The Autism and Movement Project, which was awarded a $5,000 IEA grant at the Mid-Winter meeting in January, offers movement therapy for autism and special needs children, in addition to any child needing to build a stronger speech, academic, behavioral, social and motor skills.

“Our program cognitively redirects or remaps the brain,” said Erica Matthews, owner and lead instructor of the AAMP Learning Center, Assumption. “It uses repetition of movement patterns and sequences to create pathways for information to travel.”

Matthews was present to receive the grant at the dinner highlighting the IEA Mid-Winter meeting in January.

She said the AAMP mission is to provide a music and movement program for all individuals so that they can be included in their community and have access to the arts.

“We want our kids to perform well and work on task. Mastering these skills can have a huge impact in all areas of learning.,” Matthews said. “We also want them to be the best they can be!”

AAMP currently serves more than 70 students from surrounding communities, including Oblong, Pana, Nokomis, Taylorville, Hillsboro, Assumption, Harvel, Litchfield, Zion and Forsyth. AAMP works with groups for ages 2-13, along with a junior high and a highschool/adult group.

“We are a not-for-profit that wants to help any child struggling with anything from dyslexia, O.D.D. ADHD, ADD to autism,” she said.

The AAMP website is www.aamplearningcenter.org. Matthews may be emailed for information at matthresaamp@gmail.com.