Kiwanis Club Recruits Former Green Bay Packer to Help Children With Autism

For families who have a child with autism, there are really no easy days, but a recent breakthrough has found that the use of iPads equipped with special apps can provide a way to communicate with and teach children with the disorder.

Deemed the Governor's project for the Kiwanis Wisconsin and Upper Michigan District, the goal of the service organization for 2013 is to put at least 1,000 iPads in the hands of such children. The iPads are furnished with apps for learning language and math, for basic communication and even to promote calming behavior, according the Jerry McCormick with the Elm Grove Golden K Kiwanis Foundation.

This would equate to at least $500,000, so the Kiwanis have teamed up with former Green Packer William Henderson, who is also the owner of the Sweet Frog Frozen Yogurt franchise. He was on hand on Thursday afternoon to host the first of what he hoped to be many more presentations of iPads to autistic children and their families.

Jim Buskel with the Elm Grove Kiwanis added, "William Henderson has always been active and involved with the kids, and we're thrilled that what funds are raised locally will stay local to help the kids who need it here in our schools."

Students on hand on Thursday were from Brookfield Elementary, Eisenhower Middle School, Fairview South and Pilgrim Park Middle School.

"It means the world to me to be a part of a positive community, and to bring everyone together to help each other out," Henderson told Brookfield Patch. "This is such an amazing day because we are giving back to these kids who truly need it."

The club has set up a website for the Autism iPad project where you can donate to the cause, or apply for a grant if you have a child or student with autism.