First and Only Program Designed to Educate Businesses About Autism and Provide Tools to Support Positive Community Interactions
February 04 2010 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
- Children's Specialized Hospital and Kohl's Department Stores
Collaborate to Launch This New Comprehensive Autism Awareness
Campaign - NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's
Specialized Hospital, New Jersey's preeminent provider of pediatric
rehabilitation services and the largest comprehensive children's
rehabilitation system in the country, has created and launched Make
Friends with Autism. This brand new multilevel program is the first
of its kind anywhere in the country. Make Friends with Autism is
designed to educate our business partners and communities about
autism and provide the tools necessary to support positive
community partnerships. This program is made possible by the Kohl's
KidsAbilities program at Children's Specialized Hospital through
the generosity of the Kohl's Cares for Kids® program. To view the
multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childrensspecializedhospital/42005/
The announcement was made today at PSE&G Children's Specialized
Hospital in New Brunswick by Amy B. Mansue, president and CEO,
Children's Specialized Hospital; Lew Ferrero, district manager,
Kohl's Department Stores and Jim Watkins, news anchor, WPIX News.
The current estimate of children in the United States with an
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is approximately 1 in 100(i). As the
number continues to grow, more individuals with autism are seeking
community inclusion and health care providers are encouraging
families and patients to make community connections. Make Friends
with Autism offers a bi-lingual (English-Spanish) multi-media
approach that provides significant resources for businesses,
recreation providers and families with children who have autism.
"With an increasing number of families impacted by autism, it's
important for these families to feel accepted in their own
communities," said Amy B. Mansue, president and CEO, Children's
Specialized Hospital. "Children's Specialized Hospital recognizes
the importance for all people to participate in community
activities, including people with autism and their families. We
hope with Make Friends with Autism, we can help make a positive
progression in the acceptance of these individuals." Autism is a
neurobiological disorder characterized by difficulty in
communication, socialization, and repetitive or restricted
interests and behaviors. Approximately 1.5 million people in the
United States are living with autism. With a website, documentary
and downloadable resources and materials, Make Friends with Autism
seeks to: -- Provide useful information to help people understand
Autism Spectrum Disorders -- Help families with children who have
autism prepare for safe and successful community outings -- Promote
positive relationships between individuals with autism and
businesses, recreation providers and the community -- Reduce the
level of anxiety a parent or caregiver might experience when
engaging in everyday activities with a person with autism -- Dispel
fears and misconceptions associated with autism The Make Friends
with Autism webpage provides a centralized location to access
information about autism. The resources consist of bilingual
(English/Spanish) multimedia materials, available for free download
at http://www.makefriendswithautism.org/. The initiative features
an original documentary, which was created in collaboration with
Emmy® award-winning producer Mary Olive Smith. Print materials are
also available for business owners, operators and recreation
providers that emphasize providing services that embrace every
individual, supportive material for parents and caregivers that can
assist in the teaching and learning process of addressing the needs
of those with ASD, and general information about autism. "As a
parent of a child with autism, my family has unfortunately
experienced seclusion from community activities and businesses
because of a simple lack of education," said Adrienne Robertiello,
autism educator, Children's Specialized Hospital. "This program
provides important tools to help break down the barriers that
prevent many people from living the full life to which all are
entitled." Kohl's Department Stores has partnered with Children's
Specialized Hospital to bring meaningful programs like Kohl's Kids
Abilities. The Kohl's sponsored programs focus on raising community
awareness, as well as provide families a free, fun day and the
opportunity to learn more about caring for children with special
needs through carnivals held each spring. Since 2000, New Jersey
Kohl's stores have donated more than three million dollars to
Children's Specialized Hospital through the Kohl's Cares for Kids®
program, through which 100 percent of the net profit from the sale
of books and plush toys benefit children's health and education
initiatives nationwide. Additionally, Kohl's A-Teams have
volunteered a total of 330 hours in 2009 at various events and
activities for Children's Specialized Hospital. Children's
Specialized Hospital is the preeminent provider of rehabilitation
services for children with special needs. The hospital serves
children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature
birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses.
Children's Specialized Hospital has seven sites in New Jersey and
treats 17,000 children each year, making it the largest pediatric
rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation. Services include
outpatient services, acute rehabilitation, and long-term care
through its sites in Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton,
New Brunswick and Roselle Park as well as outreach programs in many
communities. Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation supports
the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked
among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To
help, or find more information, visit
http://www.childrens-specialized.org/. Kohl's Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE:KSS) is a
family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering
moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes,
accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping
environment. Kohl's operates 1,059 stores in 49 states. A company
committed to the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than
$126 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its
Kohl's Cares for Kids(R) philanthropic program, which operates
under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's
Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and
information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit
http://www.kohls.com/ (i) Health Resources and Service
Administration, "Prevalence of Parent-Reported Diagnosis of Autism
Spectrum Disorder Among Children in US, 2007," Pediatrics 5 Oct.
2009.
http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/childrensspecializedhospital/42005DATASOURCE:
Children's Specialized Hospital CONTACT: Rebecca Mazzarella,
+1-908-301-5552, cell: +1-908-447-8126, Web Site:
http://www.childrens-specialized.org/
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