please vote for UMW Play Lab

[Guest guest]

As you know, UMW is in the running for a Pepsi Refresh Grant in the amount of

$25,000.00 to assist in developing and continuing the UMW Play Lab, a

clinic-type educational program where UMW students learn how to provide

research-based intervention to local children with autism and related

disabilities such as: intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, ADHD,

Sensory Processing Disorder and other disabilities. This Play Lab is the result

of a year- long research project which assessed local community autism needs and

ways that UMW could support our disability community which was conducted by Dr.

Myers as part of a Jepson Fellowship she was awarded. Over 85% of those

surveyed indicated that there is not enough resources in our region for children

with disabilities and that there are not enough respite opportunities for

families. Play lab will provide educational intervention and respite for our

local families and benefit UMW students, future teachers, families, and the

children involved.

Dr. Myers spent this past Friday up at Mclean Bible Church's Jill's House, a

respite program in Mclean, VA that will be part of their Access Ministry. There

she talked with families who are accessing services from as far away as

Springfield, Woodbridge, and Fredericksburg. We do not have programs like those

in Fairfax County in our area. It seems unfair that because we live in this

region, we have less support. However, MBC's prorgrams started from interested

parents and leaders who wrote grants as well, so there is hope of starting

programs down here as well. Please help UMW by voting for the Play Lab EVERY

day for the remainder of this month, so that we can have a chance at winning

this grant and adding to the resources we do have in our communities!

All you need is an email and to create a password for Pepsi.

http://www.refresheverything.com/umwautismclinicplaylab