From afar, teaching & learning center celebrates Autism Awareness Month

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » April is Autism Awareness Month.

It’s been a long tradition at the Washington Street Teaching and Learning Center (WSTLC) to celebrate this occasion each year. The school, which has about 30 students, is part of the Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES and specializes in individualized programs to fit children’s academic needs.

During school closures, staff at the WSTLC are in continuous contact with parents and students, either through GoogleClassroom, or via direct contact with parents. In addition to instructional support, therapists and social social workers reach out to the school’s families.

Working with children with special needs makes it even harder for staff to be away from their students during school closures.

Staff took advantage of Autism Awareness Day to not only raise awareness but to check on their students. On April 2 and 3 they had caravans which delivered goodie bags to each WSTLC student’s doorstep and gave them a wave from afar.

The goodie bags have Boys Town award certificates that each student has been nominated by their teacher for since they’ve been out, snacks, slime (made by one of our staff’s daughter), autism coloring sheets and stickers, a page of positive comments and messages from all the staff, and photos of the WSTLC therapy dogs.

Each car proudly displayed an Autism Awareness bumper stickers and signs. It was a day of smiles and great connections.

PHOTO PROVIDED A WSTLC teacher holds a sign with a message for his students during Thursday’s caravan.

PHOTO PROVIDED A goodie bag ready to go to one of the students from WSTLC

PHOTO PROVIDED One of the cars in the WSTLC caravan, proudly displaying a colorful poster with a positive message.