Vânia Aguiar: Founder & President, Fondation Les Petits Rois
Our mission is to promote the education and development of children with intellectual disabilities, whether or not they fall on the autism spectrum, throughout the entirety of their lives. We offer tools and support projects dedicated to providing them with stimulating, adapted environments that facilitate their path towards a life of autonomy and personal growth.
◦ 5 min readA Kingdom of Possibility
The Beginning
What first inspired you to create Fondation Les Petits Rois?
My son Henri-Louis and his peers.
Can you take us back to the moment when you realised something needed to change for children living with intellectual disabilities?
When my son was little, the lack of tailored programming left a significant gap in his ongoing development. There was a profound misunderstanding of the infrastructure required to ensure these children could continue learning and mastering new skills.
Why was it important for you to become personally involved rather than simply supporting an existing cause?
I had a vision of a better future for the children. I profoundly believe in their potential. When given the opportunity, they are able to learn new skills and blossom into self-sufficiency—at school, work, or within the community.
What did you hope to achieve when the foundation was first established?
With the intention of improving the futures of children with disabilities, I decided to create Fondation Les Petits Rois. Ever since, we’ve worked together to raise awareness and join forces with various government entities and private companies to gather knowledge and financial resources to design and support large-scale projects that benefit young people with disabilities.
The Mission
For readers discovering Fondation Les Petits Rois for the first time, what is its mission?
Our mission is to promote the education and development of children with intellectual disabilities, whether or not they fall on the autism spectrum, throughout the entirety of their lives. We offer tools and support projects dedicated to providing them with stimulating, adapted environments that facilitate their path towards a life of autonomy and personal growth.
Creating Opportunity
The foundation supports educational, social and developmental programmes. Which initiatives are closest to your heart?
All three of them represent the pillars of our foundation. First, Education: the school is one of the most vital environments for our children’s development, where our Petits Rois can practice the essentials for growth and independence on a daily basis. Second, Mentoring in the Workplace: our mission is to seamlessly extend this support by offering young people the opportunity to join a professional environment—fully supervised and supported by specially trained employers. Finally, The Smart Home: an innovative living space equipped with cutting-edge technology directly linked to each resident’s personalized intervention plan, clinical team, family, and community. This avant-garde resource guarantees an exceptional level of supervision and tailored accompaniment, enabling these vulnerable young adults to experience the stability, security, and warmth of a true home.
What have the children taught you over the years?
That anything is possible!
How do families typically respond when they see their children thriving in these programmes?
The positive impact on the families of these young adults is proven: by allowing their children to participate in active life, this program provides families with precious relief and allows them time for professional activities and thus contribute to their better financial and mental health.
Innovation & Independence
A major milestone has been the development of the Smart House project. What inspired this initiative?
The Smart Home is the most recent fruit of the Les Petits Rois Foundation’s tenacious commitment to a segment of the Quebec population that asks to be considered for its potential as much as its fragility. Different young adults who need to be given the chance to prove that they are not only capable but proud to contribute their strengths to the society. We are immensely pleased to be able to offer them this place to live, which will enable them to maintain the skills they have acquired throughout their lives, and thus foster their self-esteem and sense of belonging.
How does the Smart House help residents develop confidence and autonomy?
The technological marvels at the service of the youngsters will help them, among other things, to carry out their personal hygiene tasks, to complete a cooking recipe, to wash their clothes, to dress appropriately for the weather, and to leave for their workshops on time, like all other people.
Do you believe this model could become an example for other communities and countries?
I’m convinced that our first Smart Home will revolutionize the world of adapted housing for disabled and autistic young adults across the country, and I’m certain that with this initiative we’re building a more dignified, inclusive and visionary world.
Advocacy & Leadership
Over the years, you’ve worked with governments, businesses and community organisations. Why are partnerships so important?
It’s essential that government authorities, charities and private companies work together to elevate young people with disabilities by facilitating their integration and giving them a life of fulfillment and pride. Because they enrich our daily lives. Because they’re part of the community. Because we love and respect them. It’s our duty to help guarantee a better present and future, and a dignified place within the society.
What message would you like to share with readers of TILT around the world?
The most empowering message, I would say, is one of acceptance, celebrating neurodiversity, and recognizing that progress is measured in ‘inchstones’ just as much as milestones. After all, being different is completely normal!