Felician University is marking Autism Awareness Month (April) with a win/win project that will directly help health workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Felician University’s School of Education and the International Center for Autism & disabilities Research in Education (I-CAdRE) is working with the South Bergen Jointure Commission (SBJC) to support our first responders, doctors and nurses!

The SBJC is a special education public school district based in Hasbrouck Heights, serving the educational needs of classified students ages 3 to 21 who are autistic or multiply handicapped from southern Bergen County.

Under the guidance of the STEM coordinator from the SBJC, 3D printers were delivered to families with middle school and high school uniquely-abled individuals to make face shields for those brave doctors, nurses, and first responders. The families will serve as “foster parents” to the 3D printing machines until school re-opens.

This “hands-on” STEM workforce development project is allowing for those we serve to live a life with No Barriers and to contribute ESSENTIAL Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and have an immediate impact on the communities they live in!

The SBJC donated whatever PPE they had left in their facility, as well as, a promise for the first 100 Face Shields made by our uniquely-abled students and 3D printer foster families to Holy Name Hospital. What an amazing way to bring attention to Autism Awareness Month and the incredible mission of Felician University through I-CAdRE and the No Barriers commitment of the SBJC!

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About Felician University

Felician University engages over 2,300 undergraduate, graduate, and adult students through programs in Arts & Sciences, Business, Nursing, and Education. Universal Franciscan values of social justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity serve as an inclusive foundation for transforming the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Felician University’s education is ranked 3rd best return on investment for private colleges in New Jersey 2018 by the PayScale.com College ROI Report and is ranked #1 safest college campus in the state by niche.com.