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Lauren Penman

Lauren Penman

Co-Founder, Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park; retired educator and school administrator in Batavia, NY.

Jun 16, 2026

1:53
So starting from the beginning, what initiated the idea? What's the thrust of this idea?
2:00
Actually, I was having a conversation with an acquaintance as we were fundraising for the Humphrey Nature Center at Letcher State Park.
2:08
which now is contiguous to the Autism Nature Trail.
2:13
And I was telling her, just making conversation about a neighbor who said her grandson wouldn't come to see her from Albany unless she promised to take him to Letchworth.
2:25
And as I discussed this a little further, she said, my grandson is seven.
2:31
He has no language.
2:32
He's on the autism spectrum.

16 MINS LATER

18:05
So what are some of the concerns and as well as the celebration around this model being used elsewhere?

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