at Arizona’s school. There are children have have more severe health issues than Arizona.

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“But then I think about it, and I say, she deserves just as much as they do, said Jennifer. “She deserves just as much as any other child in this world.”

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The Nickersons are on a wait list for affordable housing, but it could take three years, said Jennifer. They’re also still waiting for a spot for Arizona in one of the specialized schools or classes she qualifies for.

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“Then maybe, maybe, just maybe, we’ll be able to afford a home and bring our life back to the way it used to be. Before everything came tumbling down.”

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