FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com FEBRUARY 6, 2014 • The Queens Courier 29 QUEENS MUSEUM CAN NOW ‘EMPOWER PARENTS’ LOCALLY & IN SPAIN BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Parents and families of children with autism from Queens are now making a connection to those in Spain, thanks to a $73,000 grant. The Queens Museum, in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, received a 2013 Museums Connect grant from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs and the American Alliance of Museums. The grant permits the Museum to launch “emPOWER Parents: Fostering Cross Cultural Networks between Families with Autism.” EmPOWER is a partnership between the Queens Museum of Art and Museo ICO and its cultural partner, Hablarenarte, in Madrid, Spain. The partnership uses the arts, art therapy and technology to create and put into effect crucial programming for families of children with autism. It also creates an international network and “digital bridge” where the families can share their experiences. The Queens Museum has been creating programming for children and adults with special needs since 1983 through its ArtAccess program. Since then, the museum’s autism initiatives, through contribution from partner organizations and participants, have been adapted for museum settings, public libraries and schools. Now through emPOWER, the initiatives will enter a new phase allowing parents to design resources based on their needs. The bi-national network of emPOWER is made up of parent advocates and allows parents of children with autism to have the resources to affect institutionalized change in both countries, request improved programming in schools and include their children’s learning styles in community programs. Participating parents gain skills in teaching and behavioral methods and lead programs with other local families. They maintain and broadcast resources in both English and Spanish, sharing their knowledge and creative interventions by parents via a blog site. The museum will hold closed sessions for emPOWER once a month, the next one is scheduled for Saturday, February 8. For more information visit www.queensmuseum.org/art-access/. PAREN TS GRATEFUL AUTIS TIC BOY FOUN D BY MELIS A CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com An autistic 12-year-old boy who sprinted out of his Rego Park home was found safe in Brooklyn after a terrifying four-hour search, police and family said. Brandon Betancourt jetted out of his apartment complex on 66th Road near 67th Avenue about 7 a.m. on January 30, police said. “He just ran out,” said his away, even after the remains for inclusion, she said. father, Joe Betancourt. “He’s very of Avonte Oquendo, the autistic “We’re going to see more of fast. It’s hard to catch him. I’m 14-year-old who went missing in these types of situations, where just grateful he’s home.” October, were found washed up in there will be a missing child with Police brought him to safety College Point two weeks ago. autism and people don’t know about 11 a.m., after a guidance “We try to tell him not to do how to interact, when they see counselor spotted him on the J this, especially after what happened a wandering child who doesn’t train platform at the Broadway to Avonte,” Joe said. respond to them,” she said. “It’s Junction subway station in Avonte and Brandon are both in everyone’s best interest to be Cypress Hills, about an hour from Rego Park. They were former aware now.” journey from his home. classmates, though not at Autism Speaks, a leading advocacy Brandon, who is incredibly the Center Boulevard School in organization, urges parents smart, functions at a high level Long Island City, where Avonte to secure homes with batteryoperated and knows his way around the was last seen leaving, Joe said. door alarms, alert neighbors city’s subway system, his father “For parents of autistic kids, and consider identification and neighbors said. I want them to know they are bracelets or tracking devices. The boy also loves trains and runners. I don’t know what it is U.S. Senator Charles Schumer has taken off a handful of times about that, but they tend to run,” wants the Department of Justice in the past, Joe and the building’s Joe said. “Always be on alert.” to create and fund a program that superintendent said. Though frightening, the situation would provide voluntary trackers “When I saw cops outside, I is common, said Michelle for children with autism or other knew immediately,” the super said. López, who manages autism development disorders. “I told them to go to the subways.” initiatives at Queens Museum. Councilmember Paul Vallone Joe said he fears his son does Similar scenarios are likely to is drafting a bill, calling for a not understand the dangers of running increase as more families push similar citywide program. MALL TO WELCOME LIBRARY BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com Shoppers will soon be able to take a break from shopping and visit the library. Queens Center, located at 90-15 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, has invited the Queens Library to open up a library space within the mall. The space will be located adjacent to the food court and is expected to open in late spring. “We are excited about bringing Queens Library to Queens Center. It is an opportunity to reach even more people and familiarize them with everything Queens Library can do to enrich their lives,” said Queens Library’s Chief Operating Officer Bridget Quinn-Carey. “The library space at Queens Center will have books and reading material to engage people at the mall, or they can borrow and take books home. We will be hosting special programs as well.” The library space, which will be Wi-Fi enabled, will include comfortable seating and offer a collection of popular books which people could sit down and read or borrow with their library cards. Laptops will be available to rent for use within the space and tablets might also be offered. Free library card sign-up will be available at the location and there will be a schedule of promotional events in collaboration with other mall tenants and programs, such as speakers, arts and crafts, kids’ educational entertainment, and more. The space will also feature computer terminals to look up and request materials, purchase books and research things to do in their neighborhoods. Full reference and referral services will be available by phone. “We try to tell him not to do this, especially after what happened to Avonte.” Joe Betancourt Courtesy of emPOWER Parents photography team The Queens Museum received a $73,000 grant allowing it to launch “emPOWER Parents: Fostering Cross Cultural Networks between Families with Autism,” connecting families in Queens with those in Spain.
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