Brunswick Acres Shows Support for Autism Awareness

With the arrival of April and Autism Awareness Month, the staff at Brunswick Acres Elementary School joined together to show support and highlight the work being done with South Brunswick students living with the developmental brain disorders.  Over 70 staff members purchased Autism Awareness t-shirts for $7.95 and wore them proudly to school last week to recognize World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

"Everyone here is always more than willing to help," said Special Education teacher Kim Doherty.  "We always get a lot of support from the entire school and are always welcomed into the classrooms." 

An estimated one in every 110 children is diagnosed with autism, which makes it more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined, according to Autism Speaks. They also estimate that 1.5 million people in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide are affected by autism, as government statistics indicate the prevalence rate of autism is increasing by 10 to 17 percent annually. 

At Brunswick Acres there are currently five classes, two preschool and three primary, that work with autistic students.

"This program is an intense language based education focusing on applied behavioral analysis," said Cynthia Helfgott, an autism specialist at Brunswick Acres.  "This breaks the skills down and helps the students become successful in learning. Being in a public school is a major boost for these students because it helps them pick up language skills."

As autism awareness has a spotlight throughout the month, Helfgott said there are a number of misconceptions about the disorder.

"The biggest misconception about autism is that some people think these kids aren't social," she said.  "That they don't have the ability to make friends and be social, but they do."

The sale of the t-shirts isn't the first time the Brunswick Acres staff has opened their wallets to support the cause, as over the past two years the school has raised over $3,000 during the Walk for Autism events in October.

"This school is very supportive of what we do, and that starts with the administration on down," Helfgott said.  "We're included in every aspect of what goes on at the school."

Both Helfgott and Doherty said they all share the same goal when it comes to their work with the students.

"We hope they can reach their full potential and be able to work and live independently in the community," Helfgott said.  "For some that may mean going to college and for others that my mean working.  But we all want them to reach their potential and live as independently as possible."

For more information on donating to autism awareness and research click here.