Dalton CRA Receives Autism Group Award
DALTON, Mass. — The Resources for People with Autism organization recently presented the Dalton Community Recreation Association (CRA) with a Community Partner Award.The award was given to recognize the CRA's excellence in providing opportunities for all individuals to participate wholly in their community.
The Dalton CRA operates a program created by Director of Youth Services, Dan McMahon, in which high school students are paired with special needs children in a "buddy" arrangement for such weekly activities as baseball, soccer, indoor games, and dances, among others. The program is one of several in the CRA's mission to provide social, educational, cultural and recreational activities in a safe, healthy and welcoming environment.
Autism occurs in as many as 1 in 110 individuals – more than 1.5 million people in the United States, with as many as 4,800 in western Massachusetts.