• About Us
• Advanced Philosophy of Care
• Mission, Values and Service
• Our Commitment to Safety
• Our History
• Senior Leadership Team
• Devereux Board of Trustees
• Annual Reports
• Devereux in the News
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
• Recognizing Our Employees
• Celebrating Our Devereux Families
• Sharing Messages of Hope

"My Visit with The Pope" a social story created by Devereux

For children with autism spectrum disorder, the vast amount of stimuli that will be present on the Parkway on the day of the Pope’s celebration of Mass, coupled with unfamiliar and non-routine circumstances, could present a very stressful and upsetting environment.  This realization could drive families to feel attendance at the Papal Mass might be too much for their child.  Devereux strives to support every opportunity for community inclusion of individuals with autism, and, as such, created a guide for families to help them participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, using the “social story” format.

Created by Carol Gray, a social story is a widely used intervention tool that uses text and photos to help individuals with autism prepare for the nuances of social situations as well as for large public events. In preparation for the Papal Visit and Mass to be held next month, Devereux is pleased to share “My Visit with The Pope—A Social Story” supporting families of individuals with autism in Philadelphia, and beyond, who wish to participate in the historic Papal Mass to occur this September.

There are multiple formats to help families prepare their children for travel by train and by foot.   These stories have also been shared with the World Meeting of Families and have been included in the “Papal Visit Playbook” that will be included online.  Devereux is honored to be included in the official guide to help Philadelphia area residents fully participate in the visit of Pope Francis.

Click below to download any version of the social story, “My Visit with The Pope.”

• Social Story (Train)
• Social story (Walking)
• Social story for other denominations and faiths (Train)
• Social story for other denominations and faiths (Walking)

		Devereux video: President and CEO Carl E. Clark II chats with three executive directors Watch our latest Fireside Chat, in which Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II connects with executive directors in our New England states – Nadyia Abbas, M.A., CAGS, LMHC, LADC-I (Massachusetts and Rhode Island); Dan Bailey, M.A. (Connecticut/The Glenholme School); and John Lopez, M.S., M.S.Ed. (New York) – to better understand how these centers: 1) foster an environment where everyone belongs, and 2) help families/caregivers feel like Devereux is an extension of their own families.
		Pride Month: Fostering a culture where LGBTQ+ youth, adults feel valued and supported Pride Month, celebrated in June, is a time to honor and uplift the voices of those within the LGBTQ+ community, promote inclusion and allyship, and recognize the challenges that remain for many LGBTQ+ youth and adults as they strive to live life as their authentic selves.
		Devereux video: Leaders share first jobs at Devereux and how ASCEND can propel your career Watch our latest Fireside Chat, in which Devereux President and CEO Carl E. Clark II introduces several leaders who share how they got their start at Devereux, what they are doing today, and how Devereux’s ASCEND Career Accelerator program can help anyone looking to advance their career.
		Celebrating Devereux’s Healthcare Heroes: Spotlight on Devereux Arizona Clinician Arnette Miller At Devereux, our employees are at the heart of everything we do – and are key to our success. Learn how Devereux Arizona Clinician Arnette Miller is serving and inspiring others every day.

More Stories