# 'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism **URL:** \ **Category:** Lounge\ **Created:** [June 5, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615 "2011-06-05T05:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 49
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/961 "2017-03-27T03:23:36Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _Madison Fields_, based in Montgomery County, Maryland, is a fully functional farm that offers an inclusive environment where those with special needs, or not–can play, learn, work together. _Madison Fields_ is a a project of the Rockville, Maryland-based nonprofit, the _Madison House Autism Foundation_… > [@](#): > > The Amazing Maze, an eight-acre corn maze at the newly renamed Madison Fields …will open on September 4, to provide individuals of all ages and abilities with the chance to enjoy a fun, inviting agricultural experience. The corn maze, along with a variety of Mother Goose-themed activities, will be open Fridays through Sundays, throughout September and October. > > The 400-acre farm property is located …in the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve. Madison Fields is owned by Madison House Autism Foundation, a non-profit that develops awareness and strategic solutions to the lifespan challenges autistic adults and their families face. The Foundation took ownership of the …farm in 2014, following a bequest by its previous owner… > > “Madison Fields is a beautiful farm and we’re excited to share some of its beauty with those want to enjoy it by navigating The Amazing Maze,” said Doug Balls, Madison Field’s farm manager. “It’s going to be great fun and we look forward to welcoming the families and individuals who are able to join us.” > > In addition to the corn maze, Madison Fields will feature Mother Goose-themed activities including the ‘Ring Around the Roses’ straw bale maze for younger children, and the ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ farm animal meet and greet. Local produce, breads, soups, honey and other goods may also be for sale, in conjunction with other local farms. In October, ‘Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater’ pumpkin carving will be added. Proceeds from ticket sales to The Amazing Maze or any additional donations will support the Madison House Autism Foundation… Here is a link to a video on _Madison Fields_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iUKkEHjWT4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iUKkEHjWT4) (source: [Madison Fields Farm Announces Opening of ‘The Amazing Maze’ - Germantown, MD Patch](http://patch.com/maryland/germantown/madison-fields-farm-announces-opening-amazing-maze-0)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/962 "2017-03-28T09:08:59Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Madison House Autism Foundation_ (_MHAF_) is a Rockville, Maryland-based nonprofit whose mission is to provide more support, more opportunities, and more hope, to those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. A portion of any sale proceeds from a few years ago was donated to the _Madison House Autism Foundation_… > [@](#): > > One day, Christopher Gauthi?r and his young daughter Madeline got in a heated argument, but it wasn’t just a typical shouting match. > > Gauthi?r, a Utah State University photography professor, was arguing with his autistic daughter, who was known to hold “belligerent screaming matches” with her father. > > “I thought, ‘I’m fed up; I don’t know what to do anymore,’” Gauthi?r said. “Then I thought, ‘I’m an artist, I’m supposed to do work about struggle, about my life.’” > > Finally, Gauthi?r got his camera equipment and set it up ? all while Madeline, now 6, was standing behind him screaming. So Gauthi?r picked her up and put her behind the backdrop in the studio. > > “I yelled her name and she looked at me with the fiercest look … and that became the portrait,” Gauthi?r said at an interview at his home on Friday afternoon. "And I took a picture of myself, too, as she got back on her high horse. I’m trying really to keep the anger down, and you can see the struggle in my face. > > “It took me nine months to figure out that these two pictures are really the beginning of something I am responsible to do. I have a gift to take photographs, and I have a responsibility to give back to other people.” > > Gauthi?r’s way of giving back is including the portrait of his daughter as one of the three portraits being featured at an art exhibit for the Madison House Autism Foundation’s inaugural art show in Rockville, Md., where the foundation is headquartered. > > The exhibit opened last week and runs through June 1 at the Johns Hopkins University satellite campus in as part of Autism Awareness Month in April. Gauthi?r agreed to work on the exhibit because he had worked with JaLynn Rasmussen ? the president and founder of Madison House and Utah native ? at an earlier event at Utah Valley University. > > “Madison House really focuses on adults with autism, which I hadn’t really explored much,” Gauthi?r said. “It’s a really exciting exhibit. My only caveat was that I wanted to include more than just adults in my exhibit. My mission is really the entire community of autism ? not just those with the spectrum disorder, but the parents the siblings and those who support individuals struggling with autism, or what I like to call, ‘the family of autism.’ If you think about all of the lives that are impacted by autism, it’s not just 1 in 88 ? it’s all of us.” > > Gauthi?r was referring to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shows the number of children with autism in the United States continues to rise. The latest data estimate that 1 in 88 American children has some form of autism spectrum disorder ? a 78 percent increase compared to a decade ago, according to the report. > > Gauthi?r’s exhibit includes three images: the one of his daughter, another of a farmer’s wife in Washington who has low-functioning autism, and famed academic Temple Grandin ? a professor at Colorado State University who has very high functioning autism. Grandin’s portrait was shot after her appearance at Utah State University in November. > > “These are a little bit more than your typical portraits; I’ve actually included a sort of bit-mapping texture to it,” Gauthi?r said. “Really, it visualizes the environmental toxicity we deal with on a daily basis that I believe are the major causes for autism. I believe it has to do with environmental impact issues.” > > His exhibit is just one way he and his wife, Jacqueline, have been trying to teach people about autism and fight for equality for people with disabilities. > > Gauthi?r and his wife said most people don’t realize the struggle of parenting a child with autism. The couple believes their son is high-functioning ? like their daughter ? but he has not been diagnosed. > > It happens with things as mundane as a trip to the grocery store, where Maddy, as she’s known to family members, will “freak out” because the lights are flickering in the freezer section. > > “To have people just glare at you, like, ‘You’re a monster child, you’re a horrible parent’ … as opposed to recognizing the struggle,” Gauthi?r said. > > Even for the first few years of Maddy’s life, her stages with the disorder changed. For the first several years she would “scream for six hours straight and not just once.” Gauthi?r said the family went through years being bitten or scratched. > > “It’s a painful struggle,” he said. “The hardest thing is when a pediatrician tells you, ‘Oh, well they’ll just grow out of that,’ and you want to say to them, ‘We’re not crazy, something is wrong with our child.’ And this is a repeated story.” > > Maddy is attending Morningside Elementary School, a private preschool and kindergarten, as a kindergartener, where her mother serves as its director. > > Gauthi?r and his wife will give a presentation at Utah Valley University later this month called, “Tiny Ripples of Hope,” which aims to give hope to those in the autism spectrum disorder community. > > Comment on this story > “Because my kids are pretty high-functioning, I can be an advocate for some parents with low-functioning autism who just don’t have the energy to do it,” Gauthi?r said. “I think we have a responsibility to work with people with disabilities ? with any disability ? and find a way to make them feel like they’re positively contributing to society. If it’s a case where the disability is so severe, then we need to treat them with the utmost respect … and not just shut them away.” Here is a link to a video on _Madison Fields_, a project of the _Madison House Autism Foundation_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iUKkEHjWT4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iUKkEHjWT4) (source: [USU prof’s mission: Photographing autism struggle | Deseret News](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765569924/USU-profs-mission-Photographing-autism-struggle.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2017, 7:06am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/963 "2017-03-29T07:06:30Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _McArdle Center for Early Autism Intervention_, based in Stevensville, Maryland, strives to work with children and families with an Applied Behaviour Analysis therapy centered approach. By taking a therapeutic approach to education _The McArdle Center_ teaches children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a way that best suits them as individual learners… > [@](#): > > The …County Library recently donated more than 150 used children’s books to help establish a new library at the McArdle Center for Early Autism Intervention in Stevensville. > > The McArdle Center has developed programming to work with children even before they become diagnosed on the autism spectrum, from early detection of signs of autism to providing therapy and education in a year round setting best prepares these children to live full and meaningful lives. > > Books contributed by the Friends will be used by McArdle’s students, aged 2-8 years. > > The founder of the center, Emily McArdle, praised the Friends of the Library for the contribution: > > “Thank you so much for this generous donation. We will put the books to wonderful use in our new library.” Here is a link to a video from the _McArdle Center for Early Autism Intervention_: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhoo-Ge1pmU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhoo-Ge1pmU) (source: [Friends of Queen Anne’s County Library](http://friendsofqaclibrary.org/friends-helps-grow-library-at-new-mcardle-center/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:02am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/964 "2017-03-30T09:02:38Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the southwest, _Eastern Panhandle Indigo Children_ is a Charles Town, West Virginia-based nonprofit that helps those struggling with Autism Spectrum Disorders, including children with Autism. _EPIC_ is aligning with other major autism organizations as well as Jefferson County Public Schools to bring members a rich and rewarding experience… > [@](#): > > A special group of kayakers delightedly splashed around in Shepherd University’s wellness center pool during a recent session of the college’s chapter of Team River Runner. > > The group included an 11-year-old autistic girl and her family, who came to take a kayaking lesson… > > This year, Shepherd’s chapter [of Team River Runner] partnered with two academic departments – education, and health, physical education, recreation and sport – to offer therapeutic kayaking to children who are on the autism spectrum and their families through a local nonprofit organization called Eastern Panhandle Indigo Children. > > Tracy Seffers, registrar and Shepherd’s Team River Runner chapter coordinator, said it makes a lot of sense for veterans to help children enjoy the water in kayaks. > > “Children on the autism spectrum have particular needs in terms of processing time, breaking down processes and time to acquire a skill,”… > > Bonnie Pretre, president and founder of EPIC, brought her four autistic sons to one of the sessions. > > “It was a very good experience, and they learned so much,” she said. “They were excited, and they’re still talking about it.” > > Pretre said working with Team River Runner and Shepherd students gives the children a safe and controlled environment where they can learn to kayak and enjoy the water. Here is a link to a video: [https://m.facebook.com/pg/Eastern-Panhandle-Indigo-Children-EPIC-261003041844/videos/?ref=page\_internal&mt\_nav=1](https://m.facebook.com/pg/Eastern-Panhandle-Indigo-Children-EPIC-261003041844/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1) (source: [Shepherd’s Team River Runner teaches kayaking to autistic children | West Virginia | heraldmailmedia.com](http://www.heraldmailmedia.com/news/tri_state/west_virginia/shepherd-s-team-river-runner-teaches-kayaking-to-autistic-children/article_6ae9ac8a-f7cb-11e6-b3c4-df68cd6c555b.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 8:49am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/965 "2017-03-31T08:49:31Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Arc Baltimore_ is a Baltimore, Maryland-based nonprofit that is dedicated to providing advocacy and high quality, life-changing supports in Baltimore City and Baltimore County. The nonprofit has partnered with various organisations to give individuals with various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, a ‘practice’ opportunity to experience the sometimes challenging aspects of airline travel… > [@](#): > > Tomas Harp, 7, was ready to go to the head of the security line at [Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI).] > > Not so fast. “Tomas – that’s part of the process, to wait your turn,” his mother, Carolina Harp, reminded him. > > Soon they handed over their boarding passes. Tomas and his brother, Mateo, 9, were ready to take Southwest flight 1234 from Baltimore at 1:45 p.m. – a flight that was not actually budging an inch from the gate. > > The Harps, from Gaithersburg, were one of 50 families participating on a recent Saturday afternoon in The Arc of Baltimore’s Wings for Autism, which provides children with developmental disabilities with a dry run of the process of boarding a plane. > > Traveling with children can be stressful for anyone. But for those dealing with children on the autism spectrum, it can be traumatic. > > Everything about the process of flying – from waiting in lines with hundreds of other people to [lots] of strange noises – can overstimulate such children. > > …Volunteers from BWI, Southwest, the Transportation Security Administration and Airmall shepherded families through a special security gate. They boarded the plane, got in their seats, heard the safety spiel and were served pretzels and a glass of water. > > Within a half-hour, they were back off the plane. > > The fastest little flight to nowhere. > > Participating parents said that in general they avoid airports and drive. Harp said she logs a lot of miles when she needs to take her two sons on vacation. Tomas and Mateo have gone on trips to Georgia and Florida. > > But this summer the family needs to go to California, and Harp doesn’t plan to make that drive… Here is a link to photos from the ‘Wings for Autism’ event at _Baltimore-Washington International Airport_ from last year: [https://www.facebook.com/pg/thearcbaltimore/photos/?tab=album&album\_id=10154800880656323&ref=page\_internal](https://www.facebook.com/pg/thearcbaltimore/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10154800880656323&ref=page_internal) (source: [A practice in preparation;](http://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/2697729-151/a-practice-in-preparation)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/966 "2017-04-01T08:33:33Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _National Children’s Center, Inc._ (_NCC_) is a Washington, DC-based non-profit organization that is one of the region’s largest non-governmental providers of services for the developmentally disabled, offering an array of services including to infants and children in the Washington metropolitan area. _NCC_?s community-based services include Early Learning Centers, Schools, Transition Services, Adult Vocation Services and Residential programs… > [@](#): > > NCC represented in phenomenal style at the Walk Now For Autism Speaks event on Saturday, November 3rd! NCC came out 63 people strong (39 Walkers, 13 Booth Volunteers, and 11 of our AMAZING individuals from the Gallatin and Aspen houses!). NCC Volunteers treated walkers to Hot Cider (donated by Rinker Orchards: [Rinker’s Apple Cider - Rinker Orchards](http://www.rinkerorchards.com/cider.html)), Hot Cocoa (Donated by Target Corporation: [Target Sustainability & Governance](https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/)), and delicious Cheesecake samples (Donated by Capital City Cheesecake: [http://www.capitalcitycheesecakes.com/](http://www.capitalcitycheesecakes.com/)). > NCC’s walk team members made individual donations toward the cause, as well as great efforts to reach out to their own families, friends and communities to help NCC raise a grand total of $7,900.84! > > While we thank everyone for their unparalleled support, we wish to recognize the following with a special thank you: > > Stephanie & Jason Graham! – Not only was Stephanie NCC’s fearless Team Captain, but she and her husband Jason somehow managed to do the 2.5 mile Walk AND work the NCC Booth at the same time! > > Kate Jordan Downs! – Kate & her 2-year old son Knox did an amazing job of raising the most money for the cause. Together, they raised a total of $375.84! > > Special mention also goes to Katie Wilson (for raising $150.00) and Candace Cross (for raising $140.00). > > Brad Cheng! – Brad was our unofficial photographer extraordinaire! They came out great, and because of you, we’ll have many more photos to share with NCC! > > Jamal & Jared Malone! – Jamal and his son Jared were one of the first to arrive! They came through to show their support and to lend a much needed hand. > > Scott Filer! – Scott was responsible for the Foundation donation that the NCC Walking Team received, and he made a significant personal donation as well. Thanks, Scott!.. Here is a link to a video from the _NCC_: > **[Video](https://www.facebook.com/NatlChildrensCenter/videos/355111467961801/)** (source: [NCC supports Autism Speaks Walk Event on November 3, 2012 in Washington, DC | National Children’s Center](http://www.nccinc.org/ncc-supports-autism-speaks-walk-event-on-november-3-2012-in-washington-dc/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/967 "2017-04-02T06:17:42Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Bowen Foundation for Autism_ is an Annapolis, Maryland-based nonprofit that seeks to improve the lives of children with Autism in Maryland. Its goal is simple, awarding grants to local families who are struggling to pay for needed services to benefit children with Autism… > [@](#): > > The Bowen > Foundation’s inaugural ‘Cruise to Cure Autism’ held tonight in Annapolis, > raised $30,000 and is the first of the foundation’s events planned to raise > awareness and support for Maryland families dealing with a child diagnosed > with autism. The foundation, which was founded by Annapolis resident Bryan > Levy whose five year old son Bowen was diagnosed with autism three years > ago, is dedicated to increasing education opportunities, family initiatives > and aggressively supporting groups engaged in research and treatment of the > disease. > > “Autism is one of the fastest growing diagnoses we see in pediatric > medicine and the support, education and resources available for families is > not where it should be,” said Dr. Charles Parmele, an Annapolis > Pediatrician and member of the Bowen Foundation’s board of directors. “The > money and awareness we raise will go toward helping families effectively > combat this disease and will support groups like Autism Speaks, the Kennedy > Krieger Institute and the National Institutes of Health who are > aggressively seeking to understand and cure autism.” > > The ‘Cruise for a Cure’ featured live music and refreshments and > offered several open discussions on effective ways for families and > individuals to combat [Autism.] > …Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate and relate to > others. > > “Helping other families face the same reality mine did a few years ago > and searching for a cure and understanding of the disease is what we are > really trying to do,” said Bryan Levy, founder of the Bowen Foundation. > “Facing the autism spectrum diagnosis is difficult enough for any parent > and we want to make sure that autism-affected families know we are here, > know they are not alone, and build a community of hope.”… Here is a link to photos from the _Bowen Foundation for Autism_ Charity Football Game from a couple of years ago: [https://www.facebook.com/pg/Glenn-A-Miller-Photography-126484817373663/photos/?tab=album&album\_id=924725730882897](https://www.facebook.com/pg/Glenn-A-Miller-Photography-126484817373663/photos/?tab=album&album_id=924725730882897) (source: [Inaugural Annapolis Autism Fundraiser Raises $30,000 and Offers Hope and Support for Local](http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/inaugural-annapolis-autism-fundraiser-raises-30000-and-offers-hope-and-support-for-local-communities-58823217.