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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ay 6, 20 21 | 6 Ying Yang Chartered Professional Accountant Member of Canadian Tax Foundation (647) 989-1276 Oakville Office: (289) 291-3924 Toronto Offiffice: (647) 255-8049 yy@yangaccounting.ca For an affordable solution to your Business and Individual tax difficulties … Make an Appointment Today for a Free Confidential Consultation CRACRACRACRA PPPPrroblobleems?ms? Individual, Corporati &on & Trust Payrayroll, HST includiudingng Overseas & O& Offffshorshore Tax Issueax Issues Yang Tang Tang Tang ax Resolsolution a movie on his own? Will he have friends? Simple things of life we take for granted," said Shahryar's father Asif. As a toddler, Shahryar began showing signs of the developmental disability that can affect communica- tion, social skills and beha- viour. His vocabulary dete- riorated to one word. He would not focus; there was no eye contact. "The kin- dergarten teacher in Paki- stan told us she had been a teacher for 25 years and had never seen a child like this. She said it would be a miracle if this child could even learn ABC," said Asif. The family had given up their opportunity to immi- grate to Canada until a meeting with Shahryar's specialist persuaded them the move would be in the best interests of their son. "He (the specialist) al- most jumped out of his seat. 'I don't know what your pri- orities are, and I don't care, but this child is my respon- sibility. The best thing you as parents can do for this child is to take him to Cana- da. If you remain in Paki- stan, you will go from pillar to post, running around seeking speech and behav- ior therapists. But you will not get the expertise you need.'" Health care in Pakistan is dismal and mental health care is rudimental, said Asif, who works for the hu- manitarian arm of the Unit- ed Nations. "It's not easy leaving family and comfort. But the thought that 10 years down the line we would regret not giving Sherri the one chance he had. Providence also plays a part. Our immi- gration (opportunity) would have expired had it not been for a delay caused by the misspelling of a name on one of our pass- ports. It was Sherri's name on his passport." A few weeks after their arrival in Oakville "the magic started." "Appointments with doctors and specialists. Then the therapies. The en- rolment into special pro- grams. The home visits. The resource teachers. One. Then another. Then another. They kept coming. Well versed, well trained, well intentioned. Full of support. The advice. The individual coaching. They taught him how to tie his shoelaces. (We tried but could not). They taught him how to hold a pencil." The overwhelming sup- port the entire family re- ceived was "a working ex- ample of humanity," said Asif. A student at Pilgrim's Way and West Oak public schools as well as White Oaks and Garth Webb high schools, Shahryar remem- bers the occupational assis- tants who helped him navi- gate the classroom, the work, social skills and the language barrier. Shahryar was full of confidence when he headed off to Lakehead University, where he will receive his degree at the end of May. "Yes I believe I could succeed in post-secondary education with my study ethics," said Shahryar, now 23. The experience was a lit- tle intimidating initially, but "you grow out of it as you experience it more and more." "The main challenges are to communicate with classmates, friends, peers and professors. Engineer- ing is still a challenge to this day, autism or no au- tism," said Shahryar. NEWS Continued from page 3 FAMILY SUPPORT AND MOVE TO CANADA OFFER CHANCE TO SUCCEED Above, Shahryar Niazi in an early school picture. Diagnosed with autism as a toddler, Shahryar Niazi has graduated with a degree in civil engineering. Niazi family photo