Menu





The Gottschall Autism Center, Inc.
 
2 Brandt Island Road
PO Box 979
Mattapoisett, MA 02739

For information call:
 
Pam Ferro, RN
President
508-941-4791
 
Cheryl Gaudino
Executive Director
774-282-0293

 

 
 



Elaine Gottschall
August 18, 1921 - September 5, 2005

The Gottschall Autism Center
Early Treatment & Adult Employment


 

The Gottschall Autism Center Appoints New Executive Director

December 12, 2009--The Gottschall Autism Center welcomes Cheryl Gaudino of North Attleboro as its new Executive Director.

Ms. Gaudino brings to the Center an extensive knowledge of autism along with strong executive experience.  A Founding Board Member of the Center, Cheryl served as Treasurer until her appointment.

Active in the autism and disability advocacy field, Cheryl has served on several Boards including Advocates For Autism of Massachusetts and Massachusetts Families Organizing For Change.  As the parent of a child with autism, she has also co-chaired a parent support group for the last six years.

Previously, Cheryl spent 25 years in business management and accounting.  She holds a degree in Accounting from Bryant University in Smithfield, RI.

“I am excited to help the Gottschall Autism Center expand its reach into the autism community,” said Gaudino.  “With 1 in every 91 U.S. children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we simply don’t have the luxury of waiting until we have a brick and mortar center before providing services and support.  In October, we held a biomedical conference featuring Dr. Martha Herbert, Pediatric Neurologist at Mass. General Hospital, and Pam Ferro, RN ASN, co-founder of Hopewell Associates, Inc.  This spring, we are kicking off our Adult Program where we will provide job training and the necessary supports for adults with autism to work on organic farms within their communities.”

The Gottschall Autism Center is committed to becoming a national model of how to treat, nurture, and enrich the lives of individuals with autism by providing an individualized biomedical, nutritional, and parent educational program.  In addition, the Center is dedicated to providing tailored supports to adults with autism by offering employment training, job opportunities and campus living in an organic farm setting.

The Center is currently seeking a land donation in southeastern Massachusetts as well as corporate sponsors.  For more information, please contact Cheryl at 774-282-0293 or Gaudino@GottschallCenter.com.

 


Click here for a press release and photos from our October 2nd conference!

Conference Books and DVDs are now available!
Click here to order.

 


Click here for conference details

The Gottschall Autism Center presents

When the Belly is the Beast
How Intestinal Health Impacts Brain and Behavior

Featuring Dr. Martha Herbert and Pamela Ferro, RN

Conference Books and DVDs are now available!
Click here to order.


 

Made possible by a grant from
Ronald McDonald House Charities

 





Click here to view the
Gottschall Autism Center Video

(Quicktime required.  This file may take a few minutes to download)

 

A Message from the President
Pam Ferro, RN ASN

About a year ago, many wonderful people responded to my request to come together to plan a complete, active treatment center for children and meaningful work opportunities for adults with Autism.

The resources that already exist in the community are a good start but stop somewhat short of offering specialized health treatments to support the metabolic recovery of children with Autism.  As the population of those with autism ages, adults with ASD will need to enter the work or higher education world in an individualized, productive, meaningful way using their skills, interests, and strengths.

As the video above powerfully illustrates, the world constantly demands that people with Autism adapt to it, with all its noise, pollution, over-stimulation, and fast pace. This can be a challenge for anyone but is especially difficult for people with sensory issues, social differences, or serious dietary and metabolic needs. The Gottschall Autism Center will meet people with Autism where they ARE and work from there to heal, help, and teach.

The Center will be an active campus; one that invites and welcomes community involvement. The goal is NOT to develop an isolated village, but rather to cultivate a ‘community within the community’ specifically designed to meet the needs of the people with Autism.

Families, friends, professionals, and neighbors are all part of the planning and will be the people who support the Gottschall Autism Center and its participants as they learn and work in an appropriate environment designed and run by people with Autism and by people who understand Autism.

Three of the main areas of focus for the Adult Program will be:

*    Organic farming

*    Business and operations employment

*    College and employment preparedness

Organic vegetables and fruits are specifically indicated for people with metabolic and toxicity problems, so they provide the appropriate foods for these adults and children.  Farming in a pesticide free and chemical-fertilizer free environment will provide an excellent work opportunity for those who would enjoy this type of activity. This will also be an excellent tie to the surrounding community.  In addition to farming, we will offer employment opportunities in the areas of sales and marketing (both on the internet and at the farmstand), general office work, and maintenance of the Center.

We will partner with the Autism Higher Education Foundation in creating access to higher educational opportunities in the field of Agriculture and Farming Science.  Our Board Member, Attorney Vanda Marie Khadem, is currently working on this endeavor which is showing tremendous promise and generating great interest in the higher education community.

Our Children’s Program will be guided by an advisory council comprised of national and regional experts in various specialties appropriate to the active treatment of autism.  Families of newly diagnosed children will be educated about their child’s diagnosis, including the health and developmental implications of Autism.  We will support families so that they can reclaim their optimism for their child’s future.

The four main areas of focus of the Children’s Program are:

*    Health

*    Diet

*    Financial and legal services

*    Family relationships

We will teach the correlation between an individual’s health, behavior, and cognitive abilities.  Most children with autism are sick with gastrointestinal and metabolic problems that may be unrecognized and therefore untreated.  We will customize nutritional plans so that families can successfully implement a healthful diet.

Having a child with autism creates intense responsibilities for parents.  Identifying every available resource, program, funding source, and advocacy avenue are monumental and time-consuming projects. Financial planning and advocacy needs to start early and persist throughout not only the parents’ lives, but for the entirety of the child’s life.

Having a child with Autism also presents many unique challenges which can stress a family or marriage to the breaking point. Families need support and direction around these issues; first to make life tolerable—then to make it joyous again.

The Gottschall Autism Center is committed to becoming a national model of how to treat, nurture, and enrich the lives of individuals with Autism.  We will continue to explore pathways that increase services and educational opportunities such as:

*    Campus living for adults

*    Outpatient clinics for children and adults

*    Conference and special events center

As we continue to chart the exciting future that is in front of the Gottschall Autism Center, many other needs and opportunities will undoubtedly present themselves. The people who are shepherding the development of the Center are the members of the Board of Directors.  Please click here to meet this passionate, hard-working, united team.

I would like to thank Elaine’s daughters:  Judge Joan Gottschall of Chicago and Judy Herod of Toronto for allowing us to use the Gottschall name.  It clearly signifies optimism and good health which is completely consistent with our philosophy and mission.

With your help, The Gottschall Autism Center will be the fruition of the late Elaine Gottschall’s research, kindness, insight, and friendship.  Please consider making a tax-deductible donation or visiting our online store

Thank you,

Pam Ferro, RN ASN
President

   
Join Our Mailing List
Email:
For Email Marketing you can trust

 
 

home | about us | donations | e-mail us

The Gottschall Autism Center, Inc. is an non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
© The Gottschall Autism Center, Inc., all rights reserved.  Web development by Wendy's Web, LLC.

 



Official Sponsor


Featured Items

Updated 11th Edition of "Breaking the Vicious Cycle"
Click here to order!




Cooking for Celiacs
Click here to order!




Make a Tax-Deductible Donation Today!