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2017, 10:33am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/968 "2017-04-03T10:33:17Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. To the south, the _Easy Street Foundation_ is a Loudoun, Virginia-based nonprofit designed to bring together parents of young adults with Asperger’s to talk about what the next steps should be in their children’s lives and how to reach those goals. Doctors and professionals in fields related to autism spectrum disorder in the Northern Virginia area will also give advice to the families taking part in the foundation… > [@](#): > > As Round Hill teen Jay Ruddy prepared to graduate from high school, his mother started worrying about what was next for him. > > The soon-to-be young adult was diagnosed at age 14 with Asperger’s syndrome, a neurological disorder on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum. Even though he did fine academically, the syndrome creates a disconnect in his social and emotional development, making things like going to college or getting a job difficult. > > His mother, Pamela Ruddy, a second-grade teacher at Evergreen Mill Elementary School, started researching what public resources were available to her son and other teens like him. She found a lot of helpful information for kids on the severe end of the autism spectrum, but nothing for those at the high-functioning end. So she decided to fill the need. > > This year, Ruddy started the Easy Street Foundation… > > “As parents, we already know what the problem is,” said Ruddy. “I want to offer actual solutions to daily life problems dealing with a child or young adult who has Asperger’s.” > > “This is a very needed movement and foundation,” said Dr. Michael Oberschneider, an Ashburn psychiatrist who treats people with autism spectrum disorder and Easy Street’s chief mental health adviser. “So many of my clients and so many individuals across the country are in the same boat and they don’t know what to do or who to turn to.” > > Oberschneider said Asperger’s is a ‘quiet problem.’ Many people don’t realize when a person is affected by the syndrome, he said. > > “It’s a disability where you do not understand the social cues and nuances of everyday life,” said Ruddy. “There’s a disconnect with things like eye contact and body language. What comes across as rude or shy to other people is just a mental disconnect.” > > The term Asperger’s syndrome is technically not recognized by psychiatrists or doctors anymore. The American Psychiatry Association dropped the term and grouped the syndrome, along with a few others, into the autism spectrum disorder in 2012. > > Ruddy believes lumping the syndrome together with autism is part of the reason why her son, and many other students like him, fall through the cracks of society. > > “My son was not a behavior problem. He came across as a lazy student,” said Ruddy. “I noticed there was minimal help in the school.” > > Because her son was performing at an acceptable level in his classes, Ruddy says it was difficult to get help from his teachers and school administration in the development areas he was lacking in. > > “When kids with Asperger’s graduate they have the appearance of being good enough or ready enough,” said Oberschneider. “But some of these guys aren’t comfortable ordering a cheeseburger.” > > As her son grew older, the resources started to disappear, said Ruddy. When he graduated, the two were on their own. There weren’t any more Independent Education Plans, no more meetings with school counselors and no set track to success to follow. > > “So many teens receive services through school systems and then the system stops serving them at 18,” said Oberschneider. “A lot of them live with parents for many years and some go to community college, but it doesn’t always work out. We want to reinstate the road map that goes away when high school is over.” > > Ruddy said her son has a lot to offer in the professional world, but his social skills hold him back from doing well in job interviews, which makes securing employment nearly impossible. > > “They are typically very, very brilliant people,” said Ruddy. “They are the ones we should be following because they’re so sensitive that they probably see things we just ignore.” > > Ruddy plans on scheduling speakers from human relations departments in various industries to speak at Easy Street meetings to talk about what parents can do to ensure their children are treated fairly in the hiring process. > > Other professionals like mental health lawyers, college admissions staff and more will be invited to share insight with Easy Street members, said Ruddy. > > “As a clinician, I’ve talked to many colleagues locally and they are embracing this foundation,” said Oberschneider. “This really is the first of its kind. It provides a space for people to work together to figure out how to make a road map to growth and success.” Here is a link to a video: [https://m.facebook.com/pg/EasyStreet-Foundation-1752942831650990/videos/](https://m.facebook.com/pg/EasyStreet-Foundation-1752942831650990/videos/) (source: [Round Hill mother creates foundation to help young adults with Asperger’s | LoudounTimes.com](http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/round_hill_mother_creates_foundation_to_help_young_adults_with_aspergers432)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2017, 5:22am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/969 "2017-04-04T05:22:05Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _The One World Center for Autism, Inc._ is a Hyattsville, Maryland-based nonprofit that is dedicated to supporting those living with autism and increasing awareness about this condition… > [@](#): > > Children with autism will have extra opportunities to get involved and be creative this summer with the launch of a new creative summer arts program. > > Abrakadoodle Education and the One World Center for Autism in the city are teaming up to provide therapeutic creative art classes to autistic children. > “Art is a medium to give [kids] an opportunity to show the world what they can do and show the world a way that they can communicate with the world,” said Cecilia Hazelton, education director for Abrakadoodle. > Six-week programs will begin in July and end in August, and children will learn art techniques in line with the curriculum of the public school system. It will cost $240 to enroll in the sessions, and registration, which ends June 30, is on a first-come, first-serve basis. > At the program, children will paint, sculpt with clay and use other art mediums that cater to their motor and cognitive skills, Hazelton said. > “We believe that children learn through doing, so kids who come to our program are going to have an opportunity to be exposed to all forms of art mediums,” she said. > Instructors with experience in both art and special education will teach children lessons that surpass educational standards during the school year, Hazelton said. > > …The program, which is the first Abrakadoodle program catered specifically to autistic children, is also the first of its kind in the county, said Abila Tazanu, director of the One World Center for Autism. > “There are very limited opportunities for children and youth with autism to be able to engage their minds in this way so creatively,” she said. “We think it’s something that we need to explore and expand.” > Abrakadoodle already has five locations throughout the county in Landover, Hyattsville, Lanham, Greenbelt and Bowie. > The program is located inside the One World Center for Autism at 1400 Nalley Terrace. > Abrakadoodle’s other programs cater to children of all educational needs from as young as 18 months to as old as 14 years old, said Karin Machusic, director of public relations for Abrakadoodle. > Even more programs serve high school-aged children and adults. > Different programs cater to children in different age groups due to the wide range of kids’ needs, she said. > “Your goals are different for an 18 to 24-month old child than a child that’s in the 3-5-year range,” she said. > As children move through the program, Abrakadoodle will increase difficulty and expect children to apply more creativity in their learning, Machusic said. > “The more tools you can give children that have been diagnosed early, the more likely they can be productive adults in society,” Hazelton said… Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX4zOU8gWsQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX4zOU8gWsQ) (source: [Art camp provides opportunities for autistic children - Prince George’s Sentinel](http://www.thesentinel.com/pgs/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=513:art-camp-provides-opportunities-for-autistic-children&Itemid=766)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2017, 9:59am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/970 "2017-04-05T09:59:46Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Prince George’s County Public Schools System_ (_PGCPS_) is a large public school district administered by the government of Prince George’s County, Maryland, United States and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school system is headquartered in Upper Marlboro and the district serves Prince George’s County… > [@](#): > > Two county middle schools admitted students with autism when schools opened on Monday. > The Prince George’s County Public Schools launched the Middle School Autism Program at Isaac J. Gourdine Middle in Oxon Hill and Kenmoor Middle School in Landover. Four students have already enrolled at each school. > Tanzi West, a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Public Schools, said the growth in the number of students with autism in local public schools is in line with the national trend. > “Students who access the general education curriculum but may have difficulties with transitions and appropriate social skills when interacting with peers and adults, we felt, could attend public schools in selected sites with appropriate supports provided,” West said. > Leatriz Covington, the principal at Isaac J. Gourdine, said there was a sixth-grade student with autism last school year, and the school system provided an assistant. > “As a matter of fact, the assistant was not certified, but she was familiar with the disorder and worked under the guidance of the special education chairperson, Paulette Thomas,” Covington said. > Autism is a neurological disorder that affects communication, social interaction and often some