Kids & Family
Bridging the Autism Gap with a Thanksgiving Lunch
Autistic students at Mokena 159 schools enjoyed a creative Thanksgiving lunch with peers outside of their program, helping all involved to better understand each other and share some common ground.
Bridget Ventura feels very comfortable in a program for autistic children at Mokena Intermediate School, which is in turn a comfort for her mother Marie.
“The program has allowed her to interact with other students and in other situations,” said Marie Ventura, while sitting with her 10-year-old daughter for a Thanksgiving lunch at the school. “She has been able to get an idea of appropriate behaviors in different settings, and experience music and art.”
The Venturas were among several students and family members, as well as faculty and staff from Mokena School District 159 and the Lincoln-Way Area Special Education District 843, who came to the Structured Teaching Education Program Thanksgiving Feast at Mokena Intermediate School on Friday. STEP is offered at both Mokena Elementary and Mokena Intermediate schools.
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This was the fourth year for the feast, and the second year that students from outside of the STEP program were invited. The event invitation’s response was “huge,” according to Jessica Pascarella, the STEP teacher at Mokena Intermediate School. Ten STEP students enjoyed the event alongside 10 general education students from Mokena Intermediate School.
“These kids get to see that we all like the same stuff, like pizza and games,” said Pascarella. “They see they aren’t really all that different after all.”
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Attendees enjoyed a lunch that included pizza, mac n’ cheese, chips, vegetables and other snacks. They also worked on different arts and crafts, and played games with each other. The students helped put together the crafting projects, and also went shopping for groceries, favors and gifts.
“The earlier you expose kids who aren’t autistic to those that are, and vice versa, the more accepting everyone becomes,” Pascarella said.
The program seeks to find a comfort zone for each autistic student, which requires a wide range of stimuli and activities.
“There’s a saying that goes ‘if you know one autistic person, you know one autistic person,’” Pascarella said. “That’s why anything we can do to provide a comfortable atmosphere, we’ll try. It sometimes can be as simple as enjoying some pizza for lunch.”
Learn more about the LWASE 843’s STEP program by calling 815-806-4600.
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