Spring 2024 Newsletter April 2024 | Page 6

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SPRING NEWSLETTER

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Child Health Association of Sewickley Grant: Spelling

We are glad to share that Autism Connection of Pennsylvania has been granted the opportunity to further our mission of being a lifeline and hub for families and adults in the autism community. With heartfelt gratitude, we announce that we have been awarded a grant of $10,000 by the Child Health Association of Sewickley.

We believe in leaving no member of our community behind. Our organization is disability-led, with a passionate team that includes three autistic board members, and 33% of our staff is autistic. We serve people and families from infancy through older adulthood, with a goal that everyone receives the support, information, and advocacy they deserve.

This grant is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility. With these funds, we will embark on a project aimed at supporting people who are nonspeaking or minimally verbal, hoping to help them communicate their needs and wants—often for the first time.

Here's a glimpse of what this project entails.

Project Goals:

  ·         Link families who have had success with spelling to access academic, social, and healthcare needs

·         Engage families in dialogue with newcomers for whom traditional speech and language services are not sufficient

·      Emphasize the concept of presuming understanding on the part of nonspeaking autistic young people and promote literacy from a young age

·        Educate caregivers about autism brain differences that affect spoken communication

·        Encourage families to explore new communication methods with support from experienced practitioners