Proposal

==**Graduation Project Proposal ** ==

===__**Project: **__ === //What will you do? Where will you work/volunteer? With whom will you work/volunteer? // For this project, I hope to keep a focus on autism and how it affects daily life. For the "hands on" part of my project, I hope to find a public area in Springfield that is not easily handicapped accessable and build a ramp or something that will better the lives of local handicapped people. My dad has connections within Springfield's Parks and Recreation Department, and he has been helping me contact the director to scope out local businesses/public areas. Since my father will also be helping me build my product, he has agreed to be my mentor for the duration of my graduation project.

//What products will result your “work”/volunteerism? Describe how you will use the product in order to demonstrate your topic and experience.// I hope that the outcome of my project will help to raise awareness about autism and other disabilities that dramatically impact the lives of people living with them. Autism is a topic that is of particular intrest to me, so I am choosing to focus on it throughout my project.

How will you go about completing your project? Describe your plan for implementing and completing your project.

The bulk of my “hands on” project will include finding a suitable and local area that is in need of a ramp or anything to make it more handicap accessable. I have just recently been in touch with a park ranger from the Fort Washington State Park. He gave me his contact information and has advised me to go out on my own time to find a suitable place in the park to build my ramp. Hopefully, my father and I will go out this week to search for a spot. Once I find a suitable area, I will set up a meeting with the park ranger to discuss what needs to be done. My dad has always been a very handy person, and has offered to help me build the actual product. Hopefully, I will be able to go to local stores and businesses such as Lowe’s or Home Depot and ask them to donate necessary supplies such as lumber or nails.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">What will you need to complete your project? Describe materials, resources, people, hours etc. that are necessary for you to complete your project. // <span style="display: block; line-height: normal; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">While the building of the actual product can hopefully be completed in a day, the core of my project will include meeting with business representitives and managers to find a local place and discusss what needs to be done. The product that I create (a ramp, fence, steps, etc.) will depend on the place that I choose and what that particular area needs. The materials I will need for my project will also depend on what I choose to create. I will hopefully be able to receive donations from a few companies that specialize in the materials that I may need. ** __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Research: __ ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Research Topic: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">For this project, I am planning to focus on autism. This topic is especially important to me because in college, I hope to major in occupational therapy and will be working in schools with children who have autism. My mom also works with autistic children in the district and through her, the issue of autism awareness has become increasingly important to me. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Essential Question: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> What therapies/treatments exist for autism? Do we need to raise more concern towards helping the lives of those affected by autism? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Prior Experience:  // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Before starting this graduation project, I have had a lot of experience with autistic children. I have known I wanted to major in occupational therapy for the past few years, and I have taken this time to observe the occupational therapist at Erdenhiem Elementary. I got to know many of the kids there, and have proceeded to teach most of them swimming lessons this past summer. However, the bulk of my prior experience with autistic children comes from my mother being an instructional aide. Before I ever realized what I wanted to do, I would come and visit her numerous times to see her and the children. I got to know many of the kids on a personal level, and it only escalated from there. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Research Benefits:  // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> I hope that everyone listening to my presentation will benefit from the information I have collected. The main goal of my project is to increase awareness about an issue that needs to be more accurately addressed in our society. Also, I hope that the “hands on” part of my project will help handicapped people better enjoy the beauty of nature that they otherwise would not be able to fully appreciate due to handicapped limitations. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Potential Sources: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Privileging insider-knowledges in the world of autism”: This journal is written by Cortney Olinger who has worked with families that have children diagnosed with autism. She is also a licensed therapist. Her paper highlights the key concerns of those families, especially towards support from the government and finding suitable therapies and other necessities. Her research and findings will help me address the need of raising autism awareness, as well as helping me know which therapies are most effective from first hand resources. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Autism //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> by: Peggy J. Parks: Parks has written over 70 nonfiction books to educate adults who wish to learn. This book provides immense background knowledge on autism and includes details about the lives of those living with the disorder as well as accurate statistics. The book even provides two critical essays regarding which treatments are more effective, and both are loaded with graphs and accurate information. // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Autism //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> By: Michael J. Edwards: Michael J. Edwards has worked with one of the world’s largest volunteer health organizations in the U.S. This book provides details on the lives of those living with autism on a level that is easy to understand and follow. Through Edwards’ writing, I was able to understand just how hard it is to live with autism, even with varying degrees.