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District marks Autism Acceptance Month; staff and paraprofessional urge daily inclusion and peer education
Summary
During Autism Acceptance Month, district staff and a Bethel Elementary paraprofessional described peer‑education, early intervention, AAC supports and district efforts to make schools more communication inclusive.
School board members heard an Autism Acceptance Month presentation from Melissa Foster, a paraprofessional at Bethel Elementary and chair of the special‑education advisory committee, who urged daily inclusion, peer education and increased parent supports.
Foster described autism spectrum disorder as a wide and varied neurodevelopmental condition and emphasized that acceptance goes beyond awareness. She urged early intervention, peer education to build empathy, and practical steps schools can take to be more inclusive: peer‑education programs, visual supports and making communication devices (AAC) usable across settings.
Board members praised Foster’s remarks and asked staff to consider bringing the presentation to student bodies and to expand peer mentoring and acceptance activities. Dr. Jennifer Tingley and Foster noted an increase in students using AAC devices, and Tingley described the division’s lead speech‑language pathologists and occupational therapists working with building staff to troubleshoot device selection and classroom implementation.
Foster also highlighted simple community actions—learning about autism, supporting autism‑friendly businesses, and celebrating the “purple up” symbol during April—and encouraged ongoing staff training and family supports. The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken.
