STAATSBURG — The leadership team and trustees of Anderson Foundation for Autism announced that the foundation honored the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at their Signature Reception on Nov. 14 at The Harvard Club in New York City.
This was the second year that Anderson hosted a Manhattan-based fundraiser to recognize an individual, business, or organization that has helped further the nonprofit’s mission of “optimizing the quality of life for individuals with autism.”
“The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently opened a ‘sensory room’ in Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, helping to cultivate a culture of greater inclusivity and accessibility,” Patrick Paul, CEO/Executive Director of Anderson Center for Autism said. “Newark Liberty designed a space highly customized to support the needs of autistic and neurodivergent travelers and their families — and our professionals at Anderson Center Consulting and Training (ACCT) worked closely with the visionary team at the Port Authority of NY/NJ to ensure that the Sensory Room incorporated the features which most support people who experience feelings of sensory overload. This beautiful space has already opened worlds to families who previously found travel to be too challenging — and we applaud the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for making an investment for which the returns are priceless.”
Paul said that Anderson Center Consulting and Training (ACCT), who worked directly with the Port Authority on this project, is an affiliate of Anderson Center for Autism. ACCT’s focus is to educate families/caregivers, educators, businesses and corporations large and small, community groups, and others on how to be more accommodating to neurodivergent and autistic individuals. In recent years, ACCT has helped over 150 businesses gain designation as Autism Supportive Environments, and Paul expects that number to continue to grow as companies prioritize DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) initiatives.
“The Sensory Room is incredible in and of itself, but also represents a larger commitment that the Port Authority has made to our cause,” Eliza Bozenski, Chief Development Officer of Anderson Foundation for Autism said. “In addition to constructing this space, they also engaged the training services of Anderson Center Consulting and Training for their staff, who now have a deeper understanding of the communication styles and needs of autistic and neurodivergent people. They also have protocols in place to expedite check-ins, helping to mitigate the stress of long lines and wait times, and they are now developing a second sensory room in the same terminal… Anderson Foundation’s event honoring the Port Authority was a small token of our big appreciation for their work, and we hope that sharing the Terminal A story will inspire other transportation centers, companies, and community groups to work with our team at ACCT so that they can launch their own initiatives.”
The initial sensory room at Newark’s Terminal A is located pre-security, and the second room will be just beyond security, offering “bookends” that are intended to make travel easier for neurodivergent and autistic individuals. Both are part of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Cares Program, which extends the opportunity for expedited check-ins for eligible travelers who have made requests in advance. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey notes on its website that JFK, Newark, LaGuardia, and Stewart all offer accommodations such as outdoor and indoor service animal relief areas, airport “rehearsals” for workers and travelers, and the option of obtaining a sunflower lanyard (part of the “Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard” program), which allows a traveler to discreetly notify airport staff of his/her/their neurodiversity/disability.
In addition to the pre-security sensory room in Newark Liberty’s Terminal A, a post-security as well as a meditation room will be completed this year.
“We thank the Anderson Foundation for this honor and Anderson Center for their strong partnership in increasing inclusivity and accessibility at our facilities,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said. “The input from Anderson Center helped inform decisions we made at Newark Liberty International Airport’s new Terminal A by providing guidance on how to make our sensory room accessible and sharing best practices for communicating with travelers who are autistic or neurodivergent and their families. We’re excited to continue our work with Anderson Center as we incorporate sensory rooms in all our new developments, drawing inspiration from the successful implementation at both Newark Liberty and LaGuardia airports.”
Anderson Center for Autism (ACA), founded 100 years ago in 1924, offers evidence-based educational, vocational, residential, and consulting/training programs, drawing students and residents from all over the United States to experience its school and residential offerings.
The work, however, goes beyond our borders. Anderson Center International (ACI), an affiliate of ACA, has for many years hosted scholars from countries throughout the world for a 12-18 month training program at Anderson’s Staatsburg campus; today, that includes 26 scholars from 10 countries. During this experience at Anderson, scholars gain the education needed to improve schooling, workplace environments, and overall therapy and care for people with autism upon returning to their home countries.
Anderson also has two Early Learning Academy programs in Pine Plains and Latham and runs The Anderson Center Clinic in Latham.
For more information about Anderson Center for Autism, visit andersoncenterforautism.org.