Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is awarded Moonshot Grant to become a Certified Autism Center

Washington, PA—The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum (PTM) is pleased to announce it has been selected to receive Remake Learning’s innovative and competitive Moonshot Grant in the amount of $31,200.00.  This grant was awarded to PTM to provide the funds needed to become a Certified Autism Center (CAC).

The Moonshot Grant is awarded to institutions who demonstrate a unique and preferred future of learning that differs from what is presently available or taught.  There are currently only four (4) museums in Pennsylvania that are CAC, none of which are in Southwestern PA.  “PTM will use this grant to create a fully inclusive, adaptable, safe, and fun educational experience,” said Scott Becker, Executive Director and CEO.  “We will become the first museum in the greater Pittsburgh area to become an official CAC, and that will hopefully inspire and help other museums to pursue certification.”

In becoming a CAC, the Museum will train 80% of our volunteers and staff in the field of Autism while making our classroom in our new Welcome & Education Center an accommodating, flexible learning environment.  The classroom will have a cool-down space that will allow us to have Sensory Sensitive dates several times a year. This effort will be led by our Manager of STEAM and Education Programs, Jocelyn Farrell, and our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. 

Established in 1954, the Museum now has a collection of 52 trolley cars from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, along with New Orleans’ famous streetcar named Desire, the famous Terrible Trolley (which is being restored into its Pittsburgh Steelers scheme from the 1980s), six historic trolley structures, and countless images and artifacts. It provides guided tours and four-mile round trip scenic trolley rides on vintage trolley cars. Volunteers play a key role in providing the visitor experience.

The new 21,000 square-foot Welcome & Education Center at 1 Electric Way, Washington, PA is the Museum’s new front door.  In addition to the state-of-the-art classroom, the Center features interactive exhibits built by the Carnegie Science Center as well as a theater.

The Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is located a few miles from I-79 exit 41 Racetrack Road.  For more information call the Museum at 724-228-9256 or go to its website at www.patrolley.org.

 

About Moonshot Grants

Moonshot Grants from Remake Learning provide resources to help educators approach the future with boldness. Since 2021, Remake Learning has awarded Moonshot Grants to more than 20 projects, totaling more than $1.5 million of support. Support for Moonshot Grants is generously provided by The Grable Foundation and The Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

 

About Remake Learning

Remake Learning is a free, peer network for educators and innovators in the greater Pittsburgh region. Learn more at www.remakelearning.org. You can also find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/remakelearning. 

 

What Are We Already Doing? 

PTM recently received two Sensory Boards, fully designed and fabricated by local students from Trinity High School. Cally Fleming, a Technology Education teacher at Trinity Area School District, oversaw the project and delivered them to the museum in early November. Each board has a number of different interactive panels. These boards are mounted in the Ray Betler Classroom.

A sensory board is designed to create an active learning environment to provide a wide variety of tactile experiences, which can help children with autism encourage sensory development by allowing them to stimulate their senses at their own pace. Interacting with a sensory board has been proven to increase a student’s motivation and retention. It can also help students develop and improve logical thinking, observation, and memory skills. Additionally, these boards can also improve a student’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, develop communication and socialization skills, and promote creativity and imagination. Sensory boards can also help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation while in a safe and controlled environment.