United Insurance unites to raise awareness of autism

    April is National Autism Awareness Month, and the staff of United Insurance’s several Maine and New Hampshire agencies recently engaged in a week-long effort to raise awareness of this developmental disorder.
    Over 150 employees and 15 offices joined together in the overall effort. From Madawaska to Rochester, N.H., each office wore blue, showing their support of autism awareness. 
    “Autism hits pretty close to home in our United Insurance family,” said Chief Operations Officer Scott Kent. “When our son Kason was first diagnosed with autism, we knew that there were many significant challenges facing us in the future.”
    Kent, along with many other parents, make it a priority to find the most intensive learning plan for their children. With that said, United Insurance felt it necessary to raise money for programs which specialize in educating children with autism. United Insurance raised over $2,600 collaboratively. The funds will be forwarded to The Reach School in southern Maine, where Kason attends.
    Kelly Beaudoin of the Davis Agency in Monmouth also reflected on her connection to autism.
    “Our son, Nathan, was first diagnosed with Tourette’s and then High Functioning Asperger’s Syndrome,” stated Beaudoin. “Learning that autism doesn’t discriminate and that this is happening to so many children makes this awareness effort by United Insurance so great. Knowing that there are resources available and peer support close by makes all the difference in the world to the families of autistic children.”
    Beaudoin went on to advise that autism is estimated to affect an average of one in 110 children.