Milo native Olivia Harrington has continued her work for the Autism Society of Iowa and in her hometown, with the RAISE campaign. RAISE stands for Respect, Accept, Include, Support, and Educate, and aims to help others better understand autism. Harrington recently donated a sensory awareness bag to the Milo Library, and tells KNIA News the bag is full of sensory stimulating items such as fidget toys and spinners, but also includes items for non-verbal children.

“Some children with autism have a hard time speaking what they want to say. So we made little cards and they say things like Ipad, stop, sit at desk, don’t interrupt, help, and other things like that. Just to help them tell other people what they need.”

Harrington was named by U.S. Cellular as one of their 16 “Future of Good Under 16” recipients on behalf of the Autism Society of Iowa in April of last year, coming with it a $10,000 donation to the charity.