According to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, acceptance is an action. And the Autism Society of America says “While we will always work to spread awareness, words matter as we strive for autistic individuals to live fully in all areas of life. As many individuals and families affected by autism know, acceptance is often one of the biggest barriers to finding and developing a strong support system.” Awareness is acknowledging someone lives with a challenge. Acceptance is cheering them on, making space for dialogue, and working together to make real change for better inclusivity!
It’s no longer just about awareness, but about acceptance of ASD in our lives: at school, at work, in our family, with our friends, and in our communities. Autism is a spectrum with social, communication, sensory, and behavioral differences manifested uniquely in each individual. While we have come a long way in understanding autism, we still have a long way to go in recognizing the breadth and diversity of those with autism, embracing their talents and unique abilities and strengths, and addressing the day-to-day challenges they face.
One percent of the world population is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (CDC, 2021). In the United States, this number looks like one in every 44 children, a significant rise from one in every 125 children recorded in 2010. The Foundation Learning Center, our school for students with ASD, invites you to celebrate Autism Acceptance Month! Let’s listen, learn, and lend a hand to the efforts of programs that pursue acceptance of ASD in all circles of life. If you would like to support The Foundation Learning Center, you can fund one of their requested classroom items or make a donation to be used where it’s most needed in the program.
Calling all Gaithersburg residents! If you’re driving down Washington Grove check out The Foundation School of Montgomery County (FSMC)’s new adopted road near the US Postal Service Office! The Montgomery County Department of Transportation advocates for clean, litter free roads through their Adopt a Road (AAR) Program. Road owners can choose the name of a […]
While our schools work hard on their assignments during the summer session, our students with emotional disabilities are still making time to volunteer in their local communities. Students at The Foundation School of Montgomery County (FSMC) are earning their service learning (SSL) hours in a variety of creative ways. This month, a group of students […]
The Foundation Schools is so excited to show you everything we’ve been up to these past few months in our Summer newsletter! This was an exciting semester as we celebrated our graduating and promoted students at our graduation ceremonies! We are so proud of our students for working hard and reaching this milestone. Meanwhile, our […]
The Foundation Schools is proud to announce that we are one of three organizations in Prince George’s County to receive support through Pull Up Fund’s Youth Mental Health Supports initiative! The Pull Up Fund connects historically excluded communities to essential resources, with a focus on increasing access to mental health services, supporting youth initiatives, and […]