Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation

BY JESS BLOCK NERREN, MA

Creating authentic autism awareness, acceptance and action in every corner of a Southern California Community.

Boyd Houser isn’t just any adorable six-year-old kid who loves to write with chalk, build snowmen and give hugs to
his family. He is a little guy who will grow up in a world where inclusion isn’t just a word but also a way of life.

Boyd inspired his dad, Larry Houser, to found the autism nonprofit Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation, a nonprofit foundation encompassing everything from early childhood therapies in a natural setting, to funding technology for Fullerton special education, to supporting workplace training, proms, sensory experiences, extracurricular activities and so much more for people with disabilities. The Housers then inspired a city, school district and community
to rally around the creation of something unlike anything else.

“In 2010, I received a call that changed my life forever. I was told my son Boyd had autism. This completely shook my world. After emerging from a day of solitude to figure out my next move, I knew what I had to do. I would dedicate my life to autism,” says Houser. And he has.

“That year, I founded Fullerton Cares with the sole purpose to provide support for those affected by autism in Fullerton and North Orange County, California,” he says. The organization has grown tremendously in the last five years, with the support of cities, school districts, and educators across the region now lining up to hear from Houser with the interest in replicating his model. “The remarkable outpouring of community support has inspired Fullerton Cares to go further than I’d ever imagined,” says Houser.

What happened next? “I’ve been working tirelessly with our vast Fullerton Cares community to support local autism initiatives,” says Houser. Fullerton Cares has raised $75,000 for local autism initiatives, started two longstanding and large scale autism events in the community, opened at least five new autism extracurriculars for special needs students, and pumped thousands of dollars into the special education technology in the classrooms, making sure that
each special education classroom has smart boards, computers and iPads that they would not have otherwise. All these are actions that collectively change the lives of the next generation of children with disabilities in the region.

Not only at the local level, Fullerton Cares has provided funds to community and national autism organizations that help kids of special needs every day, helping to create stronger programs for some of the most vulnerable in the community at the state and national levels as well.

Through this incredible support by the community, and the leadership of Fullerton Cares founder and board, Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation has been able to impact significantly what the future looks like for children with autism in the region and beyond.

Many amazing new supports have originated from the Fullerton Cares, including the ones highlighted below:

SENSORY GARDEN
The Sensory Garden started as a vision of Commonwealth Special Education teacher Sue Pettinichio, who also happened to be Boyd’s kindergarten teacher. Says Pettinicchio, “I really believe our kids can learn anything other kids can learn, it’s just finding the right way to teach them.” Pettinichio’s vision grew into a vibrant sensory garden,
filled with “multi-modal” learning opportunities. With her planning, the support and collaboration of the school district administrators and leadership, and an estimated 200 hours of labor by 30 volunteers including Founder Houser’s own mother, father, and extended family, the support of Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation, Autism Speaks, local business sponsor Allianz Asset Management, and unwavering encouragement of the teachers and staff of Commonwealth Elementary School, the sensory garden was officially opened in fall of 2013.

The garden took a small strip of grass alongside the special education corridor of the school and turned it into something vibrant, the first and only school sensory garden in North Orange County. Every inch is filled with opportunities for learning. Features include a “discovery house” structure for hands-on garden lessons, a bird
sanctuary for observations of wildlife, a pebble pit area for tactile experiences, a two-person water pump to promote cooperation, a pebble “harp,” raised-bed gardens for each of the four special education classrooms, split log seating, a stepping stone pathway for motor planning, and herbs for taste and smell experiences. Encompassing about 1500 square feet of meticulously thoughtful and engaging elements, the garden delights at every turn. This sensory garden
is unique because of its setting in general education campus at Commonwealth Elementary, providing inclusion opportunities for students of all abilities.

As the garden proceeded to come to life, so did the celebration of this garden within the community. At the opening celebration, over 100 members of the community, including Fullerton Mayor Bruce Whitaker, Fullerton School District Superintendent Dr. Bob Pletka, President of the Fullerton School District Board of Trustees Beverly Berryman, former assembly woman Sharon Quirk-Silva, and President of the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce Theresa Harvey lauded the culmination of the project.