type of sensory processing difficulty, said Julia Watson, autism instructional specialist with the Prince George’s County Public Schools. > “They may overreact to voice and touch. Some smells may bother them,” she said. > Ann Maurice Tudder, a special education resource teacher, said children with autism face a challenge on how to interact socially, how to start a conversation and how to make new friends. > > …But Tudder cautioned parents not to rush to just Isaac J. Gourdine or Kenmoor as the needs of their child might just as well be fully met at other schools. > “There has to be a referral from your child’s current school and then the Individual Education Plan team at the school will decide if they are appropriate for the program,” she said. > Seven elementary public schools already have the program, though there is no such program in high schools. > “We are going to have one new teacher and four paraprofessionals,” said Donald King, vice principal of Isaac J. Gourdine. “By the end of the school year we might have 10 students,” King said, as students from other schools might be sent to the school. Kenmoor will be able to accommodate seven students with autism. > West said there were 105 students in the Early Childhood Centers, 386 students in the elementary schools (ages 6-11), and 295 students in the middle and high school. The numbers include non-public students. > In 2005, there were 106 students at the early childhood level, 376 students in secondary middle and high schools and 237 students in high schools. > “You can see we had an increase of 10 students in elementary schools but an increase of 58 students in high schools,” said Wanda Rankin, coordinating supervisor of instruction at the county’s Department of Special Education. > Watson said autism is diagnosed at the pre-school level. The school psychologist makes the determination, she said. > In rare cases, a determination may be made at the college level. > Watson said there are currently six autism specialists in the county. Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2AOLIW4C4k](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2AOLIW4C4k) (source: [Autism program added to county middle schools](http://www.gazette.net/stories/082307/fortnew184640_32378.shtml)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2017, 4:51am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/971 "2017-04-06T04:51:33Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _Itineris_ is a Baltimore, Maryland-based non-profit serving adults with autism in the Baltimore region. Itineris is committed to providing opportunities for individuals with autism to participate meaningfully in all aspects of adult life… > [@](#): > > Sam’s Canterbury Cafe opened two weeks ago with the mission of providing meaningful employment to adults on the autism spectrum. > The cafe, located on W. 39th Street and Canterbury Road, was inspired by its namesake Sam Myers, whose parents sought to provide a workplace that was suitable not only for Sam, but for other adults on the spectrum as well. > The Cafe, which replaced Chocolatea, opened with the help of Itineris, an organization that aims to guide individuals with autism spectrum disorder to develop the skills necessary for an independent work environment. Itineris recognized Sam as a good fit for food service because of his friendly personality. This encouraged Sam’s parents to open the cafe. > Out of the sixteen staff members, the cafe currently employs six adults with autism, including Sam himself. > The cafe was designed with the hope of creating a familiar and soothing environment not only for customers, but also for the workers on the spectrum. > The layout, design and colors of the caf? are purposefully kept uniform and simple. The walls are decorated with artwork from the facility itself to evoke a feeling of comfort. > Elli Straus, the general manager at the caf? who has known Sam and his family for over 20 years, praised the opportunities it provides for adults with autism. > “Once adults [on the spectrum] age out of the [school] system, there are? most certainly, limited meaningful employment opportunities, apart from doing something very repetitive or monotonous,” she said. > Straus said that many employers are hesitant to hire workers with autism. > “Because adults on the spectrum have varied independence levels and different skill levels, it is often difficult for employers to readily accept them into a job. Some may require job coaches, which is what Itineris provides,” she said. “Others are completely independent; [They] don’t need a job coach. There’s that wide spectrum of language and verbal and physical skills, [so] it’s often hard for adults on the spectrum to find employment.” > Straus further explained the specificity required to teach employees on the spectrum about the work environment and how this differed from instructing the average worker. > “With adults on the spectrum, your language has to be very specific as to what you are referring to or asking them to do. We have trained our staff [not on the spectrum and] we had a presentation from Itineris to help them understand how to interact [with spectrum adults],” Straus said. > Straus said not all businesses may be equipped with the resources necessary to train workers on the spectrum. > ?You have to be very specific on what you’re asking them to do and demonstrating [the task] very carefully, [otherwise] it wouldn’t really mean anything to anyone on the autistic spectrum,? she said. ?We’ll break [jobs] down into very identifiable processes for each step and even put together a series of pictures or a manual. Some employers don’t have the time or the resources to do that.? > Straus stated that the cafe has helped build meaningful employee-guest relationships, as well. > ?We’ve had quite a few [diners] that have already met Sam, and that interaction on the whole is more intimate than an interaction between a more run-of-the-mill food service person and a guest,? Straus said. ?It?s really no longer about what food they’re serving you, or what drink they’re serving, you are interacting with them personally at that point and that’s what makes it so special to witness.? > She also spoke about how some of the other workers overcame their own prejudices after getting to know their coworkers on the spectrum. > ?There was perhaps some apprehension in our team about what bringing in adults on the spectrum meant, but now that I think that they’ve had the opportunity to interact with Sam for a couple of weeks, they understand what it’s like,? Straus said. > Straus also believes the experience has been rewarding to all of the cafe?s employees, including herself. > ?It has been truly honoring and very rewarding to have come into a space that was very different and have the honor of renovating it and turning it into something that is more suitable adults on the spectrum,? she said. > Looking forward, Straus hopes to expand the cafe?s reach and show that it is possible to employ adults on the spectrum. She also emphasized that these adults have skills and capabilities that are often overlooked. > ?We really want to be a place that can offer meaningful employment to adults on the spectrum for as long as we can,? Straus said. ?There are things in every job environment that are somewhat repetitive but not menial, that offer someone dignity and meaningful employment, and it’s just a matter of identifying those tasks and offering them to [people] with whatever specialty. It’s just a matter of finding that perfect match.? > Senior Jennifer Baik praised the cafe?s purpose. > ?In terms of Sam’s Cafe and their mission, I think it’s a really good idea. They are providing a really good space for people who are unfairly prejudiced against to find employment,? Baik said. ?I think that there need to be more spaces like that.? > While Baik noted that the food could improve over time, she will return to support the cafe?s mission. > ?They might need some more time to settle into that,? she said. ?Because I’m aware of what it does, I’ll probably support it a lot more with my business.? Here is a link to a video: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOsHRaqhKE8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOsHRaqhKE8) (source: [New caf](http://www.jhunewsletter.com/2017/03/09/new-cafe-supports-workers-with-autism/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2017, 10:24am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/972 "2017-04-07T10:24:33Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Center, Inc._ (“TRRC”) is a Glenwood, Maryland-based nonprofit dedicated to providing therapeutic support services to its clients, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, in an all-inclusive environment. It offers a safe, accessible environment with staff support so that individuals with special needs can access its services… > [@](#): > > When David Couser is riding Dude under the open sky at the Therapeutic and Recreational Riding Center in Glenwood, there is no place he’d rather be. > > Riding in the main indoor arena is a different matter. > > While the 12-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder and the gentle chestnut pony with a tawny mane share a bond that has transformed his life, his parents say, those benefits almost disappear when inclement weather forces riders inside. > > But now, thanks to the center’s plan to build a sensory-sensitive indoor riding arena on its 55-acre property on Shady Lane, David and other riders like him won’t have to keep missing crucial therapeutic sessions because of the crippling sensory overload that a fast-paced, enclosed space can trigger. > > The centre – which was founded by Helen and John Tuel in Olney in 1983 and moved to its current location in 1994 after eight years in Lisbon – is holding an event called Raise the Roof from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 16 to launch the effort to raise $150,000 for the arena’s construction. There will be live music, food and wine sampling. > > “The new arena will be more intimate and provide fewer distractions for our clients with sensory processing disorders” like autism… said Helen Tuel. > > At 4,100 square feet, the sensory-sensitive arena will be much smaller than the 23,100-square-foot main indoor arena. Currently, the two existing indoor arenas must be divided up with traffic cones to accommodate a wide variety of simultaneous uses during inclement weather. > > “Horses whizzing by, extra noise, dust and bright lights are all intimidating to people who are [adversely] affected by textures, smells and sounds,” especially in an enclosed space where those issues are magnified, Tuel said. > > The fundraiser represents the kickoff of the center’s pursuit to meet a yearlong, $75,000 challenge grant awarded this spring by the Finish Line Youth Foundation. > > The grant gives the center until May 2017 to raise the full sum, which Finish Line will then match, according to Marty Posch, president of the Indianapolis-based nonprofit organization that is an arm of Finish Line, a national chain of athletic apparel and shoe stores. > > “We went into this fully confident that TRRC will be able to raise $75,000 and get all of the matching funds,” Posch said. “If they don’t reach the maximum amount by May, we will continue our conversations with them because we want to support them as much as we can.” > > The plans for an indoor arena with special features have been greeted enthusiastically, even though no timeline for completion has been finalized. > > Upon learning the news, Kirk Couser – who moved with his wife, Hope, to Howard County from Tennessee nine years ago after the couple scoured the country for the best autism services for their son David – said the couple felt their prayers had been answered. > > Couser, who heads a Columbia-based technology company, said that in 2013 their son suddenly began to recoil in pain at the prospect of riding in the center’s main indoor arena. > > Witnessing David’s fear in a situation in which he had been thriving for years brought the Woodstock couple to tears and caused them to wonder if they’d have to change course in his treatment, he said. > > “The staff told us it would get better and they said, ‘Don’t worry; we’ve got this.’ They never gave up on him,” he said. > > The center’s mission is to treat a wide range of disabilities by providing physical and occupational therapy on horseback. > > The new arena will be heated and soundproof, and will have a sprinkler system for dust control, among other features, in order to accommodate the center’s growing patient roster, said Anya Harris, who volunteers her public relations expertise as a spokesperson for the center. > > …Eighty percent of the center’s patients live in Howard County, Tuel said. > About 200 riders of all ages use the facility each week and the center maintains a waiting list, she said, adding that “no one should have to wait for therapy.” > > The founders, who grew up near Washington with no prior equestrian experience, embarked on their mission three decades ago to their family’s alarm, Tuel said. > > “Our relatives thought we were crazy,” she said, laughing at the memory. > > The couple had been married for 20 years when they decided to establish a center; she abandoned a career as a dental hygienist, and her husband left his management position with a national grocery chain to concentrate on stable management. > > Their life-altering about-face was sparked by a request that Helen Tuel received from a neighbor when the Tuels lived in Olney… > > Since Tuel had no idea how to teach people with special needs to ride, she decided to learn. Founding a center that would reach many people soon became a dream. > > “Horses are forgiving and see riders as they are,” Tuel said, explaining the success of the various equine therapies. > > “These animals are large and commanding of their space, yet they do not judge, and our patients consider them their friends.” > > The equestrian world is often viewed as an expensive and elitist environment, Harris said, but therapeutic riding falls into a different category and a successful program depends on “hordes of passionate volunteers.” > > Kirk Couser said he hopes the community will support the new project. > > “We are convinced that David wouldn’t be the person he is today without Helen and John and the amazing people at TRRC,” Couser said. “To know that there is a solution in the works for people like him is phenomenal.”… Here is a link to a video: [11 reactions | Therapeutic & Recreational Riding Center, Inc. on Reels](https://www.facebook.com/256682435955/videos/1832730188872/) (source: [The Baltimore Sun](http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-91682537/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2017, 9:31am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/973 "2017-04-08T09:31:23Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital_ (_MWPH_) is a Baltimore, Maryland-based nonprofit specialty children’s hospital. _MWPH_’s Autism services include testing and therapeutic services for children suspected of, or already diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > “My son is in a place where the people understand and care about him.” - Priscila Rodriguez, Mother > > Ian, 4, …was fearful and displayed repetitive behaviors. > > His mother Priscila Rodriguez, desperate and confused, wanted answers. Her doctor recommended Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital (MWPH)'s Pediatric Psychology. > > The Division of Pediatric Psychology at MWPH has a full complement of psychologists dedicated to improving the well being of children and adolescents. Each psychologist at MWPH has specialized training in providing a wide range of services to children having behavioral or emotional difficulties. > > Staff treat children with conditions [including Autism Spectrum Disorders.] Recommendations are tailored to the specific needs of each child, and psychology providers work closely with the parents, pediatricians, educators, and other mental health practitioners to identify appropriate treatment services for each child. > > Ian was diagnosed with moderate-severity autism in May 2015. Through individual and group therapies, plus occupational, physical and speech therapy, Ian is learning to shape his negative behaviors through different play techniques. > > …Thanks to group therapy, he can tolerate the structure of school better. He can communicate and show affection to his family. He can sit still longer to complete tasks, and his social skills have improved, too. > > Priscila credits his therapists, like Dr. Antonia Girard, for his progress. She says the entire psychology team really cares about Ian; when they come here for therapies, everyone is smiling and happy to see them. “My son is in a place where the people understand and care about him,” she says. “I feel so grateful to be here.” > > Before Ian’s therapies, Priscila felt confused because she didn’t understand why Ian behaved the way he did. “They’ve helped me to understand him, to manage him, and learn about his condition, about his behaviors, his fears. He can feel that I can understand him, so that makes him feel better and not as frustrated as before.” > > “He can feel what I’m feeling. If I get mad, he gets mad. If I feel frustrated, he’s going to be worse. So if I can control myself, he’s going to be better. And therapies have helped me to be like that.” > > “As a mother, it has been difficult to accept Ian’s condition, but with MWPH it has been easier. I know he’s getting better. I know he’s in the perfect place for a better life and future.” Here is a link to a video from the _Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital_’s Autism program from a few years ago: [17 reactions · 7 comments | Our experts talk to WUSA-TV about why early intervention for kids with autism is so important: | Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital](https://www.facebook.com/MtWashingtonPediatricHospital/videos/10151581442577760/) (source: [Ian | Mt Washington](http://www.mwph.org/health/patient-stories/ian)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2017, 10:32am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/974 "2017-04-09T10:32:41Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. Located just outside of Baltimore in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the _Forbush School_ is part of the nonprofit _Sheppard Pratt Health System_. The School is a welcoming and innovative educatational community conducive to the unique learning and complex developmental needs of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > Office parks are among the underused and unloved built environments littering the suburban United States. This is the story of one of buildings remarkably transformed into a private school providing educational and theraputic services for children ages 5-21 with autism spectrum disorder… Located just outside of Baltimore in Hunt Valley, Maryland, the Forbush School, part of the Sheppard Pratt Health System, was opened in 2008 in what had been an unused warehouse in an office park. The school was quickly filled to capacity with 72 students and 60 staff. [CBH] of Baltimore transformed the utterly undistinguished warehouse into a welcoming and innovative educatational community conducive to the unique learning and complex developmental needs of children with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. Capacity enrollment and superlative testimonials about the new school measure this unsual adaptive reuse as a success. > > Description > While the original brief for the project was to design and construct a new 30,000 square foot school to replace an over-crowded and out-dated school on the campus of the Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore. The existing private school served a mix of over 200 children about equally distributed between those with behavioral health disorders and autism spectrum disorders… The children came from many different school districts and were deemed unable to learn successfully in integrated classrooms in their own districts. A realization that children with h [Autism Spectrum Disorders] needed a different learning environment from the children with behavioral health disorders, combined with budget cuts and time constraints, necessitated an alternative to the original plan. > > The surprising solution was to lease an existing one-story 1960s era warehouse building and its surrounding site in Hunt Valley, Maryland and reinvent it as a welcoming school. The single-story structure, size, low cost, and easy access to dominant travel routes in this part of Baltimore County made it a viable option. Not only was the interior renovation a challenge, but the design team at [CBH] had to renovate the surrounding site to provide needed vehicular access, parking, and appropriate outdoor playground space for the school. > > The new school contains classrooms, staff offices, therapy spaces, and a specially designed playground to meet the needs of children with ASD. Ramps are incorporated into the main and playground entries. Classrooms have accessible bathrooms and the rubber-padded linoleum floor system installed in the activity rooms reduces impact injury and noise. > > Attention was given to proxemics and the distinct issues for children