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A $126,000 grant through AllOne Foundation has been announced for the development of the Autism Resource Center at Mansfield University. The grant was applied for in November by collaboration between several departments at Mansfield University, and was approved in February of 2022. AllOne Collaborative Centers of Excellence serve 13 counties in Pennsylvania by supporting community hubs that provide diagnostic and medical services, public health care information, behavioral services, advocacy resources, parent/caregiver support, vocational and community living skills and training programs.

Dr. Alison Polly, Associate Professor of Education and Special Education at Mansfield University, helped secure the grant that will serve Tioga, Sullivan and Bradford Counties. The MU committee seeking the funds consisted of Dr. Sechrist and Dr. May of the Psychology Department, Dr. Purk of the Sociology Department, Dr. Bosworth of the Political Science Department, Dr. Parks of the Education Department, Dr. Welch of the Social Work Department and Dr. Battin, Associate Provost and Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities.

The initial grant will create a lending library with materials for schools and parents, provide a Table Top Role Playing Game (TTRPG) developed by Bodhanna Group from Harrisburg for autistic children, and enhance current training of first responders in the MU Public Safety Training Institute (MUPSTI) with skills and strategies to use when they work with autistic people. There are two summer institutes planned for local students with autism through the grant, also.

Dr. Polly stated that “one group the Autism Resource Center will assist is parents looking for support with children who are in general education. Often these students need programs that will help them transition into adulthood which can include employment or higher education.”

To support the Autism Resource Center, the community is invited to participate in a Fun Run at Van Norman Field on the MU campus on May 7th. Registration is at 6:00 P.M.. The event is sponsored by the Council for Exceptional Children to raise awareness of the Autism Resource Center.

For information about the Autism Resource Center contact Dr. Alison Polly, 570-62-4561 or e-mail her at apolly@mansfield.edu.