A $5,000 grant equips three autism classrooms at Millersville Elementary with sensory tools that many students had never had access to before.

The Education Foundation of Anne Arundel County Public Schools awarded a grant of $5,000 to support the regional autism program at Millersville Elementary School. This addressed the need for specialized sensory and learning materials across the school’s three autism classrooms, one primary and two intermediate.

Through the funding, Millersville Elementary School was able to equip its classrooms with a range of sensory-oriented materials and resources, many of which had never before been available to the program due to limited funding. These new tools help students regulate sensory needs, improve focus, and stay engaged throughout the school day, giving them better access to the curriculum and to learning activities that build both academic and personal skills.

The grant has strengthened the program’s ability to provide individualized support and has had a lasting, positive impact on both student learning and classroom functioning.

“This grant has been truly transformative for our students and classrooms. The funding allowed us to purchase sensory resources and specialized materials that our program had never been able to provide due to budget limitations. We have already seen students using these tools to better regulate their sensory needs, remain engaged in instruction, and participate more successfully in their learning environment. We are incredibly grateful for this investment in our students and the positive impact it will continue to have on their educational experience.” — Mrs. Rowel, Special Education Teacher, Autism Classroom