August 27, 2004  

Eleven year old Megan McCreary of Orangeville, Ontario knows all about autism. Not only does she have two younger brothers with autism, she also has designed fundraising activity kits for autistic children and appeared in educational videos about autism. Her "huge heart and ton of patience" has won Megan the second of twelve Maplelea Girls™ "Real Girls doing Real Things that Matter!" Canadian national awards.

Margaret Spoelstra, Executive Director of Autism Society Ontario has watched Megan grow and mature. "Megan is a role model for other kids who see her interacting with her brothers. The video "Meet My Brother", which she narrates, touches people by being honest and transparent about the story of her family," Ms. Spoelstra comments. "Siblings of those with autism experience the same stress and worry as parents. Yet Megan has such a wonderful personality. She shows people that living with a disability is not the end of the world. It's just a different world."

Ms. Spoelstra continues by saying, "Young people like Megan are such powerful people and don't realize it. She has the ability to make change; to have an impact because she doesn't think about herself. Working hard and giving back to the community are examples she, and her parents, set for all of us."

School children throughout Ontario have met Megan and her family through the "Meet My Brother" video which has been shown in over 1000 schools. In 2002 Megan and her mother Susan McCreary started a website business (www.commonsenses.ca) providing sensory kits for children with autism. Megan is the company president and spokesperson and it was her who created "Fidgitkitz", kits which contain a host of sensory-stimulating activities. Proceeds from the sale of Fidgitkitz go to Autism Society Ontario. Local chapters of ASO are given Fidgitkitz at cost so they can also sell them as fundraisers. Megan also acts as a "buddy" at an annual summer camp which this year hosted over 90 children with autism and attends "Sibs Shops"—evening get-togethers for siblings of children with autism.

Kathryn Gallagher Morton, creator of Maplelea Girls™, a line of age appropriate Canadian dolls for girls 8-12, says Megan McCreary "embodies the spirit" of the "Real Girls doing Real Things that Matter!" recognition program. "Her selflessness and caring show through in every thing she does," Morton remarks. "Megan is a person who contributes positively even when faced with day-to-day challenges."

It is our hope that this recognition will help bring national awareness to her work and her contributions to autism. We also think it's important to remember that she is still a young girl going into Grade Six, who still wants and needs to play with family and friends."

The Maplelea Girls™ are a set of four, very high quality "character" dolls each enjoying healthy, active lifestyles unique to her part of Canada: in a small town in Nova Scotia, in downtown Toronto, in rural Manitoba, and in the Rocky Mountains. Like real girls, the Maplelea Girls™ are each very different but they all share a special spirit, imagination, and sense of adventure. The dolls' Keepsake Journals help bring alive each of the Maplelea Girls™ personalities, her family life, and her values for the young girls who own them.

It was the dolls themselves that inspired Kathryn Gallagher Morton to develop the recognition program.

"With my education in Social Work and as a mother myself, I know that books and toys can be powerful educational tools. I believe it is important that the playthings we give our children should have the right messages," explained Morton. "I find it frustrating that so many dolls currently available emphasize glamour, body image, dating, and sophistication. Until now, there have been limited opportunities to focus on caring, sharing and good, wholesome fun, that let our girls be girls!"

Through the Maplelea Girls™ “Real Girls doing Real Things that Matter!” program, the search will continue for girls age 12 and under, across Canada who are making a difference, in their families, their schools, or their communities. Girls will be acknowledged with local publicity and will be awarded a Maplelea Girl doll and recognition certificate.

Previously recognition went to eight-year-old Hannah Taylor of Winnipeg who has founded the Ladybug Foundation to raise funds for homeless people.

The “Real Girls doing Real Things that Matter!” program will continue to seek nominations. Anyone who knows a young Canadian girl who has seen a need, and with energy, ingenuity, and commitment, has worked towards meeting that need, can nominate her on line at www.maplelea.com.