Employee Testimonials - Trainers

Andi Tatom

Giving families access to resources and information on autism is what prompted Heartspring to create the CARE Program. CARE, Community of Autism Resources and Education, is a new program offers supportive services and resources families of children with autism. Through CARE, Heartspring can equip families with the necessary tools to face the diagnosis of autism and move forward with success.

“We are creating workshops and individual programs for families,” Andi Tatom explains. “The programs focus on making items and social stories for families to use at home and in community settings to help their children communicate and interact successfully.”

Andi Tatom and Attie Pelnar have been training new paraeducators for the Heartspring School for several years, but within the past year they have also started working with the Heartspring CARE Program. Working with the director, they create visual supports, and teambuilding and networking workshops for families.

In April, the CARE Program was the beneficiary of the first ever Autism CARE Walk at Heartspring. In an effort to bring awareness of autism to the Wichita area, as well as bring families together from across the state affected by autism, the CARE Walk also was successful in introducing the CARE Program to the community.

Attie Pelnar

“The Community of Autism Resources and Education (CARE) Program is utilizing the money raised from the walk to fund scholarships for CARE workshops and programs”, says Attie Pelnar.

In July, Heartspring CARE Program welcomed 46 campers the first Camp SSTAR (Social Skills Technology Asperger and Recreation). The campers, ranging from age three to age 21, spent five days creating friendships and building social skills in a fun, recreational setting. Technology was a focus for many of the campers and a newscast, website, and yearbook were produced by the campers to showcase the events of camp.

“It was a lot of work to prepare for that many kids, to keep them engaged and focused, Attie says, “but it was a wonderful experience. We met so many children and families and by the end of the week had formed bonds with many of them. The staff worked hard to ensure the kids had a great experience, and you could see in their faces it paid off.”

“With the prevalence of autism being one in 150 births, the need for autism awareness is at an all time high. Giving the community the opportunity to come together to raise awareness is a feeling I will never forget,” says Andi. “Planning has already begun for the 2009 Heartspring CARE Walk and we are looking forward to next summer with Camp SSTAR. There will be the addition of many new programs throughout this year with CARE. We are excited to continue our journey in raising autism awareness and look forward to building new relationships with families.”

Content published August, 2008.

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