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PORTSMOUTH—The Birchtree Center is pleased to announce it has received a $7,250 grant from The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. These funds will allow the nonprofit to purchase a smart projector for its day school in Portsmouth.
Birchtree’s day school is the only N.H. school serving students with autism exclusively. At present, its students share a single smart projector. This grant will fund a second smart projector, allowing more Birchtree students to use the technology. Over the next decade, more than 80 students with autism will use the projector during lessons in art, music, academics and other subjects.
Many Birchtree students struggle with traditional teaching methods. Non-verbal students can’t answer instructors’ questions using spoken words. Students with limited fine-motor skills and impaired vision find paper worksheets difficult. “But when students step up to the big, bright projector screen, they can more easily show us what they’ve learned—whether it’s by writing or moving pictures on the screen,” reports Birchtree’s executive director, Sandra Pierce-Jordan. “We’re incredibly grateful for this grant because it allows our students to have more access to this powerful technology to support their learning and progress.”
“The Flutie Foundation Allison Keller Education Technology Grants help our partner agencies address a variety of significant needs in the autism community,” says Nick Savarese, executive director of The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. “Programs like these are helping people on the autism spectrum live life to the fullest and we are proud to support their efforts.”
The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, based in Framingham, Mass., awards grants annually through a competitive application and review process. The Allison Keller Technology Education Grants that the Flutie Foundation distributed this year fill the financial gap in meeting technology needs of schools and organizations to help people and families with autism live life to the fullest.
About The Birchtree Center
Since 2002, the nonprofit Birchtree Center has promoted independence, engaging relationships and productive lives for children and youth with autism at home, at school and in the community. Twenty public school districts in New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts send students to attend Birchtree’s year-round special-educational day school in Portsmouth, which serves students with autism from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.
The organization’s Outreach Program offers consultation, assessments, teacher training and direct services in family homes and public schools. The organization is named after the New Hampshire state tree, the white birch. This shallow-rooted tree often grows in clusters to survive—like a birch tree, a child with autism needs to be supported by family and community to grow and flourish. Stay updated on Birchtree Center events and news on our Facebook page: facebook.com/birchtreecenter.
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