WILMINGTON, MA — All Wilmington residents, including students, are encouraged to wear an Autism Awareness shirt on Friday, April 1 — the first day of Autism Awareness Month. (World Autism Awareness Day falls on Saturday, April 2. Residents are encouraged to “light it up blue” and wear blue clothing on that day.)
Don’t have an Autism Awareness shirt to wear on April? You’re in luck! The teachers in Wilmington’s Stride Program, which works with many of the district’s autistic students, have designed a t-shirt for the occasion.
This year’s t-shirt puts an emphasis on inclusion.
“We designed a kite with the Autism puzzle pieces and the Wildcat paw print on the kite sail, and on the tail of the kite string are the qualities communities have when they are being inclusive of all people,” explained teacher Crystal O’Keefe.
The shirt can be seen below:
Shirts can be ordered online HERE. Shirts will be delivered to your home address for a $12.00 flat shipping rate OR sent to the school your child attends free of charge. Ordering is open until Sunday, February 28. Shirts will be delivered three weeks after the close.
Shirts are available in BLUE or WHITE and are $9.00. If you would like to make a $5.00 donation to BEYOND TOPS soccer, there are t-shirts available for $14.00. TOPS is a non-profit program aimed to integrate all children, regardless of cognitive or physical ability, into the community through sports.
Teachers in the Stride Program wish to acknowledge Champion’s Choice for their support and the principals at each school for their cooperation.
(NOTE: The above information was submitted by Crystal O’Keefe.)
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 