Bristol, Pennsylvania, USA – is fighting to keep The Monroe Foundation for Autism open as the centre housed in the Bucks County Center on Veterans Highway is facing funding cuts.
One of the many children who attend is Jennifer Smeltzer’s daughter Christine, 11.
Jennifer told Shawnette Wilson of myfoxphilly.com that her daughter has been involved with the Monroe Foundation for Autism for more than a year to get help with her social skills.
Jennifer says the free therapy for her daughter comes without the hefty price of other autism related care.
The program which offers free services to autistic children may have to close because grant money received from Bristol Township through federal funds is in jeopardy.
Tamara Monroe who started the foundation after her son Matthew was diagnosed with autism told of how they are receiving no funding in 2014.
“My heart sank because you put your heart and soul into something then to have the feeling you’re going to lose it that quickly. I also thought about the families because I see how much the children enjoy it,”
Councilman Craig Bowen said:
“This year the funding was very low so we dispersed what we could and we’re hoping to receive more money,” said Bowen.
Tamara expressed her concerns that if the Foundation closes children like Christine won’t have anywhere to go.
The full report on myfoxphilly.com can be found here