Before Amy Burk left to compete for Team Canada in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games, her sons, Lucas (7) and Ryan (3) received two iPads through CNIB’s Phone It Forward program.
“When you’re gone for a month at a time, it’s easy for the family to miss one another. Having their own iPads meant the boys weren't tied to a specific schedule, and we could connect at all hours,” says Amy. “If Ryan was having a tough day, or Lucas needed help with something that dad or grandma couldn’t help him with, they could still grab an iPad and call mom.” 
With both of them having their own devices, Amy says they are no longer crawling all over each other, vying for screen time.
“I can read my books while Ryan is doing something else at the same time on his iPad,” says Lucas.
“The iPads have helped our family quite a bit. Lucas spends a lot of time reading and uses an app called Orbitz that helps him with his math homework. Ryan uses his iPad for games that help him with his cognitive ability,” adds Amy.
Ryan loves playing an excavator game where players can build trucks and fill in puzzles.
“With the way technology is progressing these days; it’s great to have the boys learning what they can while they’re young. Starting at an early age ensures that they will have an easier time learning new tech and apps as they grow,” says Amy.
The Burk family says the devices have made a world of difference in their home, allowing them to work independently and remain connected to mom as she travels around the world.
“This year, the Paralympic games looked very different,” says Amy. “There were no fans, no spectators cheering us on, and families were not allowed to travel with us. As a mother, staying connected to the boys was very important to me, and these iPads served as a great tool to communicate with them regularly. Thank you, CNIB, for giving our family access to these life-changing devices.”