CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Azeredo family have organized a fundraising and awareness campaign inspired by the family’s youngest member, Charlee.
It’s called Spectrum and Sight and was organized by the family to help cover the costs and raise awareness about Charlee’s disability.
Selio Azeredo, Charlee’s father, said she was born with microphthalmia and later diagnosed with autism.
With a lot of legwork from the family sons, Mason and Reid, the Azeredos are selling rubber bracelets to raise funds to make Charlee’s life more accessible and enjoyable.
For example Selio said a digital braille device runs into the thousands and that’s not including maintenance costs.
Nine-year-old Charlee cannot see light, shapes or shadows and lives in complete blindness.
However, Selio said she is full-of-life and enjoys dancing, singing and is able to play a musical instrument; the family couldn’t be more proud of how far she’s come.
The family also needs to pay for various therapies and treatments which Selio said adds up quickly when you introduce the words “special needs” or “disabled.”
A study published on Sept. 16, 2025 about the economic impacts of caring for an autistic child by the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics of King’s University College in Western University and the Faculty of Education said applied behavior analysis therapy costs $5,000 and can ramp up to around $80,000 annually depending on the child’s needs.
The lifetime costs can range anywhere from about $1.2 million up to $4.7 million depending on support needs; the study included data from focus groups in 2024 and surveys in 2025.
The Spectrum and Sight bracelets are $3 each, or two for $5 and help cover extra costs which Selio said have been increasing lately; information can be found on their Facebook.
He said some days can be a challenge but the Azeredos are doing everything they can to support Charlee and to raise awareness about her disability.
