19-04-2025
New autism life skills room at FSU Panama City mimics real-world apartment living
Florida State University Panama City's Early Childhood Autism Program (ECAP) clinic celebrated the grand opening of its new autism life skills room with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 17.
The space, designed to resemble a modern apartment, offers students a real-world environment to practice essential daily tasks such as cooking meals, using a dishwasher, using a washing machine and dryer, folding clothes and making a bed.
'This new furnished, mock apartment will allow us to teach a variety of living and learning, home-based skills,' Amy Pollick, associate dean of academic affairs and the development director for ECAP, said in a press release. 'Having this space will allow us to enhance the reach of our program to meet the needs of older children, teens and young adults.'
The project was made possible by a $100,000 donation from the Edward F. Hickey Jr. Memorial Trust, the press release stated. Hickey, a pioneer in the Panama City Beach business community beginning in the mid-20th century, died at age 94 in 2021.
The same trust has provided 'second chance' scholarships to FSU PC students from Panama City Beach and renovated the Fun Room at ECAP, in addition to supporting other local non-profits, including Backpack Blessings and the Bay County Public Library.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Families and staff applaud FSU PC's latest step toward independence for all students
