Joliet Central teacher attends UN World Autism Awareness Day in NYC

Joliet Central High School AVAC teacher Megan Hechler attended the 2019 United Nations World Autism Awareness Day Observance on April 2 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

This year's theme was "Assistive Technologies, Active Participation."

While there, Hechler joined other advocates and experts to discuss leveraging the use of assistive technlogies for persons with autism as a tool in removing barriers to their full participation in society.

Hechler listened to leaders, autistic self-advocates, and board-certified behavior analysts discuss the importance of access to and implementation of different types of assistive technology to create a more inclusive environment for those on the spectrum.

They also discussed and debated methodologies, philosophies, and beliefs revolving around this topic.

Hechler is in her 12th year of teaching. In addition to teaching in the AVAC program at Joliet Central High School, she also dedicates her time as a Special Olympics Scheduler, a Registered Behavior Technician, and as a SkillCorps member and mentor for the Global Autism Project (GAP).

She traveled with the organization to Entebbe, Uganda in Africa last summer for two weeks to train staff and teachers at a partner site how to use Applied Behavioral Analysis with their students.

Hechler is currently enrolled and taking graduate courses at NIU to earn a certificate as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).