SJM Autism Dept - FINAL - ALLREG_Dept 4 / 8 / 21 3 : 57 PM Page 1 awareness than encouraging accep - tance these days . ” The Arc of New Jersey is part of a S J M | H E A L T H national organization working to support people with intellectual and develop - mental disabilities , protect their human H rights , and encourage community inclu - sion and participation . With locations in nearly every county , each chapter cus - tomizes its services according to a com - The First Step munity’s needs : In Camden County , Arc predominantly caters to adults while its LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SEE NATIONAL AUTISM Gloucester counterpart works with chil - dren , according to JoAnn Rusnak , assis - AWARENESS MONTH AS A MEANS TO BUILD A tant executive director at The Arc of MORE ACCEPTING , INCLUSIVE WORLD . Camden County . From her Berlin location , Rusnak By Madeleine Maccar helps adults seek housing , find work pril’s National Autism Aware - and enroll in the organization’s skill - ness Month isn’t just about 30 strengthening programs if they’re not days of increased visibility : Advo - A yet ready to apply for jobs . cates emphasize that one month of proac - “ The Arc , in general , really came out tive awareness helps foster increasing of families , so we’re very heavily inclusion , acceptance and understanding involved with our families who felt their of a group who may share one label but adult children needed more support , ” present it as individually and nuanced as Rusnak says . their own personalities . She says that , during her 30 - year After all , advocates often remark that if career , both individuals with develop - you’ve met one person with autism , then mental disabilities and the facilities that you’ve met one person with autism . exist to help them are much more Properly called autism spectrum dis - accepted by and welcomed into their order , the diagnosis ’ formal name under - communities than they were years ago , scores how autism manifests itself across due in part to awareness efforts elimi - a literal spectrum , ranging from individ - nating more and more misconceptions . uals whose social or behavioral challenges “ People become more comfortable don’t prevent them from living indepen - with individuals the more time they dently to those with accompanying developmental disabilities or comorbidities who spend with them and the more they see , ” will require extra , lifelong care . notes Rusnak . “ There is so much infor - Dedicated awareness initiatives working toward a more inclusive , compassionate mation out there about what people with world are part of what Evesham Township’s Disability & Veterans Affairs Advisory autism or any type of a disability can Committee has in store . contribute to a community , how we can “ We’re able to bring awareness to systemic barriers people with autism face on a support them … Sometimes , the wider daily basis , and with that attention to those barriers , our community can work together community doesn’t have a lot of expo - to overcome them , ” says member Erin Sappio , who has a family member with a dual sure , they don’t know someone with diagnosis of autism and a mental health disability . “ Plus , the more attention we bring to autism , so they don’t understand that the successes that individuals with autism achieve , the more the larger community rec - person’s needs and what that person can ognizes the contribution people with autism can make to a community . ” bring to a job or a community . ” Formed in 2019 , the committee ensures that some of the township’s most vulner - Of course , not all people with autism able residents have a platform amplifying their voices . Different members can speak can advocate for themselves through more personally to certain perspectives , either firsthand or on behalf of a loved one . spoken communication . Kathleen Utilizing an array of social media and Evesham Township’s official channels helps Stengel of NeurAbilities Healthcare , a members share awareness campaigns and information . One of the past year’s rare diagnostic and treatment facility which silver linings according to chairperson Jeff Shapiro , is that shifting to predominantly has locations in Voorhees and Cherry virtual venues came with the surprise benefit of reaching more people . Hill , emphasizes that “ not being able to “ We’ve learned to really promote and function a lot more strategically , and being verbally communicate does not mean able to focus on the social media aspect is really allowing us to get our message across they’re not communicative . ” the entire community easily , ” he notes . “ I’ve had entire conversations with Local organizations are undertaking their own awareness campaigns , too . Ban - individuals who were using Picture croft , a nonprofit provider of developmental disability services and neurological reha - Exchange [ Communication Program ] on bilitation headquartered in Cherry Hill , launched Real Me , a celebration of people an iPad all the way through , ” she says , living with autism that highlights their individuality . referring to one method non - verbal “ It builds a culture of community and acceptance , and also provides opportuni - people use to express their autonomy ties to help individuals with autism who need some sort of support , ” says Dr . Tracy and needs , which also include sign lan - Ketting , who also oversees its ABA Center of Excellence . “ It is less about promoting guage , yes / no questions , sound boards SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 18 issue 1 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 16 |