Embracing Neurodiversity: Gavin Laing's Journey with Paper Planes Café
Gavin Laing is a second-year student at Langara College, studying geography, with big dreams of honing his food preparation and customer service skills. In the future, he hopes to embark on adventures where he can guide people through the breathtaking beauty of the Rockies as a host aboard a train. But Gavin’s story is more than just aspirations and academic pursuits—it’s about embracing challenges, celebrating neurodiversity, and finding the support and opportunities to build confidence and practical skills.
Gavin’s path recently brought him to Paper Planes Café, a Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) initiative. With its welcoming, neurodiverse work environment, Paper Planes is a place that champions inclusivity while providing hands-on experience and skill-building opportunities. It’s here that Gavin is building the essential skills he needs for both his career and personal growth.
The decision to join Paper Planes Café was motivated by Gavin’s desire to work in an environment where neurodiversity is not just accepted but celebrated. “I was excited to work in a positive neurodiverse working environment that was supportive and took the extra time to allow me to learn,” Gavin shared. He saw it as a chance to build practical skills - skills that will carry him into any future role, whether it's as a customer service professional or a guide in the Rockies.
At Paper Planes, Gavin is gaining more than just experience in the kitchen or behind the counter. He’s developing key service skills and refining his executive functioning abilities, which help him stay organized and effective in a fast-paced work environment.
One of the key benefits of PAFN’s initiatives, particularly through the Employment Works program, is its focus on creating workplaces that genuinely support people on the autism spectrum. “PAFN through the Employment Works program helps people with autism see that there are places that are willing to celebrate neurodiversity in the workplace,” Gavin noted. “It allows you to feel more confident at work and build those practical skills so that you feel confident in further workplaces.”
Gavin points out that for many people with autism, starting a new job can be difficult, especially in environments that don’t understand or celebrate neurodiversity. The opportunity to start at Paper Planes without requiring prior experience is incredibly empowering. It removes the pressure of needing a resume filled with prior experience, giving individuals like Gavin the freedom to learn and explore new opportunities in a supportive environment.
When asked what he looks forward to the most during his time at Paper Planes Café, Gavin expressed his excitement about continuing to refine his customer experience and executive functioning skills. But beyond the technical skills, this opportunity is giving him the confidence to pursue future goals that might have seemed out of reach before.
Gavin’s journey is a testament to the power of inclusive workplaces and the importance of believing in one’s potential. With a little support, understanding, and encouragement, individuals with autism can develop the skills they need to succeed—and beyond that, they can learn to embrace their unique strengths and talents.
As Gavin continues to grow both personally and professionally, he serves as a reminder that with the right opportunities, everyone—regardless of background or neurodiversity—can find their place to shine.
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Interested in learning more about the Paper Planes Café? Visit pacificautismfamily.com/cafe for more information.