June 2022

IPS NEWSLETTER

Pilot Program Pushed Back to the Fall

Earlier this month, IPS had to make the difficult decision to delay our pilot program until October due to difficulties in hiring staff. We apologize for the inconvenience but look forward to meeting interested students and their families at one of the two informational sessions we will host this summer. We will announce those dates later this month so please check our socials for more info.

IPS invites students to submit an application until August 15. A licensed occupational therapist will assess selected applicants in late August. Letters of acceptance will be mailed by early September. 

We welcome your questions and encourage students to apply! Thank you to those individuals who have already applied and reached out to us with questions. We look forward to welcoming interested students soon!

We thank the many people who supported our first fundraiser on April 25 to celebrate autism acceptance. During the entire month of April, IPS raised $5,000 through all of our fundraising activities!  

IPS also thanks the following companies and individuals for their silent auction donations and event sponsorship: Caboose Commons, Karins Florist, Sesan Spa, Vienna Vintner, the Washington Nationals as well as the Chernoff Family, the Hohmann Family and Mr. and Mrs. William Yake.

Welcome Curriculum Specialist Ariel Matz!

IPS’s most recent addition is Ariel Matz! Ariel has been a special education professional for 15 years and joined IPS to prepare the curriculum for the upcoming pilot program. Ariel will advise the teaching team on how to foster independence in differently-abled students by minimizing prompting and creating routines that build on their strengths. “I will be available to teachers to consult on any behaviors to create support systems within the classroom for teachers, students and families,” said Ariel, who will use the data, successes and challenges from the pilot program to inform curriculum choices for future programs. 

Through her background work in special education and behavioral training experience, Ariel hopes to help the teachers, students and communities involved with IPS to provide direct support for their success. Ariel envisions a bright future for IPS. “I really see a world where neurodiverse people can continue their talents and give their gifts to communities and find personable fulfillment in their chosen careers,” she said. “And working for IPS is a natural thing for me. It means that there are other people whose passion is similar to mine. We want to create a world where everyone has that possibility.”

Check out Ariel's bio on the IPS website here

Have you heard? IPS is a registered charity on AmazonSmile, which provides consumers a simple, automatic, and effective way to support us every time you shop, at no cost to you!

Check out the IPS Wishlist where you can buy items that will directly benefit our Pilot Program students! Thank you!