Empower Parents: Fostering Cross Cultural Networks between Families with Autism

Museo ICO, Madrid and Queens Museum, New York

Empower Parents: Fostering Cross Cultural Networks between Families with Autism is a collaborative project between the Queens Museum (New York) and Museo ICO in collaboration with hablarenarte: (Madrid), which received a grant after the award of the "Museums Connect" from the American Alliance of Museums.

The Queens Museum, Museo ICO and hablarenarte: are collaborating with the goal of using the initiative already witnessed in parents with children with autism in both countries to provide an arena that promotes and strengthens this advocacy. Given both museums’ track records in engaging participants with special needs and their demonstrated ability collaborating with other programs, organizations, and community members to develop even stronger programming for people with special needs, the decision for the two museums to collaborate through Museum Connect was a natural progression.

Both Spain and the United States are facing a growing need for advanced development of autism programming as well as a shift in the way autism is understood and treated. Recently, both countries have experienced a change in the definition of autism, and, along with that, changes in the amenities offered to families and people diagnosed with autism. With these changes, many parents in both Spain and the United States and, more specifically in Madrid and Queens, have shown the desire and will to take it upon themselves to advocate for their children. An increasing amount of research suggests that skills children with autism are learning in isolated programs in their schools or homes need to be brought into the community for proper generalization, and the Queens Museum and Museo ICO recognize that cultural institutions can provide a tier in a scaffold approach to generalization of educational and social skills.

By forming a bi-national network of parent advocates, the overall goal is to give parents the tools to effect institutionalized change in both countries.  As proposed, Empower will give parents the tools to effectively champion for stronger programming for the inclusion of their children’s learning styles in community programs. The program will provide a place to practice those skills at their respective cultural institution, while providing full access to this cultural network enabling parents to promote their child’s educational and social goals in the community.

Organises: Queens Museum, Museo ICO and hablarenarte:
With the help of: Museums Connect / American Alliance of Museums
With the colaboration of: Confederación Autismo España

Participation in Museums Connect is made possible by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the American Alliance of Museums.
emPOWER Parents is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the American Alliance of Museums. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author[s] and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of State.