A bursary for local youth on the autism spectrum will be accepting applications until April 15.
In honour of Nelson Bell, an aspiring rap artist who died nearly four years ago at age 16, the Nelson’s Gift bursary awards $500 to an Orillia youth aged 12 to 21 to help them pursue their passions.
Bell, who lived with Asperger’s syndrome, discovered a talent for rapping during his time at the Orillia Youth Centre, and he went on to befriend and perform with successful rappers, including Logic.
“A lot of (youth on the autism spectrum) don’t get recognized for their talents because they’re not able to show everybody what their talents are,” said Carla Bell, Nelson’s mother. “Nelson had the support, whereas (for) many kids that are into art, or they’re into music, people don’t see that side of them. They just see a child that’s not social.”
Nelson’s Gift awarded its inaugural bursary last year to 17-year-old Ty Arends.
“It just felt really heartwarming to be able to give it to the young fellow. He was not expecting it at all,” Bell said. “It meant a lot to my family to be able to give back to somebody who experienced some of the struggles that our son experienced.”
Bell hopes the bursary, on top of helping to fund a passion, will help youth on the spectrum gain recognition and confidence in their own abilities.
“They all have ability, and people don’t see it. They look at autism and they say it’s a disability,” she said. “I’ve always said it’s an ability, because they’re extremely smart, and they put 150 per cent into what they’re doing.”
When Nelson died, his mom and the Orillia Youth Centre raised money to set up a recording studio for youth to use.
After setting up the Valis Sound Studio, honouring Nelson’s stage name, Valis, the remainder of the funds were used as a nest egg for Nelson’s Gift.
Bell and the Orillia Youth Centre have plans to launch an annual golf tournament, Swing for Nelson, in 2023 to raise money for the bursary and the youth centre.
“There’s about $15,000 right now in the bursary fund, so once once we start adding to that, then my goal is to give out, possibly, two bursaries each year, or raise the value of that one,” Bell said.
“The idea of the annual golf tournament is that half of the proceeds (will be donated) to the youth centre, directly, and then the other half of the proceeds will go into the Nelson’s Gift bursary fund.”
The Nelson’s Gift bursary will be awarded on May 8, which is Nelson’s birthday.
Submissions may be sent to Carla Bell at [email protected].
More information may be found here.
