The St. Louis Public School District has been awarded a
grant valued at $10,900 from the Innovative Technology Education Fund to provide iPads in six self-contained autism classrooms serving students in grades 9-12 at Gateway Institute of Technology High School.
Known as the Learning and Communicating Using iPads Project, the District will incorporate the iPads into instructional learning by utilizing applications recommended by Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, and by providing two full days of technical training for teachers and paraprofessionals by Apple, the creator of the iPad.
“Gateway has worked extremely hard to develop a state-of-the-art academic program to meet the varying needs of students on the autism spectrum. The iPads will aid in lesson comprehension, but more importantly they will provide communication and behavior support so that students can learn to effectively communicate and socialize with their families and classmates,” said Dr. Elizabeth Bender, principal at Gateway Institute of Technology.
Featured as a “miracle device” for autistic children by CBS News 60 Minutes, and Fox News, the iPad is an extremely flexible and mobile teaching tool that readily incorporates research-based effective strategies for teaching students with autism, including visual presentation, predictability, immediate positive consequences, high-interest lessons and video modeling.
Children can help families with food insecurity in our local communities and get into The Magic House or MADE for Kids for free during the Kids Can Help food drive. Children 12 and under who bring in three canned food items each will be admitted to The Magic House for MADE for Kids free of charge on November 2 and 3.
Sensory Friendly Science Time features reduced noise, modified lighting and sensory-friendly demonstrations at the Saint Louis Science Center.
Explore songs, finger plays, music and more during this Music & Movement class for ages 0-6. Some sessions are held in person at various branches of the St. Louis County Library. Some sessions are virtual.
Bring your babies and toddlers to this free story time at the Missouri History Museum.
Storytelling in the Museum is an in-person storytelling event happening at 10:30 a.m. at the Missouri History Museum. This event, perfect for the preschool set, features engaging stories with themes like Juneteenth, Sweet Treats, Summer and more. Storytelling in the Museum is free.