Long Beach hospital’s mammoth ‘puzzle’ sends message of acceptance about autism
A gathering of 36 patients, caregivers and hospital staff all held large blue pieces overhead, while one patient hoisted a lone white piece. That piece represented the one child in 36 typically ide… Long Beach hospital's 'puzzle' event, hosted in honor of Autism Acceptance Day, featured a giant puzzle depicting statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum. The event was part of a larger effort to raise awareness about autism and encourage acceptance of neurodiverse people. The puzzle was created by Andi Matsumoto, a mother of one of the autistic children, and Dr. Ioana Pal, a clinical psychologist at the hospital. Patients, caregivers and hospital staff also participated in sensory activities. The Stramski Children's Developmental Center at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women's Hospital Long Beach displayed the puzzle.
Published : a month ago by gqlshare in Health
• None Andi Matsumoto and her son, Zac, 9, a developmental center patient, address the audience gathered at an event in recognition of Autism Acceptance Day, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. At right is Dr. Ioana Pal, a clinical psychologist at the hospital. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Patients, caregivers and hospital staff hold puzzle pieces representing statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Andi Matsumoto and her son, Zac, 9, a developmental center patient, address the audience gathered at an event in recognition of Autism Acceptance Day, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Patients, caregivers and hospital staff hold puzzle pieces representing statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Shawn Lee sits inside a firetruck holding a picture of his father and younger sister, who suffered from autism and past away at the age of 12, at an event in recognition of Autism Acceptance Day, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Patients, caregivers and hospital staff hold puzzle pieces representing statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Patients, caregivers and hospital staff hold puzzle pieces representing statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
• None Patients, caregivers and hospital staff hold puzzle pieces representing statistics that one of every 36 children in the United States is identified on the autism spectrum, on Tuesday, Apr. 2, 2024, at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Long Beach. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
The Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach sent a visual message about autism during an event on Tuesday, April 2, hosted in honor of Autism Acceptance Day.
A gathering of 36 patients, caregivers and hospital staff all held large blue pieces overhead, while one patient hoisted a lone white piece. That piece represented the one child in 36 typically identified on the autism spectrum in the U.S. population.
Patients and families also participated in sensory activities, including mixing hand-made slime and blowing waves of bubbles.
Doctors describe autism as a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction, and behavior. Autism Acceptance Month is marked in April to raise awareness for the increase in autism diagnoses and to help encourages acceptance of neurodiverse people, officials said.