Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center Donates Books to Schools

News and Press Releases

For more information, contact:
Kim Horyn, Director
Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center
646-341-3043
khoryn@autismspeaks.org [1]

Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center Donates Books to Schools

In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd, and April as National Autism Awareness Month, the Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center donated over 100 books to island schools and child care centers.

The Autism Acceptance Book: Being a Friend to Someone with Autism, by Ellen Sabin, and Since We're Friends: An Autism Picture Book, by Celeste Shally and David Harrington, were donated to the Nantucket Elementary School, Nantucket Atheneum, Lighthouse School, Nantucket New School, Children's House, Small Friends, St. Paul's Nursery and Wee Whalers. The Autism Awareness Book, which is accompanied by a Teacher's Guide, helps adults explain autism to children and explores how everyone is different, yet how important it is to accept one another's differences. Since We're Friendsis a fictional book that promotes the importance and value of having a friendship with a child with autism.

The Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center has also purchased books and DVDs, which are available for parents, staff and the community to borrow. The books, which include fiction and non fiction literature and are geared for children, teens and adults, cover many relevant topics, such as bullying issues, sibling concerns, social stories, Asperger's Syndrome, parenting and teaching a child on the Spectrum, social skills training, celebrating differences and more. Kim Horyn, Director of the Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center, has also asked the high school to add several books to its Independent Reading and Summer Reading lists.

Following a Children's Story Hour at the Nantucket Atheneum, in recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, several new books have been added to the Children and Young Adult sections of the public library. Two new books which are appropriate for teenagers, Borderline,by Bonnie Rozanski, and Running on Dreams, by Herb Heiman, contain characters with autism.

Horyn noted, “Not only is it important for youngsters with autism to identify with a character in a book, but it also helps typical students to understand what it's like to walk in the shoes of someone on the Autism Spectrum.” Horyn added, “It's important to teach children to accept the differences in others.”

The mission of the Nantucket Autism Speaks Resource Center is to provide current information and comprehensive resources for families, professionals and the community for the purpose of educating and increasing awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The Resource Center is dedicated to empowering families and individuals impacted by autism to make informed decisions by providing resource information that covers all aspects of autism and ASD, from birth through adult care.

Plans are currently in the works for summer activities for families of children with autism and their friends, including a private viewing of a current movie at the Starlight Theatre, surfing lessons and a picnic at the Boys & Girls Club. Stephen Shore, Ed.D., who has autism and Asperger Syndrome and has written numerous books on these subjects, is scheduled to speak in the Great Hall of the Atheneum in June. To register or volunteer for Nantucket's 2nd annual Walk for Autism, scheduled to be held August 16th, please go on-line to www.autismspeaks.org/walk [2].

For more information, please contact Kim Horyn, Director, khoryn@autismspeaks.org [3], or call 646-341-3043.