Worcester, Mass. — The Central Massachusetts Autism Summit this year was aimed to extend help to working parents caring for children with autism, as well as to shed light on the struggles that they face on a daily basis.
Videos showing parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were presented during the summit, and the importance of extending help to them were highlighted.
In one of the videos, one of the parents from Mulberry, Heidi Robbins, told:
“If you can value your whole person, you’ll have one of your highest performing employees.”
Families caring for children with ASD are often stressed out as raising children on the spectrum can often take its toll on their physical as well as mental health— a fact that many researchers and advocates agree on and are concerned about.
It is for this reason that The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts decided to grant non-profit organization HMEA, Inc. with $56,700 worth of activation funds for “Students for Higher: Rising Up for Autism”— a project that the organization started in a joint collaboration with the Assumption College in Massachusetts.
“Students for Higher: Rising Up for Autism” hopes to extend services that children with autism as well as their families living in the area are often unable to avail, by training students to deliver behavioral therapies and other services that the children and their families need.
From last year alone, the pilot project was able to provide 3,600 hours worth of services to about 30 families through the help of 18 students. This year, 21 students came forward to offer their services.
Organizers of “Students for Higher: Rising Up for Autism” are hoping to reach more families and extend more services through the project this year.
Source: Susan Spencer: Telegram: Central Mass. Autism Summit focuses on stress of working parents