Mission for Educating Children with Autism

Please help! To the despair of students and teachers, the floodwaters of Hurricane Ida severely damaged the PAAL School, which is located near US Route 322 in Downingtown, PA…an area that was tragically affected by the storm. On Wednesday, September 1, the first floor of the school building was underwater….destroying expensive computers, furniture, and gym machines…along with specialized equipment for students with autism. Most items are a total loss as insurance does not cover flood damage. The cost of cleanup alone is devastating….though parents, students, and staff are pitching in all they can to help. Total damages are expected to be more than $100,000…an amount that is a fortune for this small school.

The attached video shows Liz, one student at PAAL who is currently at a loss without her school program. Like the other children and young adults with autism at PAAL, she depends on the program to learn the skills she needs to navigate her daily life. Without PAAL, they all are left with no place to learn and grow. At this time, we simply don’t know when we can reopen.

The PAAL School is such a very special place…where love and compassion combine with excellent training to make a home-away-from-home for kids with autism. Although the program has received many honors, our highest achievement is changing the lives of students for the better. You can be sure that any money raised by this GoFundMe will be used to bring the PAAL Program back to life. You can help the PAAL School make a comeback by donating today to Mission for Educating Children With Autism (MECA Of Pa), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.