'Agricultural specialisterne': rural employment revolution for those with Autism

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Family Hope Foundation (FHP) is a Jenison, Michigan-based nonprofit that invests in children with special needs, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, through family support, engaging community experts, advocacy through collaboration, and financial assistance to provide access to therapies. FHP believes in collaborating with other community organisations and working together to build a stronger special needs community…

Celebration Cinema in Benton Township will add a new movie-going experience for customers starting Sept. 26.
Known as Sensory Showtimes, the theater will present current movies with modifications intended to provide a more comfortable and welcoming experience for audience members. The experience is designed for individuals and families with special needs, including autism.

“We’ve worked with Family Hope Foundation and several other terrific community organizations who have helped us recognize the need for this kind of presentation,” said Emily Loeks, a director of community affairs for Celebration Cinema. “We’re excited to be expanding the program and making it public.”

The volume of the presentation will be lower, auditorium lights will dim but remain on, movies will be shown in 2-D with open-captioning and begin at its expected show time with limited previews. Loeks said the environment will be more candid as cheering, calling out, or strolling around the theater is welcome.

Sensory Showtimes will be presented once a month at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays at select Celebration Cinema locations, including Benton Township, Grand Rapids and Portage.

This anticipated programming has been in development for a few years, Loeks said.

Celebration Cinema in Grand Rapids had joined with Family Hope Foundation, where the charity ran the program to make adjustments to the theatrical settings.

…said Lara Kitts, executive director from Family Hope Foundation. “Offering an emotionally safe way to have fun together means so much to our families.”

In spring, Loeks said, they decided to add it to other locations across the state. The move was a way of setting up a culture that makes it “OK to be yourself” in a movie theater.

“If your kid cheers, cries out or is more responsive than others, that is perfectly understood and fine here,” Loeks said. “I was watching the audience grow over the last few years and saw this was an unmet need. Parents were often in a situation where they had to do different activities with their children who had different needs. Now they can do something together as a family.”

Movies that will be shown in the morning once a month for Sensory Showtimes will be new releases and family friendly.

The schedule fluctuates as Sensory Showtimes will take place the Saturday after a new movie is released in order to keep the program current.

…“We aim to create space where people can connect with each other and experience great stories together,” Loeks said. “We hope that Sensory Showtimes opens the door for individuals and families with special needs to have that experience.”

Here is a link to photos of the Family Hope Foundation’s ‘Movie Day’ at Celebration Cinemas from five years ago: https://www.facebook.com/170479876301399/photos/?tab=album&album_id=193186980697355

(source: Celebration Cinema to host showtimes for those with special needs - The Herald Palladium : Local News)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

We all need a haven.
Some of us seek it in books. Others try exercise, bird-watching, Sudoku, ceramics.

And then there’s ?Puzzle Partners.?

I’m not referring to jigsaws, but rather a program where teens and young adults with mild social impairments can gather and not be judged too keenly for the simple fact they have Asperger’s Syndrome or high-functioning autism.

Part of me deplores the fact they need a special place to meet at all.

But then I remind myself that while we may all be equal in God’s eyes, we humans have a long way to go before we embrace people who have special needs with the same sort of hugs we give to those who are ostensibly normal.

Says Puzzle Partners member Mike Allen, a graduate of Kenowa Hills High School who enjoys computers, electricity and YouTube: ?This is pretty cool. To be with people who have some quirks like I do.?

Mike is one of more than a dozen young adults from Kent and surrounding counties who show up regularly at ?The Vault,? a youth center where the group convenes that’s owned by LaGrave Avenue Christian Reformed Church, and located on Sheldon Blvd. SE.

Puzzle Partners is a service of Hope Network that exists to provide opportunities for social growth and expression to those in need.

?I?m one of those people who likes making friends,? says Doug Halbeison, 25, who enjoys theater, works two jobs and is making his way through college.

Hannah Jo VanKoevering, 22, expresses it this way: ?Friendship and acceptance ? and the ability to let loose.?

And that they do, through animated conversation, and by taking part in everything The Vault has to offer ? a kitchen, sitting areas, and entertainment that includes television, billiards, Foosball, air hockey and more.

Something amazing occurs when you step into the room and spend time with members of Puzzle Partners. You quickly begin to notice not what makes them different, but beautifully human.

Hannah has her own line of jewelry, entitled ?Hannahtudes.? Tyler Riley works in retail, loves concerts, tattoos and piercings.

Ethan Robert Patterson volunteers at Guiding Light Mission, Habitat for Humanity and Noorthoek Academy, a school within Grand Rapids Community College designed for students with special needs.

Rebecca Flanagan, 21, is working on her GED, loves animals (especially horses), and calls herself ?an aspiring writer.?

Sarah Frisch, 24, is a graduate of Calvin College, and not at all embarrassed to share that ?The first time I knew I was different was during preschool, because all the other girls were playing with dolls, and I liked driving cars through pudding.?

If you see a little bit of yourself ? or of others you know ? in the above, then good. Your hug factor is growing.

?Puzzle Partners allows kids to take skills and go from being by themselves to being with others, and encouraging others,? says Mohan Krishnan, M.D., director of children’s services for Hope Network.

?Then, hopefully, that transfers to making friends and partnerships outside of Puzzle Partners, and that can lead to jobs, relationships, more opportunities.?

