On Friday, Senator Kerry joined Michael and Kitty Dukakis, Lt. Gov. Tim Murray, MA state Rep. James Eldridge and L. Vincent Strully, CEO and founder of the New England Center for Children, to help dedicate the Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center for the NECC students. The NECC, with facilities in Southborough, MA and Abu Dhabi, UAE, focuses on the educational needs of children with autism and related disorders.

From their website:

We are a private, nonprofit autism education center dedicated to bringing out human potential and creating productive lives for children with autism. Since 1975, we have remained true to our original mission: providing state-of-the-art autism education and individualized treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and Asperger's Syndrome.

The NECC website also describes Gov. Dukakis' long history of advocacy for disabled children, and his contribution to the Center.

Governor Dukakis’ leadership as Co-chair of the Capital Campaign for the Aquatic Center is testimony to his unwavering support and belief in the mission of The New England Center for Children. When NECC was founded nearly 33 years ago, Michael Dukakis was serving as the newly elected Governor. He believed that children with disabilities should not be confined in institutions, but should live in communities. His administration was instrumental during the mid 1980s in assisting NECC during the implementation of its community-based model of education for children with autism.

Now, I don't know much about autism, although I have learned a bit visiting the NECC site. But as a parent, I do know a something about kids, and from the news account and video describing the event, the reaction of the children as they swam and played in their newly dedicated pool was pretty much the same as that of children without disabilities. If the goal was to provide "opportunities for learning, self-esteem activities and therapy.", as Mr. Strully was quoted at the groundbreaking of the facility last April, it looks like the new pool has hit its mark. Sounds like they're having fun, too, just like any other group of kids would, and for a parent, there's nothing like seeing your kids having fun.

At the New England Center for Children (NECC) yesterday, a handful of students leaped, paddled and splashed in the center's new pool, oblivious to the who's who of Massachusetts politicians watching through the large glass windows.

NECC, a residential and day-school center for children with autism, held a ceremony yesterday morning to dedicate the "Michael S. Dukakis Aquatic Center," named for the former governor who co-chaired the aquatic center's capital campaign and serves on the school's board of directors.

Before the ceremony, Dukakis and his wife, Kitty, lingered in the aquatic center to watch the swim lessons. U.S. Sen. John Kerry, Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Murray and state Rep. James Eldridge toured the $5.5 million facility as well.

"It was touching to see the expressions on their faces," said Kerry. "It's wonderful to see how the pool opens their character, confidence and identity."

Congratulations to the NECC and the Gov. on the dedication and the new facility, and especially to the kids and their parents. There is a donation page at the NECC website.