When she’s not making art or listening to indie rock, Amira spends her time hanging out with friends, traveling and rock climbing.
That curiosity to explore the world around her has also shaped the way Amira has come to understand herself.
Amira first came to Holland Bloorview when she was two, shortly after being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). At the time, her mom Adrienne wanted to learn more about autism and find different ways to support Amira. Over the years, that support changed as Amira grew. There was music therapy, swimming, and summers spent at Spiral Garden camp. Now, as Amira starts thinking about adulthood, she’s taking part in transitional services at Holland Bloorview like Rec and Connect where she’s learning new skills like cooking and planning outings.
“Holland Bloorview has been a safe place for me ever since I was a little kid,” Amira says. “This is an entire hospital of people who care about me and who want me to succeed and will do whatever they can to help me do that.”
Now at 15-years-old, Amira is daring to speak up for other kids with autism.
As she’s gotten older, Amira has also become more curious about herself and the way her brain works. That curiosity has led her to participate in Bloorview Research Institute (BRI) studies, where she saw a chance to learn more about autism while also helping other kids in the future. This sometimes looked like getting scans of her brain through Holland Bloorview’s fully accessible and child-friendly MRI, which is fully-funded by donors. Through Together We Dare, Holland Bloorview will advance data science, collaboration and cutting-edge technology to fuel precision health, bringing the best possible care to kids with disabilities.
“I figured that this small step — me taking part in the research — would help tons and tons of other kids,” she says.
Along the way, she realized something about herself, too: “I can make an impact on the world.”
It’s a realization Amira has carried beyond research. As a young queer person, the 2SLGBTQ+ community and those with autism are “close to her heart” and she wants to make sure they feel seen and respected. She has an especially soft spot for kids who have only recently been diagnosed and are still figuring out what being autistic means for them.
“I dare to stand up for them and to speak up about them, to give them that little push,” she says. “You guys are doing great things.”