with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. Proxemics is the personal space around the body. A person with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] can be more guarded about this space and any infringement is seen as a potential threat. They need more space. Movement around a building requires space large enough to reduce this perceived threat that can create distress. > > The design introduced maximum daylight into the interior of the school through skylights and classroom arrangement around the perimeter of the building. At base, the project fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the International Building Code (IBC) 2006, and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code. > > …Achieving the stated goal to rebuild the existing box-shaped warehouse into a model learning environment required that the end result not only avoid an institutional look and feel but also be better than a typical school. It was also critically important to create an environment that addressed the students’ heightened sensitivity to space, auditory, and visual stimuli. The design needed to be simple and clear, yet supportive and conducive to the dual educational goals of learning and improved functioning in the world. The client also wanted the highest levels of environmental sustainability for these hypersensitive children. > > The space program was developed to maximize one-on-one learning and theraputic services for the students. Classrooms are located along the perimeter to maximize daylight and organized in clusters of four based on age group: lower, middle, and upper classes. Each cluster contains therapy offices and a resource room. The shared multi-purpose room, sensory integration room, occupational therapy apartment, and eatery are located in the center, accessible to all three clusters and fitted with skylights. Administrative offices and reception are located near the main entry. An inviting internal “main street” brings students and visitors in from the main entry and helps organize the school with clear visual cues for the three learning clusters and shared spaces. The limited site around the building was redesigned to allow for vehicular access, visitor and staff parking. They created a secure playground adjacent to the school. > > The school serves low and moderate functioning children age 5-21 with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] bussed in from throughout Maryland. During drop-off and pick up, as many as 30 buses may line up around the building. Teachers escort the students one-by-one to their classrooms. The site around the building was reworked to allow for this. A light-rail station is adjacent to the building and onsite parking with accessible spaces are available. > > The teacher to student ratio is 1:2 with over 60 staff working with 72 students. The school operates on a 12-month basis. As federally mandated, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed for each student and parental involvement with their children is very strong. > > The design team at [CBH] worked closely with the school’s administration and staff to understand and develop their program. The team observed how students and teachers used the space and what worked and did not work at the old school. The design team also site tested several of the products and materials, lights, and colors to ascertain students and staff comfort with the selections. Classroom sizes were designed to increase with age because it was observed that the older students needed more room. The end result was the Lower class size was: 500 square feet [46.45 square meters], Middle: 600 square feet [55.74 square meters] and Upper: 800 square meters [74.32 square meters]. To best meet the students’ needs, Lynette Pinhey of Human and Rhode, Inc. was in close contact with staff on the design of the playground and its furnishings . > > The project rehabilitates an existing structure with attention to bringing in natural light through skylights and new openings along the exterior walls. Soft non-glare, energy efficient and flicker-free indirect lighting is used throughout the school and numerous environmentally sustainable products and materials were installed during the renovation. Ceiling heights and corridor widths were increased beyond code standards to accommodate the children’s needs. New window openings were introduced around the perimeter of the building to allow each classroom to have daylight. Additionally, a playful pattern of circular skylights helps bring natural light to the common central spaces. Because children with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] tend to be sensitive to the flicker associated with fluorescent lighting, several types of indirect/direct energy efficient fixtures were tested to select the most comfortable/flicker-free ones. > > Perimeter walls and roof were insulated to increase R-value. A highly efficient and quiet zoned mechanical system was installed. The use of highly absorptive ceiling panels, quiet mechanical/air distribution systems, and wall materials that minimize transmitted sounds between adjacent spaces results in an acoustically comfortable environment. Amplified noise, echoes and reverberated noise are minimal despite the spaciousness of the school. > > Evaluation > Forbush School has a very welcoming and friendly feel. The clear, simple organization of the building, the spacious dimensions, and the uplifting, yet calming interior colors have contributed to a positive user and visitor experience. Users are happy with the colors, material selections, and the comfortable lighting and acoustics of the space. The installation of highly sound absorptive ceiling tile systems from Ecophon (Super-G) and Armstrong (Optima system) helped control noise levels, thus creating a more comfortable and effective learning environment for students and staff. 3-Form recycled resin panels by 3M are used along with a soft palette of colors and patterns to modulate spaces, soften the rigidity of the box, accentuate special activity zones, and provide visual stimulation. Marmoleum flooring by Armstrong arranged in a pattern of flowing curves and forms helps create a softer, more welcoming space. High-impact fiber board panels by USG (with high recycled content) are used for all the walls and provide an abuse resistant solution without the worry about injuries typically caused by CMU walls. The learning-therapy clusters and general organization of the school have worked well in creating a place that conveys clarity and ease of access between different parts of the building. The integration of Velcro display panels and flexible floor patterns are designed to encourage students to customize their classrooms. Avoiding installation of protruding elements and installation of colorful built-in recessed lockers has helped minimize damage and student injuries. > > There are missed opportunities to note. The site is very tight and had to be very efficiently laid out to support circulation and parking. During drop-off and pick up, as many as 30 buses may line up around the building. Ideally, a two-way loop would have been preferable, but because of the tight site, traffic is limited to a one-way loop. > > Despite the overwhelmingly positive response to the playground space, additional informal landscaped areas are needed to offer quiet restorative ?withdrawal? spaces for students or staff. The same might be said about the interior. More break-out quiet, alcove like areas are needed to allow students to separate from the group. > > Starting with a warehouse box to create a specialized school had its advantages. It made possible the 18 foot ceiling height and its wide supporting columns allowed maximum flexibility. Changing the exterior was limited by the constraints set by the property owner. Nonetheless, Forbush School welcomes students, staff, parents, and visitors from the outside with its colorful entry canopies and playful window openings. > > Universal Design Features > Careful attention was paid to the proportions of spaces for both public common areas and classrooms. Ceiling heights and corridor widths were increased beyond code standards to accommodate the children’s needs. > Bringing in natural light was an important feature of the design. New window openings are introduced around the perimeter of the building to allow each classroom to have daylight. > A playful pattern of circular skylights helps bring natural light to the common central spaces. > Because children with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] tend to be sensitive to the flicker associated with fluorescent lighting, several types of indirect/direct energy efficient fixtures were tested to select the most comfortable/flicker-free ones. > The use of highly absorptive ceiling panels, quiet mechanical/air distribution systems, and wall materials that minimize transmitted sounds between adjacent spaces results in an acoustically comfortable environment. Amplified noise, echoes and reverberated noise are minimal despite the spaciousness of the place. > Selecting sustainable materials and a calming uplifting palette of colors was critical for the well-being of the students and staff. With a tight budget of $130 sf, the project targeted a balance of green materials with low off-gassing properties, durable/abuse-resistance, and cost effectiveness. > A palette of 5 pastel colors was used in selecting colors for walls, floors and translucent accent panels. Color and texture accentuate special zones, identify key areas, create a flow between spaces, and soften the rigidity of the box. > Environmentally Sustainable Features > The project rehabilitates an existing structure. > New openings along the exterior walls bring daylight into all the classrooms. > Skylights provide natural light to all the common spaces. > Perimeter walls and roof are insulated to increase R-value. > A highly efficient and quiet zoned mechanical system was installed. > Soft non-glare, energy efficient and flicker free indirect lighting is used throughout the school. > Sustainable environmentally preferable products such as: recycled content high impact fiber-board on the walls, formaldehyde free insulation and materials, low-VOC emitting paints and materials, and inherently anti-bacterial and anti-static materials > Natural and renewable products such as linoleum flooring. > Use of highly recycled content materials such as translucent resin panels. > Highly insulated windows with low-e glazing were installed in the school… Here is a link to some slides/photos of the _Forbush School_: [Forbush School for Autism – Projects](http://www.cbhassociates.com/projects/details/forbush-school-for-autism/) (source: [The