46 THE QUEENS COURIER • KIDS & EDUCATION • MAY 30, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com Amazing Summers, Lifelong Friends ✔ Traditional 9am-5pm Day Camp for children ages 4-11! ✔ Teen Travel program for young adults ages 12-15! ✔ Early Start Imagination Camp specially designed for 4 year olds! ✔ Beautiful athletic facilities and fields, ample indoor space, nature trails, Olympic-sized pool & more! ✔ Activities include athletics, fine & performing arts, nature exploration and swim instruction! ✔ Hot lunch, transportation, early drop-off & late pick-up services available! ✔ Low camper to adult ratios with college-age staff or older! ✔ Flexible enrollment for 2-8 weeks! ✔ Sibling discounts! Get up to $100 off when you attend an info session! BAYSIDE Queensborough Community College Visit us for online registration & more: www.oASISChIlDrEn.Com Upcoming Info Session 5/6 & 5/18 at QCC Call us at 800-317-1392 to rSVP! $145,000 Matching Grant Will Help Families Navigate Services for Children with Autism Grant Marks Largest Foundation Gift Ever Made to QSAC New York, N.Y., May 22, 2013 – Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC) and the New York Center for Autism Charter School (NYCACS), as a sub-grantee, have received a challenge grant for $145,000 from the Heckscher Foundation for Children in support of its “Pathways for the Future” initiative. This collaboration will provide families throughout the region with access to meaningful support for navigating key transition points throughout the life of a child with autism. The $145,000 grant from the Heckscher Foundation is a matching grant in that it will need to be matched with new donations from the community over the two years. In essence, any donation over the next two years will be doubled with the support from the Heckscher Foundation. The Pathways program is an educational initiative for parents and providers on transition periods during the life of child with autism and the various programs children are eligible for. The project will also incorporate a one-on-one component regarding support and advocacy on behalf of parents seeking services for their children with autism, so as to assist with program eligibility and linkage to services. These workshops and conferences will be tailored so as to address key transition points in the life of a child with autism. Specifically, those transition periods are (1) diagnosis, (2) early intervention, (3) preschool, (4) school, and (5) adulthood. This resource will help to inform families about existing public and private programs that their children may qualify for as well as link them to concrete services when possible. All of the programs offered through this initiative will be free for the family members of children and adults with autism. In the coming weeks, the date and location of AUTISM 2014 will be announced. The annual conference will be open to family members, educators, professionals, and other individuals interested in learning more about services for people with autism and their families as well as the various processes involved with obtaining eligibility for services. . QSAC’s Executive Director, Gary Maffei said, “The timing of this grant and initiative are critical in that it will coincide with the forthcoming changes associated with the funding of services for people with developmental disabilities. This generous grant from the Heckscher Foundation will ensure that we are well-prepared to assist families as they seek to obtain much-needed services and programs for their loved ones under the current system as well as the future processes.” This grants marks the largest foundation gift ever to QSAC. If you would like to learn more about the Pathways program or if you are interested in making a donation toward the match campaign, please contact Joseph Amodeo, Director of Development, at [email protected] or (212) 244- 5560, ext. 2016. ABOUT QSAC Quality Services for the Autism Community is dedicated to providing meaningful educational, residential, habilitation, and support services for children with autism and their families. Today, QSAC serves more than 5,000 people per year throughout New York City and Long Island. Visit QSAC online at www.qsac.com. ABOUT THE HECKSCHER FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN The Heckscher Foundation was founded in 1921 to promote the welfare of children in New York and elsewhere throughout the United States. Today, it provides grants to youth-serving organizations in the fields of education, family services, child welfare, health, arts and recreation.
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