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Community comes together to host birthday bash for nine-year-old Airdrie boy

When no one RSVP'd to his sons birthday party, Southern Alberta dad, Dustin Horlacher, took to Facebook to vent his frustration. What he wasn't expecting was the overwhelming response he got.
carson horlacher
Nine-Year-old Carson Horlacher is excited to attend his big, inclusive, birthday bash on July 31.

Nine-year-old Carson Horlacher was so excited to celebrate his recent birthday, he made handmade invites for each of his classmates and personally delivered them to his peers at school. 

But when no one RSVP'd to the event, the boy's father Dustin Horlacher took to Facebook to vent his frustrations. What he wasn't expecting was the overwhelming response he got.

Birthday dreams turned disappointment

“[Carson] was very insistent that I had to get the invitations on a certain date and they had to be a certain type of invitation in a certain colour,” said Dustin Horlacher of his son's enthusiasm about his upcoming birthday bash. 

"I was dreading having that conversation with him [that no one would attend]...it's one of the things you just don't want to do as a parent."

Dustin said his son, who has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is often curious about the "whys" in any given situation. He said there wasn't any explanation he could give Carson to help him understand why no one wanted to attend his party. 

According to Dustin, Carson’s behaviour can be difficult for other school-aged children to understand. 

“When he has a sensory issue, his tendency is to cry and scream…a lot of kids will laugh or they’ll make fun of him,” he said. “If you talk to him, there’s always a reason for it and he works through it.” 

Carson’s love for patterns and numbers made explaining to the newly-turned nine-year-old that no one was attending the party especially hard. 

“He thinks, ‘They’re not going to show up, they don’t like me,’ those kinds of things,” Dustin explained. 

Community comes together to support Carson

With no where else to turn, Dustin posted on the Airdrie Dads Facebook page to share his son's story and as an outlet for his own feelings of disappointment. 

In response, more than 100 Airdrie fathers expressed interest in attending Carson's birthday party. 

Dustin began receiving calls from corporations around Airdrie, including a call from Derek Fuller, an Airdrie resident and president of Big Fun Play Canada. 

With the increased interest from the Airdrie community and corporations, the Horlacher’s decided to host a big birthday bash for Carson on July 31 at Airdrie’s Big Fun Inflatable Park. 

“[Carson] has been telling everybody that’s got an ear that’ll give him a second that we’re going to a big party and there’s going to be lots of autistic kids like him…he just can’t wait,” Dustin said.

Although the party is a celebration of Carson, it offers the community an opportunity for children with ASD to play with each other, as well as provide parents of children with ASD a support network, according to Dustin. 

“It can make a lot of kids really happy and get parents to connect too,” he said.

From the Big Fun Inflatable Park admission fees collected during Carson’s birthday party, 20 per cent will go towards Autism Calgary. The organization has been a key support for the Horlacher’s throughout the last nine years.

According to Dustin, oftentimes children with ASD are left out of social outings that are enjoyed by school-aged children and he wants the birthday bash to be a celebration for all children who have experienced the loneliness that Carson has. 

“That’s more or less what it’s about - a big party for everybody just to feel included and welcome and spread the word and let people meet and connect,” Dustin said. 

The father of two also believes creating a conversation about ASD will help de-stigmatize the disorder and the behaviours that often accompany it, helping others to understand there is a reason for these behaviours.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity to do something really positive for a lot of people and bring awareness and just let the kids go out and have fun,” Dustin said, expressing his interest in making the inclusive birthday bash an annual event. 

Those interested in sponsoring or donating to the event can contact Derek Fuller by email at [email protected] 

All are welcome to join the July 31 birthday bash at Big Fun Inflatable Park in Airdrie. 

“It’s going to be a great birthday for Carson,” Dustin said. “Just a great day for a lot of families and kids to come out and get together and meet and kind of support each other.”

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