Misericordia University Students to Host Sensory Winter Wonderland

The Misericordia University student organization, Cougars for Autism Awareness, is hosting “Sensory Winter Wonderland,” a sensory-friendly holiday event for children with autism and their siblings. The free event is on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 1-3 p.m. in the Huntzinger and Alden Trust Rooms 218-219 of Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall.

Families will be able to walk around and participate at designated activities moderated by volunteers. There will be a parachute activity and a sensory box train. Crafts will include making a weighted reindeer, snowman puppets and snowflakes. Light refreshments and holiday photo opportunities will also be available. All of the events hae been designed specifically for children who have sensory challenges. Student volunteers will strive to make this an opportunity that does not overwhelm any sensory sensitive participants.

There is no charge, but donations are welcome. All proceeds go to Cougars for Autism Awareness. Group officers are Taylor Webb of Clark, New Jersey, president; Alexis D’Amico of Riverside, New Jersey, vice president; Jessica Lane of Elverson, secretary, and Sinead O’Sullivan of Pearl River, New York, treasurer.

Families can pre-register at http://bit.ly/musensory18. For additional details, please contact Taylor Webb, president, Cougars for Autism Awareness, by email at webbt@misericordia.edu.

The College of Health Sciences and Education at Misericordia University is home to the Autism Center, which serves as a community resource, as well as an educational and research entity for autism. The Autism Center offers a number of special programs and services, such as the Autism for Lifelong Learning (ALL) Program, which provides pre-employment and employment services in the context of community integration and self-determination at the post-high school level.

In addition to providing autism services, the Misericordia University College of Health Sciences and Education offers a post-graduate and post-credentialed online certification program in autism spectrum disorders for health care providers. Launched in 2016, the academic program prepares health care professionals in the fields of nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, speech-language pathology and more to work with clients diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

For more information about the Autism Center at Misericordia University, please email autism@misericordia.edu or visit www.misericordia.edu/autism

For more information about Misericordia University, please call (570) 674-6400 or visit www.misericordia.edu. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1924, Misericordia University is Luzerne County’s first four-year college and offers 56 academic programs on the graduate and undergraduate levels in full- and part-time formats. Misericordia University ranks in the top tier of the Best Regional Universities – North category of U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 edition of Best Colleges. The Princeton Review recognizes MU as a 2019 Best Northeastern College and Money Magazine includes Misericordia in its 2018-19 “Best Colleges” list.