October 2007 Newsletter

(December 4, 2007)

    On the first of this month I had the privilege of receiving a proclamation from my hometown, Marple Township. I was so tremendously honored and thankful to the township officials for taking time out of their schedule to invite me in. Also being honored that night was our local girls softball team. They were regional champions this past year. Go Marple!!! 

    I had a blast participating in so many of the fun fall festivities around the state this month. These included October Fest at the Vanguard School, the Coopersburg Halloween Parade, and the King Frost Parade just to name a few. I also had my first opportunity to wear the Pennsylvania Jewelers crown at the West Shore Business and Industry Night. In addition to the crown, Mountz Jewelers asked me to model jewelry from the Hearts on Fire collection, “the worlds most perfectly cut diamonds”. 

    October also presented some tremendous opportunities to expand my work with autism. I was invited to speak to a Kinesiology class at West Chester University. Students who take this course also participate in an adaptive physical education program which serves individuals with developmental differences in the surrounding communities. My brother has taken part in this program for several years, even before I matriculated into the University. I also had the opportunity to volunteer with the second annual, Ride Now for Autism, a motorcycle ride which starts in Ridley PA and ends in Atlantic City. Leading up to this event I participated in several radio interviews in Philadelphia to promote the Ride and also provided listeners with some general information about autism. 

    Another terrific opportunity took place when the Lehigh Valley’s chapter of the Autism Society of America held a “Meet the Legislator’s Event”. At this event I met some of the Lehigh Valley’s state and congressional representatives and provided them with information about new federal legislation currently in the works to expand funding for autism services and research. I was also shared some autism specific legislative issues with Lehigh Valley residents in attendance. 

    Toward the end of the month I met with the Autism Board for Youth Advocacy Programs Inc. This organization provides a wide array of services for individuals with Autism, their caregivers and professionals working in the field. I shared the vision for platform with them and they shared their philosophies and initiatives with me. I look forward to the prospect of a long working relationship with this organization as we are both working towards the same goals. 

    A definite highlight of this month was the commencement of my school tour. I was able to speak to students from several schools in Bethlehem and in West Philadelphia. One of the West Philadelphia schools I visited was the Microsoft School of the Future, whose concept was formulated by Bill Gates. The facility is absolutely magnificent and places the latest technology in the hands of its students. I was able to give my power point presentation in the most state of the art high school auditorium I have ever seen. After the assembly one of the students invited me to observe their autism classroom. I was absolutely blown away. This school had a special classroom fully equipped with technology to meet the specific special needs of students with autism. That Bill Gates thinks of EVERYTHING! I truly hope that schools in the future will be modeled in this fashion and give every student in America the kind of educational experience I observed that day.