One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be a survival guide for others. 

Welcome to my blog! I am Hilai (aka Freshta), an Afghan-Canadian mother of two radiant children - Armin and Marwa. I have a 10-years-old autistic boy who has transformed the way I see the world. I commenced life here in Canada as an ESL elementary student, graduated from University of Toronto with a H.BSc. in Psychology and Health Studies and obtained my Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) certificate at Humber College about a decade ago! I am currently specializing in Autism & Behavioral Sciences (ABA).

 

I gave birth to Armin shortly after being married to Fardin - a very supportive and generous man. Armin was diagnosed with autism around the age of two! He is now a 10-years-old autistic boy who has transformed the way Fardin and I see the world.

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Our journey has been one of love, learning, and resilience, but I know that in Afghan Diaspora, conversations about autism are rare and often overshadowed by stigma and misunderstanding. Through this blog, I want to change that. By sharing our autism story, I hope to create a space where Afghan families and others on this path feel seen, supported, and empowered. My mission is to raise awareness, break down cultural barriers, and celebrate the incredible strengths of our children. 

 

​Together, let’s rewrite the narrative and uplift every unique journey - one story at a time!