My Friend Chase
by Christine Horton

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My Friend Chase is an engaging children’s picture book, written by Nolan’s teacher Mrs. Horton through Nolan’s eyes. Nolan is a neurodivergent young adult trying to process all the feelings that come with friendship, death, grief and the journey of healing. Chase is honored through descriptive memories that highlight who he was and what he loved, while showing him stumble through life with quirky comedic timing and an elfish grin. The story of Chase tries to gently bring readers into a safe space that encourages them to feel confident talking about all feelings and maintaining love for special people who have died or are no longer in their life. This book assures young and emotionally young readers that sadness, confusion and questions are all welcome and gives adults a catalyst to be supportive.

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Christine Horton is a Special Education High School teacher that lives in Surrey, BC. For many years, Mrs. Horton and her husband Brock worked together with complex, neurodivergent students to help them find success in learning. In April 2023, Brock died of cancer at the age of 41. Mrs. Horton is now a widow with five children, one daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. During her 25 years in special education she has done training and received certificates in managing and redirecting complex behaviors by using a low arousal approach and embracing all feelings while standing firm on which actions are not okay. Before becoming a teacher she was a teaching assistant and has been trained in every level of special education in the Surrey School District. She has a BA with an English Major and teaching degree from SFU and her PB+15 in Special Education from Queen’s University. My Friend Chase was inspired by her students. When Chase died, the other students were devastated and Nolan needed a way to process his feelings. Mrs. Horton hopes this will be book one of a series of Nolan’s friends, and feelings they have had to work through together. Children with autism can be taught to understand and remember Facts. They often struggle with how to understand Friends and Feelings. Providing them with stories that they can relate to and script from can be very helpful. Mrs. Horton has many students that express themselves by repeating script from shows they have watched. Sometimes she needs to interpret what they mean, and can then replace what they have said with script that will help others understand. It’s important to remember that we are all different and some people need more time to process and then express what they truly think.

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Contributors

Author

Christine Horton

Illustrator

Nolan (Cartoon) Stewart