The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be food, a bounce house, raffles, giveaways, games, crafts, firetruck tours, face painting, magic by "Vann the Magic Man,” live music by DJ Nick Tyson and more. There will also be a sensory room sponsored by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). This year's event is sponsored by Access Services.
Community sponsors include Philomena Santucci's Square Pizza, Water Tower Movie Theater, 309 Car Wash of Hatfield, and Totum Counseling and Consulting Services LLC.
The event is free and all are welcome, however, space is limited so participants are encouraged to
register in advance by clicking here.
The SPARK team at the
Center for Autism Research (CAR) at CHOP will be at the event and attendees will have the chance to ask questions and learn more about the SPARK study. CAR is a collaborative research center between The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. Their goal is "to understand the causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and develop effective treatments through research with infants through adults,” according to
information on the event page.
CAR also provides
resources to help families who are either new to the diagnosis or have lived with it for years.
SPARK is the largest genetic research study of autism. Any individual with autism and their families can participate by completing a brief online questionnaire, as well as submitting a saliva collection kit from each participating member of the family. Participants receive comprehensive assessment reports and are compensated for their time and some travel expenses.
If you have any questions, email Ashley Quinones at
[email protected]. Those interested in being a vendor can contact Jamiel Owens at
[email protected].
See also: