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During National Autism Acceptance Month, ����ֱ�� State University will hold a film screening of “Loving Lampposts: Living Autistic” at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in the ����ֱ�� Student Center Kiva. “Loving Lampposts” is a documentary by Todd Drezner, a father of a now 13-year-old boy with autism, that explores the changing world of autism and learns the truth of the saying “if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person.” 

Heather House is a senior Honors College student graduating with a major in psychology with a concentration in child psychology and a minor in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Originally from Tallmadge, Ohio, Heather credits the Honors College for helping her find opportunities that related to her professional interests. The Honors College faculty and staff informed Heather about the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many disruptions and changes to people’s lives. The ����ֱ�� State University men’s basketball team has been affected, too, with schedule changes, games played in nearly empty arenas and extra safety protocols in place. However, one of the things that has not changed is the team’s steadfast commitment to autism awareness.

Fans of the ����ֱ�� State University Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.

Fans of the ����ֱ�� State University Golden Flashes looking to follow their favorite players on the court will have to look for their jersey numbers and not their names at a special men’s basketball game later this week. Players will be wearing student-designed uniforms with the space on the back that is usually designated for their names instead displaying the phrase “1 in 59” to promote autism awareness and education.

����ֱ�� State University is working with area autism-focused organizations as well as KultureCity®, a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessibility and inclusion for those with special needs, to create a sensory-friendly gameday experience that can be enjoyed by all. Fans attending ����ֱ�� State’s Dec. 21 mens basketball game versus Hampton University will feel an expression of the university’s ongoing commitment to its core values of kindness, mutual respect and inclusion.