District 88 participates in National Autism Awareness Month

According to www.autism-society.org, to highlight the growing need for awareness about autism, the Autism Society has celebrated National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The U.S. recognizes April as a special opportunity to share information about autism and issues within the autism community.

At District 88, our mission is to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement. We are focused on helping each student reach his or her full potential inside the classroom and beyond. As part of that mission, we participate in National Autism Awareness Month each April. This year, District 88 students and staff have helped spread awareness and understanding through the following activities.

Addison Trail programs/events

• Special education students created blue ribbons to hand out to faculty and staff on April 13, which was a “Blue Out” Day at Addison Trail (pictured above).
• Special education students also created puzzle pieces on which their peers could sign their name and write one thing that makes them unique.
• Special education students created puzzles with facts about autism, which are displayed in the school.
• Staff members wore autism T-shirts every Tuesday throughout April.

Willowbrook programs/events

• Every Thursday in April, staff members wore a T-shirt that read “Different is Awesome” to celebrate the diversity of the school and the unique attributes of each student (pictured above).
• Collaborative puzzles were available in the library, to provide an opportunity for students to work together (pictured above).
• Signage about National Autism Awareness Month has been posted throughout the school, and students have decorated the bulletin board in the cafeteria.