Forbush School | Universal Design Case Studies](http://universaldesigncasestudies.org/education/specialized-purpose/forbush-school)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2017, 12:01pm UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/975 "2017-04-10T12:01:36Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Autism Spectrum Support Group_ _of Southern Maryland, Inc.,_ is a Maryland-based nonprofit that offers support to families and caregivers of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The organisation offers families in Southern Maryland the opportunity to help each other… > [@](#): > > …According to Autism Speaks, [Autism Spectrum Disorder] refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. The term ‘spectrum’ reflects the wide variation in challenges and strengths possessed by each person with autism. > > Autism’s most obvious signs tend to appear between two and three years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some developmental delays associated with autism can be identified and addressed even earlier. Parents are urged to seek evaluation if they have concerns because early intervention can improve outcomes. > > Learning that your child has [Autism Spectrum Disorder] can be devastating to parents. They feel upset, scared, concerned and alone. Autism isn’t the same for any two children. Some children have high-functioning autism–others suffer from a more severe form of the neurobehavioral condition. There is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences. No matter the level of autism your child is dealing with, it can be a lonely place for parents. But it doesn’t have to be. > > …There are four main goals of ASSG: > > 1. To support families directly impacted by [Autism Spectrum Disorders] > 2. To educate families and the community on issues related to [Autism Spectrum Disorders] > 3. To raise public and professional awareness and acceptance of [Autism Spectrum Disorders] > 4. To work in partnership with other organizations to inform and educate families and the community about issues related to [Autism Spectrum Disorders] > > ASSG wants parents to know, they’re not alone in their struggles. “We try to eliminate the feelings of isolation families may have when raising a child with [Autism Spectrum Disorders.] We offer a judgment-free environment for families to discuss issues and ask questions. We also encourage families to help other families by sharing information and support, and to stay focused on supporting families on a local level,” [Terri Griest, president of _ASSG_, said.] > > Autism is often a very misunderstood disorder. People with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] are affected in every aspect of their life. Griest explained, “[Autism Spectrum Disorders] may cause behaviors that the uninitiated may find perplexing, disrespectful, scary, bizarre or incomprehensible. People’s responses often lead them to withdraw, to judge, to become angry, or to offer unsolicited ‘advice’ on parenting.” But with those struggles comes great gifts. The ASSG works to eliminate the stigma associated with people with [Autism Spectrum Disorders]. “Knowledge is key,” Griest noted. > > ASSG always encourages new members to join. The group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. …There are ‘sister’ groups in Charles and Calvert counties. > > …During Autism Awareness Month, ASSG is participating in and promoting several activities around Southern Maryland to bring more awareness to this community– > > World Autism Awareness Day is April 2. Autism Speaks promotes “Light It Up Blue” on that day. People around the world light up buildings with blue lights, and everyone is encouraged to wear blue in support of autism awareness. > > Personalized Therapy’s 10th Annual Autism Awareness Day. April 8 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m… > …All funds raised go to local organizations that help people with autism, including the Autism Spectrum Support Group of Southern Maryland… Here is a link to photos: [https://m.facebook.com/pg/AutismSupportSoMD/photos/?ref=page\_internal&mt\_nav=1](https://m.facebook.com/pg/AutismSupportSoMD/photos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1) (source: - Page Not Found ([http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0317/april-is-autism-awareness-month.html](http://www.thebaynet.com/articles/0317/april-is-autism-awareness-month.html))) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/976 "2017-04-11T09:11:35Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _University of Maryland Autism Research Consortium_ (_UMARC_) is an interdisciplinary group of researchers in the Departments of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Psychology, Human Development, Linguistics, Kinesiology, and Special Education at the _University of Maryland_. Its goal is to advance the understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders in children and adults, and to contribute to the development of effective treatments and interventions… > [@](#): > > During April, designated as Autism Awareness Month, the University of Maryland Autism Research Consortium is campaigning to raise money for families impacted by the disorder. > > UMARC hopes its Launch UMD crowdfunding campaign raises $8,300 by May 5 to continue funding the consortium’s Community-wide Learning about Autism Speaker Series, said Nan Bernstein Ratner, a hearing and speech sciences professor. > > Autism spectrum disorder is a group of complex disorders of the brain’s development, according to [autismspeaks.org](http://autismspeaks.org). These disorders can be grouped by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. > > A group of staff members across various departments started the speaker series in spring 2014 to help inform families who need more resources on autism, according to autism.umd.edu. The series aims to bring in speakers to educate the parents of children with autism, but students can also learn a lot from the series, Ratner said. > > “We have used volunteer speakers to date, but that is not sustainable, which is why we have been applying for funds,” Ratner said. “Some of the people that we would like to have talk won’t talk for free. We try not to bring anybody in who costs a lot of money, but eventually if all you have is free labor, you run out of people who can talk about the things that people want information on.” > > So far, UMARC’s Launch UMD page indicates the campaign has raised $2,350, or about 28 percent of its goal. > > Kathryn Dow-Burger, a hearing and speech sciences professor, said interested students could also have a huge role in the campaign. > > “We have many students who want to try and volunteer so we are trying to find a gateway, a way for them to be able to learn more about UMARC, about autism,” Dow-Burger said. > > …Launch UMD serves as a crucial platform for fundraising, Ratner said. > > “Some outreach is done from research budgets, but most are fairly limited,” Ratner said. “We cannot go to SGA because we are not a student organization, just an organization with some student members. Like any group, UMARC needs to raise funds to do the best job it can do.” > > …a great amount of growth [was seen] in a child who came with their parent to lectures and because of the information that the parents were getting from the speaker series. > > Ratner also said she is surprised by the lack of resources for families affected by autism in the surrounding area. Here is a link to photos: [UM Autism Research Consortium](http://autism.umd.edu/PhotoGallery.html) (source: [UMD campaign to raise money for families impacted by autism - The Diamondback](http://www.dbknews.com/2016/04/22/umd-autism-campaign-raise-money-autism-awareness-month/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 9:50am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/977 "2017-04-12T09:50:53Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The ‘Cumberland Tri-State Autism Walk’, is an annual Autism awareness event and fundraiser located in Cumberland, Maryland. The walk has has grown beyond what the founder of the event could have ever hoped for… > [@](#): > > On a cold, blustery day in Cumberland, Maryland, 1,200 people looped the track at Allegany College for the ninth annual Cumberland Tri-State Walk Now for Autism Speaks event on Saturday, April 9, 2011. Walk Chairperson, Marcy Hardinger led the opening ceremonies with special thanks to all Walk participants who came far and wide to enjoy the festivities of the day and support the urgent mission of Autism Speaks… > > Walkers enjoyed the 10 Toys that Speak to Autism from Walk Now for Autism Speaks National Sponsors–Toys’R’Us and Babies’R’Us, …face painting, autism race car and balloons galore! The Cumberland Times-News and radio sponsors WTBO and GO106FM were on hand to capture the events of the day. Special thanks to DJ Express for energizing the crowd… > > It was a record-breaking year for Cumberland with $64,000 raised to date with the total expected to exceed $70,000! This tremendous success is due to the hard work and dedication of each volunteer, walker, team member, team captain, sponsor and in-kind donor. Many, many thanks to Walk planning committee for all of their efforts year after year to organize and implement the Walk in Western Maryland. > > A very sincere and heartfelt thank you to Marcy Hardinger. [Hardinger’s determination] to better the life of [those] affected by autism in the Cumberland community is truly inspiring. > > THANK YOU CUMBERLAND for your continued commitment to changing the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. Autism Speaks and Cumberland is listening!!!.. Here is a link to a video from the ‘Cumberland Tri-State Autism Walk’ from three years ago: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-NhSJwHUZc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-NhSJwHUZc) (source: [https://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/page/12/](https://walknowforautismspeaks.wordpress.com/page/12/)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2017, 6:59am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/978 "2017-04-13T06:59:20Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Jefferson School at Finan Center_ is a 12-month general and special education program, located in Cumberland, Maryland, that provides a compassionate, nurturing learning environment for children with special needs to help them achieve their academic, social, and emotional goals. Through collaboration with the Allegany County Board of Education, it provides educational services to students from the age of five with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders… > [@](#): > > The