It only takes a moment to change a life!
This Year, Autism Society Greater Hudson Region is glad to be celebrating fifth annual #CelebrateDifferences campaign in honor of Autism Acceptance Month.
“Autism Acceptance Month is an opportunity to practice acceptance and continue to advocate for our local Autism community through inclusion, public awareness and compassionate support” said Janine Kruiswijk, Executive Director of the Autism Society Greater Hudson Region. “No matter who you are, where you live, or your abilities, you should be able to have the connection to supports, services, community, and resources needed to live fully.”
Everyday, we work to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community to live fully. Autism affects people from all racial, ethnic and socio-economic standings. We believe that acceptance is creating a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it. One in 36 eight-year-olds are diagnosed with Autism in the US according to 2020 Data from the CDC. The increasing Autism prevalence rate stresses the urgent need for access to diagnostic evaluations, early interventions, and safety programs that have a significant impact on lifelong outcomes, as well as supports and services, information and referral, and public education.
Locally, Autism Society Greater Hudson Region is re-introducing SenseAble Programs to help teach safety, connect to our community, and foster Autism Acceptance in the Greater Hudson Region. SenseAble Swimming and SenseAble Play are making a return in 2023!
Accidental drowning accounts for 91% of deaths reported in children with ASD who are 14 years old and younger. The Autism Society Greater Hudson Region is working diligently to reduce drowning deaths for our loved ones by providing water safety and swimming instruction through our new SenseAble Swimming Program. The cost to provide SenseAble Swimming instruction to a child or adult is $100. With just $100, you can gift a 1-on-1 swimming safety class to a child in our local autism community. We hope you will consider supporting SenseAble Swimming, and the return of SenseAble Programming!
This Autism Acceptance Month and throughout the year, you can help sustain our work with Autistic individuals of all ages and their families in the 21 counties that make up the Greater Hudson Region of New York. Help spread Autism awareness and push for Autism Acceptance by sharing your story with the hashtag #CelebrateDifferences. You are the connection, and your support means the world.
#TheConnectionIsYou #CelebrateDifferences #AutismAcceptanceMonth