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MANSFIELD – The official check presentation from AllOne Foundation & Charities for the development of the Autism Resource Center at Mansfield University was held in the lobby of Retan, the campus building where the Resource Center will reside. Dr. Alison Polly accepted the check on behalf of several departments at Mansfield University. Also at the presentation were Dr. Tiffany Welch, Associate Professor and Program Director of Social Work and Courtney Heatley, Clerical Assistant.

The grant application to AllOne was applied for in November of 2021, 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. Polly said that money from the grant is already helping to purchase items for the lending library and has helped train 10 people. The goal is to create a community hub where families can find help when they have received a diagnosis on the spectrum of a family member. Due to changes in diagnostics, more people are identified with autism. Polly stated “The individual’s need is always primary. We strive to find ways to help the students and their families”.

The hub will strive to give the population with autism age appropriate opportunities to grow and thrive. A unique aspect of the Resource Center will be the table-top games they offer. Those on the spectrum often do well when gaming and assuming a fantasy character. Through table-top games, students learn life skills such as patience and how to work together.
For information about the Autism Resource Center contact Dr. Alison Polly, 570-62-4561 or e-mail her at apolly@mansfield.edu.

Picture: (L-R) Associate Professor of Social Work Dr. Tiffany Welch, Assistant Professor of Education and Special Education Dr. Alison Polly, AllOne Foundation & Charities CEO John Cosgrove, Senior Associate Dean for the College of Arts, Social Sciences, & Humanities Dr. Josh Battin, Clerical Assistant Courtney Heatley