Says Superintendent of Fullerton School District Dr. Bob Pletka, “The Fullerton School District is very fortunate to have people from Fullerton Cares who are making a difference in the lives of our students. The Board of Trustees and the District are very grateful for the ongoing support of such caring and dedicated individuals.” Fullerton School District Principal and Fullerton Cares board member, Sherry Hoyt, in an interview with the Orange County Register, said “The garden is unique because we had all this support. We were able to listen to parents and teachers and the community and work together.” And this brings hope and encouragement to all involved. Parents and educators
hear all too many litigious and adversarial stories, and the garden is a living, breathing, growing, thriving example of collaboration and partnership, benefitting those who stand to have a brighter future because of it. Each day, now, as the special education preschoolers and kindergarteners leave and enter their classrooms, they will have new opportunities to experience, ‘feelings for our fingers,’ as Pettinichio puts it.”

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MARDI GRAS FOR AUTISM
The biggest event held each year with over 4,000 participants, Mardi Gras for Autism is a special celebration for all people of all abilities in our community in support of special education programs. The family friendly free event is designed to encourage families to enjoy the fun of Mardi Gras while raising money for Fullerton special education programs, and has featured many of the activities that include children of all ages and abilities.

“The way we’ve designed Mardi Gras for Autism, families can come out and enjoy a good time together with their children of all abilities,” says Houser on his inspiring event. The entire event comes together thanks to an amazing support system that surrounds the Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation.

The event included: Activities from Aquarium of the Pacific where kids were able to get up-close opportunities to see and touch sharks, sea stars, sea cucumbers, and anemones. Medieval Times, with their Knights and Kings, performed mini-shows through-out the day; The Game Truck, a mobile video game theater featured the newest multiplayer video games in a comfortable, airconditioned mobile living room setting; Autism Live, the interactive web-show, came to provide its support, resources, information, facts, entertainment and inspiration to all parents, teachers and practitioners working with children on the Autism Spectrum; The Fullerton Police exhibit, where the Fullerton Police Department displayed their SWAT vehicles and equipment for kids to see, touch, and better get to know local law enforcement; A Sensory Zone designed by the creators of the sensory garden with giant tubs of different items with various textures to stimulate and regulate the senses of participating children; A Karaoke
stage that was a huge hit amongst everyone; and many more. The annual event takes over an enormous municipal transportation block in the center of Downtown Fullerton, creating fun and inclusion in many shapes and forms for all who attend, and continues to grow exponentially each year.

SPECIAL NEEDS PROM
Bourbon Street Bar and Grill has made prom inclusive for people of all abilities by hosting 10 special education students from Sonora High School in La Habra for an inclusive disability prom dinner, that was fully supported by behavioral therapists posing as servers and had a modified menu for accessibility. To tailor the dinner to the needs of three students with Down syndrome and seven students with autism, the event is chaperoned by two educational
specialists from the Sonora High Community Based Instruction team and the hostess and waitresses are behaviorally trained educators and therapists provided through Fullerton Cares.

Angie Sellers, prom volunteer organizer and substitute special education teacher at Fullerton Joint Union High School District, of Fullerton, with a participating son, Christopher Brady, 18, with autism, said of the event, “They are high school seniors and deserve this experience. These kids deserve to be part of society and not to go away
because autism isn’t going away and disability across the board isn’t going away. I have a dream for my son to go to prom and a clinical diagnosis isn’t going to change that.”

Houser says of the event, “The goal with this dinner is inclusion. We will simulate a real, neuro-typical high school prom dining experience, while also providing the therapeutic and behavioral support to make it accessible to those affected by developmental disabilities.” In addition to the dinner at local restaurant Bourbon Street Bar & Grill,
co-owned by Houser, students received donated makeup and photography services and limo transportation to their High School prom. In the second year of this program, a participant in the special needs prom was subsequently crowned homecoming king.
COMEDY SHOW FOR AUTISM
The sold-out Fullerton Cares “Comedy Show for Autism” benefit comedy night has been going strong for over five years, featuring nationally headlining comics including Jeff Garcia, Carlos Mencia, Steve Trevino, George Perez, Brad Williams, Adam Ray, Keith Reza, Edwin San Juan, Jim Jeffries, Skylar Stone, Michael Molina, Jesus Trejo, and
Tommy Chun, held at the historic Fox Theatre Fullerton. The show was the first stand-up comedy show held at the Fox Theatre, a venue that has been a central feature in Fullerton for over 80 years. Says Summer Dabbs, Director at Fullerton Cares, “Comedy Show for Autism benefits a cause that is very special to me and I am proud that we have the ability to make a difference and spread autism awareness in our community.”

