Submitted by: Holly Henry, Director of Communications, Valley Forge Educational Services
Phylicia Wilkov, a seventh grader from Holland, PA, presented a new iPad to The Vanguard School in May. Ann Curran, Educational Technology Coordinator, and Tim Lanshe, Director of Education, accepted the gift on behalf of Valley Forge Educational Services’ Vanguard School program.
“I hope that you can use this iPad to help students with autism and other disabilities communicate and learn,” Wilkov said.
Wilkov, who has a younger brother with autism, started We Bake Smiles earlier this year to benefit individuals with autism and raise awareness. Through her organization, she raised money for the iPad by selling baked goods, t-shirts and wristbands, and soliciting donations.
“The iPad donated will be utilized by some of our occupational therapists to work with students during OT sessions,” said Ann Curran. “There are some great apps available to help improve fine motor and other skills.”
Founded in 1959, The Vanguard School is a Pennsylvania Approved Private School for Special Education licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education that serves students ages 4 through 21 with array of disabilities, including autism spectrum disorder, neurological impairments and social-emotional difficulties. To learn more about programs offered visit www.vanguardschool-pa.org. The Vanguard School is a program of Valley Forge Educational Services.
Valley Forge Educational Services (VFES) offers a wide variety of educational services focused on guiding young children, adolescents and post high school (18-21) learners to independence. VFES provides educational programs and offers clinical services through its programs at The Vanguard School, Vanguard Transition Center, The Luma Center™ for Development and Learning and Summer Matters™. Dedicated to improving specialized education, VFES offers innovative research and advanced practices through its own programs and outreach programs for professional development and parent education. www.vfes.net.
