ASD Teachers

Our office has been very busy lately with both phone calls and people coming in regarding the Autism Fundraising Walk on Saturday, April 20, 2013.  With over 230 people registered already, including teams from all the schools and many new faces, we are confident that the Walk will raise much needed funds to support the two Autism Summer Camps the HHH currently offers. There is still time to register for or donate to the Walk so please call us at 507-433-4243 or visit our website for more information. 

The Autism programming has grown and succeeded for the past few years because of passionate and 

specially educated professionals who have spent many hours planning curriculum, designing 

schedules, and organizing outings.  Erin Dilley, Ellis Middle School Autism Resource Specialist and 

All Access Communtiy Explorations Co-Director writes of her experience, “I really have enjoyed my 

13 years working with students on the autism spectrum in the school system. I have seen over the past 

few years working with ASD programming at the HHH that students are being taught valuable skills at 

school, and our ASD programming gives them a no pressure, dynamic, fun environment in which to 

begin to generalize those skills.  There is no other way I would rather be spending my summers.”

Another key staff person in our Programming is Karianne Bachmeier, a Special Education Teacher at Southgate Elementary.  She writes, “I am committed to working with individuals with autism because they are not only brave and honest people, but they can be such an asset to Austin. Their unique talents and perspectives always make me see life in another way, and they deserve to have the chance to be themselves, stretch their boundaries, and find a place in our community in a caring and supportive environment.”

In the late 1890’s, the city of Toledo, Ohio, had a dedicated and caring teacher much like Erin and Karianne.  Miss Helen “Nellie” Ann Hormel, George A.’s youngest sister taught there for five years.  Although she died at age 25 of Tuberculosis, she was described in her November 8, 1899 Austin Daily Herald obituary as having an ”indefatigable ambition to please and to extol [her students] making her greatly esteemed in her chosen profession.”  Teaching is a true gift and we are fortunate to have so many dedicated people working with us.  Nellie sounds like she would have been a fine addition to our staff as well.