b'Rev Tim Costello delivers the keynote address at theI CAN Expo 2025That space says a lot, if you take an event there,as a result of anxiety. To present is bravery bursting Chris said. The Expo is a chance for our autistic andthrough the seams.neurodivergent kids to share their amazing uniqueness with the world and celebrate what makes them special.Then theres also the audience that likes to talk but At I CAN, we believe in a rethink of autism that movesstruggles with listening and the game is to get them to young people from a mindset of I cant to I can. listen to others, he said.Delivering a public presentation is a terrifying prospectHowever, a third audience also exists at the Expo: the for most autistic young people, which is the whole point.families. They watch in astonishment as their autisticThe annual Expo is where they can gain self-acceptance,children steps out from lifetimes of invisibility to deliver a sense of identity and confidence in their uniquetheir mini-Ted Talks. It is powerful to witness.abilities, also building social connections, and a sense ofIve sat with one mum and dad who had tears in their belonging. eyes, he said. It was the first time they had seen their The theme in 2025 was: I CAN Be Me, with renownedson authentically win at school. It wasnt that a teacher community leader and I CAN patron the Rev Tim Costellowas being nice and giving pupil of the week as a token.who met Chris at World Vision, when Chris was in Year 10. This kid was up on stage, owning the room. He captivated everyone. It was so great, and this is what the event is Rev Costello opened the event with a passionate speechabout: creating a space for you to kind of genuinely be about the need for all of us to consider separationyou and for people to say, wow, theres something great and connection, referencing the Danish writer Srenabout that kid.Kierkegaard and saying there is no me without we, essentially we are only happy when we are open to theNewsboys Foundation has supported I CAN for years world and to others. across several projects, from the Expo to running camps, to helping create a formal business plan, to exploring how There are two audiences at the Expo, Chris explained.to extend I CANs reach and effectiveness. There are the kids who definitely dont want to talk, reluctantly give the talk and then say its the best thingNewsboys are so great at working alongside theyve ever done in their whole school life. Its a hugeorganisations like ours, Chris said. They have been such win for some kids who otherwise go through their entirean important supporter and continue to be. We are very schooling never hearing their name read out at assemblygrateful.or receiving recognition. Its hard, though. Weve hadNick Placepeople give talks and then go to the bathroom and vomit, NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 20257'