A pilot program that offers life skills has been launched and the main target is children with autism. Children are taught how to live a normal life by teaching them how to do day-to-day activities despite having autism.
Three of the children taking part of the program have been identified as Lincoln, 9, Aidan, 8, and Israel, 7. The Weirton Daily Times reported that these children are accompanied by a therapist who never left their side. One of their tasks is to straighten, flatten and stack plastic grocery sacks at the Catholic Neighborhood Center. They also get to scoop, seal and bag meals that will be delivered to around 180 people.
The program is under the Augusta Levy Learning Center in Wheeling, West Virginia. Therapies are also offered and the children are helped to learn, function and navigate their life with autism. The pilot program started in October and it is for children who are not yet ready for the transition of being part of a public school system.
The three aforementioned boys board a public bus outside of the Augusta Levy Learning Center and routinely give their fare to the driver, sit in the same seats, and go to the Catholic Charities operated in the area. They spend two hours of working at the charities then take another bus to go to a grocery store where they buy their food.
They then eat with their therapists and practice restaurant etiquette. After eating, they go back to the center where they make beds, empty the dishwasher and collect trash.
Kasey Tanner, the program director, said that the program is focused on the quality of life and giving them the independence that they could be given. She said that they would possibly launch the same program for older children soon especially because they have received calls from parents asking for the same kind of program for the 8-12 age bracket, The Intelligencer reported.
The program will only include the three children since it is currently its first year. It was not stated when the center plans to expand the program and offer it to other children.
