Walk In My Shoes Program

What a great idea! This should become a nationwide movement!

Troop N received a donation of 20 sensory aid bags from the Collaborative Autism Movement. These bags will be distributed to each station within the Troop to assist individuals with a neurodivergent diagnosis.

Check out this new bill in New York! Championed by a teenager! It labels prepared foods with the top 7 allergens!
Anyone know if this is happening in other states?

ICYMI: Big news for food allergy safety in New York! A first-in-the-nation law will require Top 9 allergen disclosure on pre-packaged foods sold at delis, bakeries, ice cream parlors & food trucks. Grabbing a sandwich, salad, or cookie on-the-go will now come with the ingredient transparency forfood allergy families. Huge credit to teen advocate Jared Saiontz, Senator Pete Harckham, and NY Assemblymember Jen Lunsford for making this law happen. Read full report for details:
https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/11/13/ny-law-brings-allergen-labeling-to-deli-bakery-packaged-foods/

Elijah-Alavi Foundation Allergy Advocates NY Stacey Saiontz No Nut Traveler Georgina Cornago Governor Kathy Hochul Senator Pete Harckham Susan Kelly Jill Mindlin

It almost always happens this way—through word of mouth, from one parent, or educator to another. A huge thank you to the Lynbrook school counselor for recommending our program to Crestwood ES!

Welcome, Crestwood—we are looking forward to working with you!

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https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Mz5oUKr9s/

He just wanted to protect his son 🥺

After watching his autistic son Zachary Duncan get bullied online, Stuart Duncan decided to create a safer alternative instead of accepting the reality of toxic gaming spaces. He built a private Minecraft server called Autcraft, designed specifically to support autistic children in a calm and respectful environment.

The server is heavily moderated, focused on kindness, and structured to reduce stress and conflict. What began as a small personal solution has grown into a global community of more than 17,000 autistic children who finally have a place where they feel safe and understood.

We are thrilled to welcome Herndon ES to the Walk In My Shoes family!

Lake Anne ES ran their first WIMS event on December 10th, 2025. Their 3rd and 4th graders learned specific ways to include friends with ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Food Allergies, as well as those who communicate differently, have trouble deciphering when people are kidding or using sarcasm, and multiple language learners.

They put together an impressive team of parents and staff and created a fabulous program for their students. Congratulations, Lake Anne!

Happy New Year! May 2026 bring peace, love, and joy.

Thank you for your part in our journey to create more empathetic and inclusive schools!

This year we are especially grateful for funding from Social4Good as they enabled us to provide curriculum, training, technical assistance, and materials to Lynbrook, Centre Ridge, Lake Anne, and soon, Herndon and Crestwood, elementary schools!

Two doctors heroically saved the life of a UAE flight attendant who’d collapsed mid-flight with anaphylaxis. What our correspondent Lianne Mandelbaum notes was alarmingly NOT available to the docs: Epinephrine – the first-line medicine for allergic reactions.

In a new post, Lianne uses the case to probe the "why". Why are easy to use epinephrine devices are not yet required in airplane medical kits, though there are plenty of reactions? The airline industry has moved quickly to make naloxone available, which makes sense. But why the lag on epi auto-injectors and sprays for anaphylaxis, which is similarly life-threatening? See her compelling post: https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/12/09/mds-save-flight-attendant-in-anaphylaxis-but-where-was-the-epi/

No Nut Traveler Food Allergy Research & Education The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team, FAACT Allergy Force

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Lake Anne Elementary has joined the Walk In My Shoes (WIMS) family! Thanks to a generous grant from Social4Good, they are holding their first WIMS event program this week!

A dedicated team of staff, administrators, and parents will kick off their WIMS journey with six activities across two grades, with plans to expand to more grades and activities next year.

Welcome, Lake Anne! Get ready to teach inclusion skills that will last a lifetime!