Community Corner

Union County Autism Organization Recognizes Local Champion

Autism Family Times to hold benefit to fulfill dreams and honor community advocate.

Autism Family Times with Brianna, Inc., a local non-profit offering family-based programming for families living with autism spectrum disorder, announces its first Dream Catcher Tribute.

This year’s charitable event will honor Tovah Segelman, a Scotch Plains resident, for her leadership and ongoing support of the organization. The benefit will be held Sunday, July 15 at 3:00pm at The Crossroads of Garwood. 

Proceeds from this event will help support ongoing educational, recreation, and social programs for families living with autism in New Jersey communities.  

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All community members are welcome to attend. Tickets for the Dream Catcher Tribute are available for $40 each and include dinner, live band, award ceremony, and opportunities to win prizes. A cash bar is available through the evening. Those interested in attending the event or to donate to Autism Family Times can send an email to dreamcatcher@autismfamilytimes.org or by contacting calling 908-889-8860.

Tovah Segelman serves as the program director for the organization’s ‘We Dream Athletic Team.’ “This year's dinner event is dedicated to a person who has been taking the lead in raising awareness and funding for our programs," says Autism Family Times president Claudette Bardwil. “Tovah understands the needs and interests of these families and inspires others to show their support.”

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The We Dream Athletic Team is a group of dedicated athletes who make dreams come true for children with autism and their families. Team members are athletes of all abilities who participate in running races, cycling events, swimming events, and triathlons to raise funds to support the outstanding educational, recreational, and social programs offered by Autism Family Times (AFT). 

“The programs are so important to the children and their families. Knowing that all the fundraising efforts of the We Dream Team help to support these activities is our driving force,” emphasizes Ms. Segelman.  The athletic team welcomes new members to participate in athletic events and to raise funds to support continued AFT programs. 

Ms. Segelman joined AFT as the athletic team program director in 2010. She is a speech-language pathologist and literacy specialist in Summit, working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities. Tovah is passionate about exercise and healthy living and uses these attributes to help children with autism.  Having grown up with a sister with special needs, Ms. Segelman recognizes the importance of recreation and learning opportunities for needs and interests of children with autism and their families. 

Families have taken part in many AFT-sponsored activities, including therapeutic horseback riding, family yoga, family fun nights, and trips to events and shows such as Gazillion Bubbles at the Union County Performing Arts Center. The group has worked with the Union County Recreation Department to offer a horticulture program for children with special needs at the Trailside Nature and Science Center.  AFT has partnered with the Fanwood - Scotch Plains YMCA to offer Special Needs Teen Nights. Guided by the AFT Peer Mentor group, mentoring teens facilitate friendships, share experiences, and promote inclusion and acceptance of children with special needs in the mainstream activities of daily life.  AFT has coordinated the training of Peer Mentors in order for them to participate in various educational and creative projects with children with special needs.  Local residents and educators Angela Paster, Lora Kaprowoski and Jennifer Kurdyla serve as AFT Peer Mentor facilitators.  Local teens Alexandra Kapadia and Alexandra Jackman serve as lead mentors working with teens and young children, respectively.

Recently, AFT has partnered with the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities to offer Prepare for Tomorrow, a youth leadership project aimed at team building, public speaking, and advocacy skills designed for young adults with developmental disabilities.

Group SPIRIT, another AFT program, is dedicated to supporting, educating, and empowering families of children with autism by providing support, resources, family-oriented activities, and guidance. Monthly meetings are designed to unite families so that we can help each other along the way. “Our meetings offer helpful tips and important community resources for families. We bring in guest speakers who serve as experts on various autism-related topics,” says Beverly Fagan, AFT Board Member.

AFT’s “Learn through Travel” program offers the opportunity for families to connect to their surroundings, simultaneously blending learning with travel. This initiative addresses concerns and issues common to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Previous travel programs included an excursion to the New Jersey State Museum and Planetarium and an overnight stay at the Embassy Suites in Piscataway.

 

About Autism:

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in every 88 children in America is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), making ASD more prevalent than juvenile diabetes, childhood cancer and pediatric AIDS combined. The rate of autism among New Jersey’s children is about 1 in 49, second highest in the nation. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal/nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. There is an increasing need for communities to be more aware of this disorder and identify ways to be more supportive and inclusive in community-based activities.

 

About Autism Family Times with Brianna, Inc.
Autism Family Times with Brianna, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing treatment services and support for families of children with autism so that they can enjoy leisure activities in the community as a family.   Autism Family Times with Brianna offers customized, educational, and cultural family-centered leisure programs utilizing the services of community partners sensitive to the needs and challenges of people with autism, their siblings, and caregivers.  

Families who have children diagnosed with autism are encouraged to call for information about autism and the programs. Autism Family Times relies on contributions, sponsorships and grant funding for its development and implementation of programs.  Personal, corporate, and organizational donations are sought to support the ongoing programs. All donations are tax deductible. More information about the organization is available at www.autismfamilytimes.org or by calling (908)889-8860.

— This article was submitted to Patch by Autism Family Times.


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