EVERYBODY MOVE NOW
The first dance and movement classes for kids with disabilities offered through Fullerton Parks and Recreation, “Everybody Move Now” music and movement program is a six-week class at the Fullerton Community Center. As lauded in Dance Magazine and originally offering a series of special needs dance classes for ages four to 18, the overwhelming demand for this type of programming led to the creation of the “Everybody Move Now” a series exploring the development of rhythm, fitness, social skills, and self-expression. Sessions utilize the best practices for inclusion and participation for those affected by developmental, physical, or cognitive disabilities.

Classes are taught by CF Dance Academy Facilitator Robin Hogerhuis, of Fullerton, a parent of two children with autism, with her MS in Special Education and an MA in Behavioral Therapy. The curriculum was developed in conjunction with Ms. Leanna Marie Forcucci, Co-owner of CF Dance in Fullerton. With the full support of Fullerton
Cares, the program is dedicated to creating equal and inclusive educational and athletic opportunities for children
with autism and special needs in the Fullerton area. “This [class] was originally inspired by the Fullerton Cares Mardi Gras for Autism annual event serving kids in our community,” says Hogerhuis. “When I saw the amazing light in our kids’ eyes when they brought motion into their activities and expression, I knew I wanted to bring this to more children in our region.” “Everybody Move Now is a groundbreaking special needs movement program,” says Houser. “We are so proud that the City of Fullerton is supporting this activity for our kids of all abilities.”

SPECIAL NEEDS BASEBALL
Now in its second season, the Placentia Pony Champion’s League is intended to create a safe and fun baseball experience for children with special needs, ages four and up, for a 12-week season at a very low cost, supported by Fullerton Cares. Says Fullerton Cares Founder, Larry Houser, of Fullerton, “The league will help bridge acceptance
in the community and provide inclusion for those affected by autism with this groundbreaking special needs baseball program.”

Inspired by his child’s participation in PONY Baseball, father Tim Wetzel, of Placentia, helped to spearhead this initiative along with parent Dito Armento who helps raise the funds and awareness necessary. Together Wetzel and Armento hope to make baseball inclusive of all people of all abilities in Placentia California and the North Orange County region.

WORK TRAINING
A new and very special program to enter the lineup of Fullerton Cares-supported offerings is the work training program where four to six young adults join the workforce of local restaurant Bourbon Street Bar & Grill (co-owned by Founder Larry Houser), four mornings out of the week, to learn the ins and outs of working in a full service restaurant. Thanks to the collaboration between the restaurant, Fullerton Cares and Fullerton Joint Union High School District, these students are in a full service restaurant for the first time, while the restaurant experiences a reduction in the side work and preparation tasks prior to opening because of the great work of the students. Because employment for people with disabilities is such an important discussion point, Houser found it really important to
support the creation of this component of what Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation is involved in.

The incredible work of Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation is largely attributable to the inspiration of one little guy, Boyd, who not only drove his Dad to act, but also inspired the support of the powerhouses on the Fullerton Cares board and teams of volunteers, the school district, city leadership and the community at large. Because of the partnerships that have grown out of Fullerton Cares, not only does Boyd have a brighter future, each and every
child with a disability in the region has a brighter future filled with great opportunities for work, play and inclusion.•

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jess Block Nerren, MA Communications, is Communications Chair for Fullerton Cares Autism Foundation and a parent to a child with autism and in remission from Cancer. Block Nerren sits on the Children’s Hospital Autism Treatment Network Parent Advisory Board, has served as a Grant Reviewer for Autism Speaks, has provided input, edits and feedback to four of the Autism Speaks toolkits distributed nationally, is a founding board member to The Miracle Project autism nonprofit, and is a Board Member-at-Large for the Riverside County SELPA, the largest special education local plan area in the state of California serving 35,000 students with disabilities.

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