Letter: Thank you for ongoing support of The Autism Project

Posted 5/13/21

I am writing to thank the entire Bristol community for their ongoing support of The Autism Project (TAP) and the many autistic individuals, family members and care givers, educators, and other …

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Letter: Thank you for ongoing support of The Autism Project

Posted

I am writing to thank the entire Bristol community for their ongoing support of The Autism Project (TAP) and the many autistic individuals, family members and care givers, educators, and other professionals we support across the East Bay in general, and Bristol in particular.

The Autism Project is a ‘Hub of Hope’ that connects people — with a spectrum of needs — to the available resources and education that support independent and purposeful lives. Thanks to the generous support of Bristol Rotary, and other donations, TAP can reach even more people in need in Bristol.

When the state shut down in response to the pandemic, we were unsure of how we would be able to continue our work — particularly in our newly established East Bay Support Center. So much of our work depends on making connections with individuals on the spectrum, their families, and professionals working with them. How can we do that if not in person?

What we learned is there are many ways to help and connect, even with great distance between.

In the last five years, TAP trained hundreds of early childhood professionals (in-home and center-based childcare, preschool, educators), community members and families on early childhood development tracking and atypical development. TAP provided programming closer to home, including critical swim lessons for children with ASD with our partner PODs, music with the RI Philharmonic Music School, and basketball at Newman Congregational Church.

Beginning in July, TAP will provide extensive training opportunities for parents and professionals working or raising children birth to 5 years old. The training will cover information on tracking development, identifying atypical development, and training on parenting children with autism or social emotional challenges.

In addition, TAP will host 20 workshops specifically for agencies in Bristol working with children birth to 5 years old on development and supporting parents if there are concerns.

TAP is excited to roll out the training calendar at the end of July for registration to begin for the multiple opportunities.

COVID made TAP pivot to a new platform for support, but in the end, it is a win-win. TAP can provide support and training with a significantly reduced staff, and trainees can receive information in a less stressful format from the comfort of their home.

We thank the many members of Bristol Rotary, Bristol HEZ, and the school district for your work to bring TAP’s services to your community and look forward to a new platform of support for so many more community members.

Forever grateful,

Joanne G. Quinn
Johnston
Ms. Quinn is executive director of The Autism Project.

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