Baldwin UFSD Celebrates Autism Acceptance Month
April is dedicated to Autism Acceptance Month, a time for communities to celebrate the unique talents and contributions of individuals on the autism spectrum. Schools across Baldwin UFSD hosted various activities, events and learning experiences to help celebrate the special month.
Baldwin High School recently hosted its annual Work-Based Learning Expo to showcase the real-world, professional hands-on experiences for special education students in the Life Skills program. Through this School2Career initiative, students have the opportunity to shadow and intern at various local businesses, gaining valuable insights into different professions. This program not only equips students with essential skills but often leads to permanent job placements. From Applebee’s to Walgreens to Costello's Ace Hardware, the students work in a variety of professional and retail settings. During the Work-Based Learning Expo, the students then presented their experiences to family and staff, emphasizing the significance of opportunity and inclusion. A special thank you to teacher, Denise Raeihle, and the entire Life Skills team for organizing and creating such a meaningful and successful event.
Meadow Elementary School also embraced Autism Acceptance Month with enthusiasm and creativity, centering their celebration around the third annual Sensory Carnival. The event, featuring various 'booths' like the bubble dance party and mess-free-paint-in-a-bag, was run by the Life Skills students from Baldwin High School. The Sensory Carnival was part of a month-long celebration, which also included a Spirit Week and an Autism Walk, designed to educate, entertain and unite the Meadow community. In addition, Meadow faculty created and sold t-shirts to help raise funds for the autism foundation, hallways displayed student artwork on Autism, and thematic units encompassed projects like murals and history hunts on public figures such as Dr. Temple Grandin. Collaborations between the Life Skills classes and the Character Counts Club also promoted inclusivity, while the Baldwin Middle School’s Future Educators Pre-Academy joined the secondary Life Skills students for a mock-movie event.
Plaza Elementary School hosted “Inclusion Week” before the spring recess. On Monday, the school joined the global movement on World Autism Awareness Day by wearing blue to signify its commitment to autism acceptance. On Tuesday, everyone came together as a unified team by sporting their favorite team jerseys. Wednesday brought an energetic twist with workout attire, reminding students of the admirable efforts that their friends with autism made to navigate challenges. Thursday was a vibrant celebration of diversity—students wore rainbow colors or tie-dye to honor the rich spectrum of abilities among everyone. The week wrapped up on Friday with a show of unity as everyone donned their Plaza gear or Autism Awareness shirts. Additionally, Ms. Nicole Shagi crafted informative slides for every day of the month and took the lead in organizing a school-wide bulletin board dedicated to autism acceptance.
At Lenox Elementary School, the spirit of unity was captured in a unique display. A hallway display featured a chain of paper strips, each with a positive message from a student, symbolizing the school's collective commitment to supporting autism. Students also participated in a Spirit Week filled with activities fostering awareness and empathy. These efforts were complemented by a shared story time, where teachers introduced students to My Brother Charlie, a book by Holly Robinson Peete that resonates with themes of love and understanding.
Ms. Nancy Aquino's 2nd grade class at Steele Elementary School also learned about autism through the heartfelt story of My Brother Charlie. After reading, they talked about kindness, acceptance, and the importance of being a good friend. The second graders then wrote thoughtful messages of kindness to remind each other that small words can make a big difference in someone’s day.
All of these initiatives aligned with Baldwin 2035's vision, which focuses on developing innovative and inclusive programs that ensure every student is prepared for the future.
See related story on Meadow Elementary School's Celebrations >>