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May 16, 2008 10:02 pm US/Eastern
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Local High School Student Helps Kids With Autism
SHALER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) ―
Every year, most local high school seniors have to do a senior project.
While many do it just for the grade, there are others who do it to make a difference.
One senior at Shaler Area High School, Michael Bartoldi, made his project about helping elementary school students who live with autism.
Marzolf Elementary School provides autistic students with a special sensory room and now with the money Bartoldi raised they also have a new machine that can help to calm the students as well.
"These rages might involve hitting, kicking, darting, self-injurious behaviors," said learning support teacher, Juila Igims.
Experts say the bubble column, lights, aroma therapy and controlling colors grab the attention of the students.
"You see them going from wild to calming down in front of it," says Bartoldi, "and it's just like you did a good thing."
Bartoldi says he raised the money by selling 1,000 raffle tickets over a period of several months to raise the $4,000 needed.
"We just went around to different curriculum nights around the district, sat in the back of St. Bonaventure Church, just sold them wherever we could," he said.
Now, Igims says she's going to start raising money once again in order to buy other equipment for her students.
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