The Henry Ford Undergoes Improvements to Help Children, Adults With Autism

The Henry Ford and the Autism Alliance of Michigan (AAOM) are partnering together to offer new services for children or adults with autism.

This partnership was created as an opportunity for families to enjoy time at a unique and widely recognized cultural destination that has put the necessary accommodations in place to support their loved ones.

“The Autism Alliance of Michigan is proud to be partnering with The Henry Ford to give families living with autism the same experiences as those enjoyed by others,” said Colleen Allen, president of AAOM. “The Michigan Autism Safety Training (MAST) program offered by AAOM is intended to create safe, welcoming environments for persons with autism within our community. We are very excited that The Henry Ford was able to launch this important program with us.”

Accommodations currently being put in place include a link to pre-visit information on The Henry Ford’s website that describes environments and sensorial experiences to families, provides varied dietary options, areas for noise reduction and other hospitality services. In addition, AAOM will provide supplemental support as well as training in basic aspects of autism for Henry Ford staff members.

To kick-off this partnership, The Henry Ford and AAOM will be hosting an event during "A Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine" in Greenfield Village. On April 28, families with autism are invited to attend and connect with other families, take a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, and enjoy the activities Greenfield Village has to offer.

Tickets to this event are on sale now. For more information including discounts, visit www.thehenryford.org.