NUKO

Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization (NUKO) was established in 2005 by parents of five children with "unique" neuro-developmental needs. The parents met and shared their needs, hopes and dreams for the children. Their first initiatives resulted in the creation of a society and the establishment of a Learning Centre for their children.

In order to establish a Learning Centre with programs in Nanaimo, the parents needed to withdraw their children's registration from School District # 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith), and re-register them with School District #71 (Courtenay). The parents working with North Island Distance Education Society (N.I.D.E.S.), also in Courtenay, were offered supervision for their proposed Learning Centre programs. They found a facility to house the fledgling program, hired staff/tutors and the Nanaimo Unique Kids Learning Centre was officially in place.

Since those humble beginnings, Nanaimo Unique Kids Organization has become a registered provincial non-profit society and a federally registered charity. NUKO's success is evident in the community. It has repeatedly partnered with other organizations to improve programs and services for disabled children while always keeping focused on its core vision and to support disabled children and youth, as well as their families.

NUKO's most recent achievement has been to obtain funding from Service Canada to cover costs to complete a survey of needs, programs and services for neuro-developmentally disabled infants, children, youth and young adults in the Nanaimo area.