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CQL Collaborates with Pathfinders for Autism to Create Toolkit

Eating out could be a little easier for many families living with autism. CQL and the Maryland based Pathfinders for Autism teamed up to create a toolkit for Dining Out with Autism Awareness.

Grabbing a bite out to eat may be an activity that many families take for granted. But for many families with autism, the prospect of dining out instills fear. So much so, that many families avoid the situation all together. The judgmental glare from other patrons when a child is having a meltdown; the limited menu items for those on a restricted diet; the over stimulation from the noise and chaos. It might be easier just to stay home. But staying home can also foster feelings of isolation.

Dining out with Autism Awareness is a community-oriented restaurant offering families impacted by autism the chance to feel more comfortable and enjoy dining out with other families that understand their unique situation in a place that is accommodating to their needs.

The toolkit provides all of the information needed to coordinate an autism awareness night, including: sample press release and promotional flyer, tips for promoting the event, benefits to the restaurant, a definition of autism, tips for the restaurant staff, special diet items and tips, and a story about one particular Autism Awareness night.

“Events like this mean a lot to families with a loved one with autism,” says Dawn Koplos, Executive Director of Pathfinders for Autism. “Sometimes the seemingly simplest of tasks can be extremely challenging for families. They may opt not to try new places for fear of their child’s reaction to an unknown environment or the response from other patrons. So we’re grateful to the restaurants that are hosting these events. And from the Autism Awareness Nights we’ve seen, they have been win-win situations for everyone.”