Salon owner hosts fundraiser for Cambridge, Ont. school supporting neurodivergent children

In a show of community spirit, a Waterloo salon owner and father hosted a fundraiser Saturday to support his daughter’s school located in Cambridge, Ont.

In a show of community spirit, a Waterloo, Ont. salon owner and father hosted a fundraiser Saturday to support his daughter’s school located in Cambridge.

The event, held at Barranca Boutique Salon in uptown Waterloo, drew dozens of attendees eager to contribute to a cause close to Giuseppe Barranca's heart.

“My daughter is autistic, she was diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome at three-years-old. Due to the restrictions at schools, she is unable to attend either public or catholic schools now so we were very lucky to find Oak Bridge Academy,” Barranca told CTV News Saturday.

Oak Bridge Academy is a not-for-profit school tailored specifically to children and youth with neurodevelopment disorders. The academy provides services for children with autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning exceptionalities. Programming is offered to students from grades one through nine.

“We’re able to provide a combination of both one-on-one support in addition to therapeutic services and education to kids in need,” said Jessica Bondy, executive director at Oak Bridge Academy.

It’s a school Barranca is happy to have found for his daughter.

“It’s a true connection, they’re giving her an opportunity at a great life,” Barranca said. “She learned how to walk at Oak Bridge Academy, she was told she never was going to be able to walk but with the help of Oak Bridge, she’s communicating with us now and walking and moving, moving like any nine-year-old.”