About Us

Inspired by Wings for Autism at Boston Logan International Airport, Autism Smiles is non-profit organization founded in 2019 by a group of Faculty and staff from the Department of Public Health and Community Service and the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. We partner with families through virtual and in-person sessions where we showcase and instruct the family and children on how to use the wonderful tools and goodies in our Autism Smile bags!

Our Mission

Autism Smile provides support to parents and caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) by providing resources and tools to familiarize and prepare them for dental settings.

What We Do

The in-person and telehealth-based framework (via zoom) will allow each child and their family to discuss what to expect at a dental appointment, review oral hygiene instructions, and review the free sensory tool kit items they received in the mail. The dental student volunteers will demonstrate the contents of the sensory toolkit via zoom sessions with faculty and the parent/caregiver of a child with ASD. This virtual program will allow the family to focus on their child’s oral health, provide ideas to incorporate their at-home care, and prepare for future appointments.

For families and guardians interested in joining Autism Smiles, please use the following link to access our interest form to register.

Registration Form

Forthcoming

Autism Smile App:

In collaboration with the Department of Computer Science at the undergraduate campus of Tufts University in Medford, MA and Code for Good, we are in the process of developing an educational and motivational app to provide additional resources for interested families and expanding the Autism Smiles experience virtually! 📲

Community and School Involvement

Participated at Tufts Community Day
Presented at Quincy High School to teach families and children with disabilities about oral health.
Volunteer Training Sessions
Guest Speakers
Volunteering Opportunities