Lower Merion’s Saint Joseph’s University is the first school in Division I NCAA to add an autism break room at its basketball games, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for the Mainline Media News.

Saint Joseph’s unveiled its new space for families with a member with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a recent women’s basketball game against Villanova. The aim is to make attending basketball games a positive and inclusive experience for all families.

The school had previously had programs for families, but the new Autism Break Room represents a good next step, said Joseph McCleery, executive director of academic programs at the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support at St. Joseph’s.

“It only makes sense from my perspective because we have so many community members who are interested whether they are St. Joseph alumni or whether they are people who have used our services who feel comfortable at our university,” he said.

The Kinney Center serves between 800 and 900 families annually and trains around 120 to 160 students each year in how to serve those families.

Read more about Saint Joseph’s University at the Mainline Media News by clicking here.

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