new autism center at Jefferson School at Finan opened less than two months ago, but already, staff and students seem to be at home there. > So far, eight students from Allegany County public schools have been referred to the center, operated by Sheppard Pratt Health System, with the number expected to increase gradually to a maximum of 24, said Principal Bonnie Fetzer. > “We like to start them one at a time so they acclimate and get on target with their program,” Fetzer said, adding that current students range in age from 10 to 15. The center accepts children from kindergarten to age 21 who are referred through the school system or some other agency. “We’re starting gradually and building.” > > Located in a former residential cottage of the Brandenburg Center for adults with developmental disabilities, the new center has five spacious classrooms, a library, computer room and conference room, as well as a small kitchen, laundry room and “independent living area” where students can learn basic domestic tasks. > “They’ll be able to learn how to make a bed, fold clothes, clean up a table, set a table,” said Fetzer, who also runs the Jefferson School’s education program for children with emotional and behavioral problems, where 38 students are enrolled. > The autism center is designed specifically for children with severe autism and is modeled after other Sheppard Pratt programs in Hunt Valley, Gaithersburg and Westminster. Dr. Paul Livelli, director of autism educational services for Sheppard Pratt, is providing ongoing training for the new center’s staff. > Jodi Ellsworth, a licensed social worker, knew she wanted to work at the center as soon as she learned it was opening. > “I just feel a connection with them,” said Ellsworth, who formerly worked in Jefferson School’s education program and now is a behavior specialist at the autism center. > “We have some students who are totally nonverbal. Just to see them sign ‘yes’ for the first time is so rewarding.” > A complex neurobiological disorder, autism inhibits a person’s ability to communicate, respond to his surroundings and form relationships with others. > > …At the autism center recently, a group of students played Candyland as part of an occupational therapy exercise; another group received individualized instruction. At regular intervals during the day, students spend time in a “sensory integration room,” which includes a small trampoline, a swing and a roller that students can press themselves through. > “A lot of these students needs are very sensitive to tactile stimulus,” Fetzer said. “They love the swing. They get on it and spin and spin and spin. They need that. We don’t really offer it as a reward, we build it into their program.” > Students can stay at the autism center as long as necessary, Fetzer said, though their progress is closely monitored for signs of improvement. > “If at a certain time we feel it would be to their benefit, they could return to their community schools,” Fetzer said. “That’s always a goal of ours. If they can navigate it, if they’re making progress, that’s where they should be.” Here is a link to some recent photos from the school: [https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jefferson-School-at-the-Finan-Center/413192885479654](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jefferson-School-at-the-Finan-Center/413192885479654) (source: [Autism center clicks for students, staff | News | stardem.com](http://www.stardem.com/news/statenews/article_71e83139-b41a-5a80-8d33-845d611fa139.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2017, 9:08am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/979 "2017-04-14T09:08:28Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. _Partners for Success_ is a Cumberland, Maryland-based nonprofit for families that have children with various challenges, including Autism Spectrum Disorders. It is established state-wide as part of each local school system in Maryland, and has as its goal the provision of knowledge and the development of essential skills fundamental to parents and professionals working together as equal partners in the educational decision making process… > [@](#): > > Heather Baker had to jump through quite a few hoops to make it to Thursday’s moms’ night out. > > First, the mother of five – two with special needs – arranged for her husband to get off work early so he could take four of the children to a soccer game. > > “Then I had to buy dinner – give him money to buy dinner – because I didn’t have time to make dinner because I had to babysit all day – someone else’s kids,” said Baker, who got two whole hours to herself during the ‘More Than a Mom’ event at Cash Valley Elementary School. > > Sponsored by Allegany County Public Schools’ Special Education Advisory Council, the evening was designed to give moms of children with special needs a break. > > “You’re here to relax, laugh, enjoy yourselves – just have a good time,” said Gena Fairall, parent coordinator for Partners for Success, which offers workshops and resources for families of special needs [including for children from the age of 3.] > > Inspiration for the event came from the book, ‘More Than a Mom: Living a Full and Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs,’ by Amy Baskin and Heather Fawcett, said Janie Bucy, parent coordinator for Family Support Network, which provides similar services for families of infants and toddlers. Baskin and Fawcett both have children with special needs. > > “(The authors) felt like, as a person, as a woman, they were kind of being lost in their child’s disability,” said Bucy, who asked Thursday night’s participants to imagine they had a box with a lid. > > “Take the lid off the box,” Bucy said before starting the evening with a videotaped performance by Atlanta-based comedienne Anita Renfroe. "I want you to think of the things that are bothering you the most, the stresses, the frustrations … " > > “How big is this box?” joked Selena Mawhinney, whose 6-year-old son has autism. > > “As big as you need it to be,” Bucy said. “Whatever’s weighing on you the most, put it in that box. Shut the lid. For the next two hours I want you to forget all about these problems. They’re safely tucked away. They’re not going anywhere. Hopefully, after you’ve had a little relaxation here tonight they’ll be a little easier to cope with.” > > Then the pampering began. The ladies, who received small gifts throughout the evening – a stone with a gold heart in the center, a piece of chocolate, a bath sponge – ate fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate while they watched Renfroe joke about mammograms and dress sizes and husbands who snore. > > “It’s a good laugh, and we needed that,” said Mawhinney, who sat with Baker, a longtime friend she rarely sees because of family obligations. > > "We go to a lot of these meetings and sometimes it’s all just … " > > “Depressing,” Baker said. > > “That’s not their goal, to depress you,” Mawhinney said. “But all the information you get can be overwhelming – things that in the future you’re going to have to deal with that you’re not really thinking about today.” > > Thursday night, the ladies focused on taking care of themselves. Allegany College of Maryland massage therapy student Kayla Yommer showed the group how to give themselves a hand massage and encouraged them to take advantage of $15 massages offered by ACM students each week. > > …Mawhinney and Baker relished the opportunity to visit with each other and eat a meal they hadn’t prepared themselves. > > “I know that sounds cheesy, but it was just nice to sit down and not have to worry about whether everybody else had their plates filled first,” Mawhinney said… (source: [A night out gives moms a balanced life | Local News | times-news.com](http://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/a-night-out-gives-moms-a-balanced-life/article_0e13a137-cc80-5ee7-8d58-8571fe9c3663.html)) ---
**Author:** ![Visionary7903](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@Visionary7903](https://pheromonetalk.com/u/Visionary7903)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2017, 6:27am UTC](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615/980 "2017-04-15T06:27:49Z")
The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in Maryland. The _Kinera Foundation_ is a Stevensville, Maryland-based nonprofit that seeks to enhance the quality of life for those affected affected by various challenges, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The _Kinera Foundation_ does this by providing social activities, access to various therapies and treatments, while continuing to support inclusive programs… > [@](#): > > …Parents of special-needs children and their siblings enjoyed the sensory-sensitive version of the event thanks to the Kinera Foundation. > There was no loud music, and a limited number of flashing lights. About a dozen children took turns on the teacups, the tilt-a-whirl …as parents cheered them on. > [Ms.] Russell, of Kent Island, started the foundation, which provides support to parents of children with special needs. Russell launched Kinera to help her autistic 4-year-old-son and to give other families a chance to have fun and be part of the community. > She said kids with special needs often balk at such events. > It’s “too much, the light, the noise - it’s overstimulating,” Russell said. This event gives “these families an opportunity to see if their child can handle it.” > Another parent testing out the waters was Beth Jensen, of Annapolis, whose 7-year-old son James also is autistic. > Jensen said while the family has tried trips to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania, they’ve had to leave movies and ball games because of the large crowds. > Still, Jensen said the family wants to go to an amusement park on a larger scale… > “Something like this gives us an idea if that could be something we could do down the line,” Jensen said as James took two trips down the Surfin’ Slide. Here is a link to a video from the _Kinera Foundation_: [17 reactions · 14 shares | Learn more www.kinera.org #ParentToParentSupport | Kinera Foundation](https://www.facebook.com/KineraFoundation/videos/1377102719017878/) (source: [Special-needs children enjoy low-key Severna Park carnival ; Special-needs children enjoy low-key Severna Park carnival - Capital (Annapolis, MD), 7/10/2014 Tarrant Cares, Texas](http://tarrant.tx.networkofcare.org/dd/news-article-detail.aspx?id=53460)) [Previous page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=48) [Next page](https://pheromonetalk.com/t/agricultural-specialisterne-rural-employment-revolution-for-those-with-autism/50615.md?page=50)