Friendship House's new autism center dedicated Monday
Friendship House celebrated a milestone in its 139-year history on Monday with the dedication of an autism center officials hope will meet a growing need for services.
Opened three months ago, the 14,000-square-foot Northeast Regional Autism Center features about 10 instructional rooms for an early intensive behavioral intervention program that has a goal of leading children to independence.
"This is such a great day," James Gibbons, chairman of the Friendship House board, said Monday. "This is a wonderful facility."
The $1.6 million autism center doubled Friendship House's treatment capacity from 60 to 120 autistic children.
Public and private money was used to fund the project, including $145,000 in federal cash secured by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.
Mr. Casey, who gave the keynote address, said Americans share a common belief that every child is born with a light burning inside him.
The light in some children, however, does not burn as bright as others, and those children are helped by the knowledge and expertise of Friendship House employees at the autism center, Mr. Casey said.
The autism center has rooms designed to help youths learn through social interaction and other activities.
"This wonderful center will enable us to expand on our programs," said Mary Christine Remick, Friendship House clinical director of autism services.
The Friendship House plans to expand into services for adolescents.
Ms. Remick said the increase in the number of children diagnosed with autism is "phenomenal." One of every 110 children nationally is diagnosed with autism, she said.
With such a great need, the Friendship House has compiled a waiting list of youths who want to join its program.
"The possibilities for future programming are greater now," said Melissa Cottone, Friendship House assistant clinical director.
As children learn new functional skills at the autism center, they move onto additional activities of greater complexity. Functional skills taught at the autism center include literacy and play.
One room is known as the "sensory room" and is designed to help children decompress from activities at the center, said Brian Doran, of Hemmler & Camayd Architects. Painted in light blue, the sensory room also has a beanbag chair in a nook, where children can listen to soft music.
Mr. Doran, whose 7-year-old son, Justin, has autism, said the autism center was designed by people who have personal experience with the disorder.
"This center will address the need," Mr. Doran said.
Taken from the Times Tribune
By JOSH MROZINSKI (Staff Writer)
Contact the writer: jmrozinski@ timesshamrock.com
Published: June 8, 2010
> back to news page
