Fall 2019
Greetings from Spectrum360 Public Information Office!
Autumn has been an active time for Spectrum360.
From a new Public Information Officer and Halloween celebrations
to the Upper School expansion and Independence360 volunteering programs, Spectrum360 continues to serve our community in so many ways. In this issue, we have provided a highlight of each of our programs, key events for our organization and another Research Roundup.
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Happy Reading!
Public Information Officer / Family Liaison
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Parent Support at Academy360 Lower School
Fostering a welcoming community for parents is an important goal at Academy360. To help our parents connect with each other, we offer a variety of social events, workshops, training seminars and more to help them find support and friendship!
Academy360 Upper School Expansion Opens Doors
The highly-anticipated addition to our Livingston campus was unveiled j
ust in time for the new school year! With additional classrooms, increased therapy spaces, updated film studio, a new "Makers Space" and a full-size gymnasium, Upper School students and staff are beaming with happiness. Have a peek inside!
CulinaryAcademy360 Caters for NJACE
CulinaryAcademy360 was developed to provide students, ages 14 and older at Academy360 and adults at Independence360, with the opportunity to explore food service as a career path, as well as increase their ability to live independently by learning to cook for themselves.
On October 25,
Chef Mike and his students catered a seminar for the
New Jersey Autism Center of Excellence
(
NJACE
) for almost 150 attendees. They will be catering additional events including a large event at Rutgers University for over 200 attendees. Great job, Chef Mike!
Local Theater Group Wins FilmAcademy360 Screenplay Contest
Independence360 Clean Water Project For Newark Residents
Volunteer work is important for our clients. Independence360 is partnering with Community FoodBank of New Jersey to collect bottled water for all those affected by the lead-in-water crisis in Newark. Our clients are collecting cases of water and distributing them to various collection sites in Newark while learning about the health risks associated with lead and the importance of clean water for the body. For more information about our Independence360 program, community partners and more, click here.
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Capital Campaign: Strengthening The Connection
Spectrum360 is facing a challenge: the need to expand the scope of our services to meet the needs of the increasing population of adults with autism and related disabilities. A donation to our capital campaign will help fund an enlarged Independence360 facility, which will allow us to expand social and vocational opportunities for current and future adults on the spectrum.
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Dr. Ettinger Honored by ASAH for his Commitment to Children and Adults with Disabilities
Bruce Ettinger, Ed.D. Executive Director/ Superintendent for Spectrum360, was selected to receive the prestigious ASAH Legacy of Caring Award for his years of service and commitment to children and adults with disabilities. Dr. Ettinger will receive this award on November 14 at the Annual ASAH Meeting.
Read the formal press release here.
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Teaching Safety Skills to Children on the Spectrum
For children with autism, learning to safely make their way in the community takes time and practice, practice, practice. Read how one Spectrum360 staffer and her nephew put safety first on their daily trips and also how Academy360 reinforces those skills each day.
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The Hall of Fame Dinner is an annual fundraising event for Spectrum360. We support independence for children, adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum. Join our friends, families and community partners for an inspiring evening of dinner and dancing as we help make possible the dreams of those we serve, and honor three incredible friends of Spectrum360.
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Game Developer Builds Online Playground for Kids With Autism
For children on the spectrum, online social interactions can be just as fraught as those in the offline world. The community at
Autcraft, which is built around a customized version of the popular game Minecraft,
has set out to create a safe virtual playground. In the process, they may be demonstrating the kind of filtered, structured environment in which more and more socialization will occur as online and offline worlds collide.
NOTE:
Check out the
full issues of Spectrum360 Research Roundup!
Published monthly and now available on our blog, it is a curated synopsis of emerging research about autism and related disabilities with links to the articles.
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Spectrum360 serves children, adolescents, young adults and adults on the autism spectrum and with behavioral and related disabilities. Spectrum360 and its programs are recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Academy360 schools are approved NJ State Board of Education Private Schools for the disabled, providing Preschool, Autism and Behaviorally Disabled programs. We serve students, ages 3-21, with schools in Verona and Livingston, NJ. Academy360 schools have provided special education services for over 50 years.
Independence360 is a comprehensive program developing vocational, life and social skills and personal development for adults with autism and related disabilities. Independence360 is approved by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities and Medicaid as a Day Habilitation Program and by NJ DVRS to provide Job Coaching Services.
FilmAcademy360 is a unique, practical and hands-on education program designed to help a diverse group of learners ages 14+ develop creative and technical skills in filmmaking, video editing, production and publishing. Programs are available after school, on weekends and in the summer months.
CulinaryAcademy360 is an after school and adult enrichment programs for students 14+, teaching culinary skills for independence and exploration of culinary arts as a vocation. Beginner level classes for cooking basics, and Intermediate level classes for vocational exploration are available.
To learn more about Spectrum360 or any of our programs, visit our website Spectrum360.org
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