Andrea Castro is the founder of Forever Kind, an initiative dedicated to creating inclusive public environments where every child is recognized, understood, and valued. Through her work, she develops practical, community-based solutions that support children of all abilities in communicating, connecting, and participating in shared spaces.
Her work began with a simple goal: to create environments where her daughter, Ariyana, could engage and belong. In public spaces, Andrea observed that children were eager to connect but often lacked shared communication tools. In response, she designed Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) boards integrating AAC-friendly visuals, sign-supported language, literacy cues, and emotional regulation supports. What began as a single prototype has grown into a province-wide initiative, with tools now installed in parks, playgrounds, schools, recreation centres, and community hubs across British Columbia.
Through Forever Kind, Andrea collaborates with speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, educators, municipalities, community partners and the Social Planning and Research Council of BC (SPARC BC) to advance inclusive design. She also serves on the Township of Langley Parks & Design Committee and the City of Langley Accessibility & Inclusion Committee, contributing to local planning and policy while supporting communities in building accessible, inclusive social infrastructure.
