By Deron Hamel
Since Brock Welton began participating in a North Bay theatre group last year he has become more independent and social, says his mother, Jo-Anne.
Brock, 22, has Dravet syndrome, a catastrophic form of intractable epilepsy, as well as an intellectual disability stemming from the condition.
Last year Brock joined TOROS, a progressive and inclusive community theatre for young people, and he has blossomed through the experience, Jo-Anne says.
Brock became connected to the group through his older sister who had been a TOROS member. He had often watched his sister on stage and enjoyed the experiences so much he never wanted to leave, Jo-Anne notes.
Jo-Anne says Brock was “very quiet” when he began participating with TOROS. He wanted to be there, but wasn’t interacting with others, she notes.
But the other TOROS members empowered Brock, encouraging him to take an active role in the spotlight and to participate in their song and dance numbers.
In a short time, Brock thrust himself into the action, attended rehearsals and eventually performed on stage, an aura of self-confidence surrounding him. No evidence of the shy young man who once stood at the side of the stage remains.
“Now, you need a hook to get him off the stage,” Jo-Anne chuckles. “He just loves it.”
The confidence Brock exudes today has grown beyond his work with the theatre group, Jo-Anne says.
“I find he is so much more self-driven, and I have had to adjust to this because I was always so used to doing everything for him,” she says. “My role has changed from being someone who is his total caregiver to him telling me what he wants to do with his life, and I am trying to accommodate him.”
By sharing Brock’s story, Jo-Anne says she hopes other parents of children with epilepsy or a disability will be hopeful that their sons and daughters can enjoy quality experiences like Brock has.
“What this experience has given me is hope; it has given me hope that no one is ever stagnant, people are always learning, it doesn’t matter what diagnosis they have or what a therapist says, no one ever knows their full potential – and I have seen that in such a strong sense with Brock,” she says.
The strides Brock has made have also positively impacted Jo-Anne.
“As a parent of a child with special needs, I felt successful,” she says.
Click here to see a video about Brock.
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