This is the time of year when we look at our lives and evaluate what we are thankful for. At Upstate, I know we as music therapists are thankful for the opportunity to be in this profession. We can always rely on each other to be supportive and offer guidance and help when it is needed. However, we know that this is not the case for everyone. Many parents and families feel alone in navigating life with a child with a disability. Here in Rochester there are a lot of unique support systems for families and we were fortunate to have come across a very special organization, MATT, this year. Managing Autism Together Today (MATT) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit charitable organization that was founded in 2010 by Connie and Kevin Schoenl and named after their son, Matthew, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This volunteer organization focuses on supporting parents by creating a local network of people that truly understand the unique nature of having children with ASD and to use this network to help each other at every stage of our children’s lives. MATT’s Mission is to make it easier for families to locate, obtain, and use the community resources available to their special needs children in the Rochester, New York area so that these children will be able to live happy, healthy, and productive lives. We hope that spreading the word of this wonderful organization will promote connectivity between families in Rochester and assure them that they are not alone. We are so fortunate to do the work we do and come into contact with organizations such as MATT. Happy Thanksgiving to all our families!
Matt Website: http://managingautism.org/