“Spectrum of Kindness” Creates National Online Community, Connects People through Inspirational Stories of Living with Autism
March 30, 2016Annual Hospital for Special Care campaign seeks stories during Autism Awareness Month
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (March 30, 2016) – A mother sharing her son’s experience with having his own therapy dog, a father explaining the kindness and understanding of the staff at a restaurant when his child was having a tantrum, or a grandfather sharing his excitement over the kind act of a young boy who invited his autistic grandson to his first party. These are just a few of the stories shared through Hospital for Special Care’s (HFSC) Spectrum of Kindness Campaign.
Through Spectrum of Kindness, the public is invited to share stories of kindnessand inspire others by uploading stories, videos or photos – whether it’s an act of kindness in a potentially stressful public setting, a teacher that has gone that extra mile or a family that has been helped by an extraordinary caregiver.
“This campaign allows us to connect people nationally and create a community to gather and share positive, real-world accounts of the everyday hurdles and joys associated with autism,” said Lynn Ricci, president and CEO, Hospital for Special Care. “Our goal is for these stories to serve as a catalyst to inspire others to be more informed, tolerant and giving of themselves to help make it easier for those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).”
Ricci also added that the campaign has amassed several inspiring stories from around the country and has helped raised more than $53,000 for its ONE Campaign for The Autism Center at Hospital for Special Care. “This year, the campaign is a national effort focusing heavily on the use of social media. We’re optimistic that we’ll receive even more stories of inspiration and kindness. In the end, it helps shed positive light on ASD and creates more awareness.”
The Autism Center at HFSC is the nation’s first and only Patient Centered Specialty Practice for autism recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its responsiveness to patients and medical colleagues, cooperation and integration with other healthcare groups and dedication to continuous improvement. HFSC currently provides services to children from 91 of Connecticut’s 169 towns and just recently opened an in-patient unit for children with ASD. This in-patient unit is the first of its kind in Connecticut and only the 10th of its kind in the country.
Visit www.spectrumofkindness.org for more information and to share stories of inspiration and kindness.