Meredith's autism program plans special events this month

It's National Autism Awareness Month. And Meredith College's autism program is hosting a couple of events in April to raise awareness about autism and its program and money for a covered sandbox on its playground.

The first event is a family fun day at Monkey Joe's, 1747 Walnut St., in Cary. From 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. April 12, kids of all abilities ages 12 and under can bounce, slide and jump. The cost is $8.99 for kids 3 to 12 and $5 for children under 3. Parents are free. All proceeds will benefit Meredith's autism program.

The program also will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to noon April 16 in the Ledford Building on the Meredith College campus, 3800 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh. Faculty and student volunteers will provided guided tours of the Meredith Autism Program and share information about how the program uses Applied Behavioral Analysis and Discrete Trial Teaching to manage autism.

Both events are open to the public.

The Meredith Autism Program serves children with autism, ages 2 to 6, who receive about 35 hours a week of year-round, one-on-one intervention as part of a comprehensive treatment program. I'm told the program has openings now for children under the age of 42 months with a diagnosis of autism and who live within 25 miles of Meredith.