MADAWASKA, Maine — More than 200 Madawaska Elementary School students took part in a Light It Up event, Friday, March 31, to raise awareness for autism.
Judy Bouchard, founder of the Heather and Liam Connection, organized the event. “Everyone has been so supportive,” Bouchard said Friday. “It’s been amazing.”
Heather and Liam Foundation founder Judy Bouchard talks with students during a Light It Up autism awareness event at the Madawaska Elementary School, Friday, March 31.
(Don Eno)
Light It Up included a brief discussion about autism awareness and the school’s Club Friend program, which encourages students to make and support friends and helps foster tolerance.
“The Madawaska school department has been very supportive of the Heather and Liam Connection,” Bouchard told those assembled in the school’s gymnasium. In fact, MES offers The Connection the use of a classroom for its programs and meetings.
Bouchard presented elementary school principal Lise Pelletier a scarf as a thank-you gift. The students each received a blue glow stick prior to the assembly. After the presentations all the students and teachers paraded around the gymnasium, with the lights dimmed and songs playing.
Bouchard said she chose the songs, including Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got Friend In Me”, to help foster kindness, tolerance, acceptance and friendship among the students.
The Heather and Liam Connection also presented the school with a new “Buddy Bench,” Friday, which workers will install outside later in the spring.
April is both Autism Awareness and Distracted Driving Awareness month. Bouchard started the Connection as a memorial project to honor the memory of her daughter Heather Dawn Bouchard, who tragically lost her life while being a distracted driver. Heather had worked with children with autism and other entangled learners, and Liam was one of the people she worked with until her death in 2008 at age 24.