One of the biggest hurdles for those with Asperger’s is landing meaningful work. The problem often lies in a young adult’s inability to score well during job interviews. They may have the cognitive and physical abilities to perform, but fall short in social expression.

Puzzle Partners is designed to overcome that hurdle, one evening at a time, and usually under the watchful eye and generous heart of group facilitator Ann Mary Dykstra, a teacher ?for a bajillion years? who ?always had a heart for the kids who didn’t fit in well.?

Dykstra encourages each kid to use their voice, express their desires, showcase their gifts.

?People hear the word ?autism? and just assume certain behaviors,? she says.

?I was asked once, ?Could you tell me what a teenage girl with autism is like???

Dykstra laughs. ?Could you tell me what any teenage girl is like??
For Dykstra, ?I just enjoy each of these young adults personally, and when I’m with them, what I feel is that we don’t need to have them change to conform to society. I wish society could understand their gifts and challenges.

?Our goal is to help each person realize they’re so special beyond autism or Asperger’s.?

Dykstra’s dream is for Puzzle Partners to one day have a place of its own, so they’re not limited to two Thursday evenings a month. But that would take resources for which she and others are still searching.

In the meantime, they meet and celebrate their exquisite who-ness.
?We?re not lesser,? says Hannah Jo, ?just different.

?You know. Like bird-watchers.?

Here is a link to photos: https://www.facebook.com/Puzzle-Partners-814946108545201/photos

(source: Tom Rademacher: Haven for young people with Asperger’s reminds us quirks are good | MLive.com)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Judson Center Autism Connections is a Royal Oak, Michigan-based nonprofit that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of Michigan children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. The ‘Ride For Autism’ is an annual fundraiser for the non-profit which attracts many motorcycle riders…

…Looking to make a difference in our world, Sal Ferra is a gentle and somewhat quiet man, with a million dollar smile and a big heart. He is what some would call a modern day silent hero. In the spotlight doing what he was born to do, Ferra is president of the Ride for Autism (RFA.)
The 9th Annual RFA was a huge success earlier this month. Registration was $30 including an event shirt and event pin. The day would begin at 8 a.m. with registration and a pancake breakfast. At 10:30 a.m. riders would gather for the rider/bike blessing, and then the ride began.
Approximately 200 riders participated in the race, which had two starting locations…

The event included food, raffles and more. The band Remedy performed live and a ceremony honored individuals in attendance with Autism.

Helmets were required for the ride. Bikes of all shapes and sizes were welcomed.
“If you can put a smile on the face of someone with Autism for just one day, it’s totally overwhelming,” Ferra said.
The first RFA had 50 riders and raised over $8,000. Today the ride has upwards of 200 riders with plans to grow bigger and even better each year. In the past eight years the RFA has raised over $93,000 to benefit families through the Oakland Autism Connection Judson Center in Royal Oak and Macomb/ St. Claire Chapter of ASA.

“Little did we know back in 2005 that a small motorcycle ride would grow and keep growing to help so many children with Autism and their families,” according to www.rideforautism.com. “It all started with a couple guys from UAW Local 245 sitting around at break time wanting to do something to help a fellow co-worker.”

The RFA was born after Ferra and friend Pete Joseph wanted to help out a co-worker, Kevin Chrenenko, whose son Victor has Autism. The Ride For Autism raises donations to help with events, social activities and more for Autistic children and their families.

…The ability to communicate is often limited and deficiencies in social interaction and reasoning skills are also often present in individuals with Autism. April has been declared Autism Awareness month. The 10th Annual Ride for Autism is scheduled for August 2, 2014…

Here is a link to a video on Judson Center Autism Connections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd_kix0uVTg

(source: Commerce Man Leads 9th Annual Ride For Autism | August 21, 2013 | www.spinalcolumnonline.com | Spinal Column)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Build Up Michigan is a DeWitt, Michigan-based nonprofit that helps preschool age children ages 3 through 5, with developmental delays or a disability, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, receive additional educational support. Build Up conducts targeted public awareness through statewide media, grassroots efforts, a traveling statewide display board, and Internet marketing…

When Cooper Koenigsknecht was 2 years old, an occupational therapist assured his mother, Jennifer, that the boy with autism spectrum disorder would someday attend mainstream elementary school classes.
“Honestly, I didn’t believe her,” Jennifer Koenigsknecht said.
At the time, Cooper didn’t respond to or use language and lacked age-appropriate social and play skills. For example, he would merely collect his toys instead of play with them and would engage in repetitive, self-stimulatory behavior, such as spinning in circles.
Fast-forward nine years: Cooper is now part of the mainstream fifth-grade class at Fowler Middle School and has a well-rounded extracurricular schedule.
While Cooper still faces challenges — he exhibits what Koenigsknecht describes as ‘quirky’ behaviors that immediately identify him as having autism, and an aide works with him three hours a day in the classroom — his mother said he is far more functional than she ever thought possible.
“He’s come such a long way,” she said. “Today, if you were to talk to him, you wouldn’t know of the struggles he had.”

…Koenigsknecht is quick to trace Cooper’s development to therapy that began shortly after his diagnosis, first through Early On Michigan, a state Department of Education program that offers early intervention services to children up to age 3 with developmental delays, and then later through Build Up Michigan, which aims to prepare 3- to 5-year-olds for kindergarten.
The Koenigsknechts also arranged additional therapy for Cooper on their own.

Jennifer Koenigsknecht said she can reassure other parents whose children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder that plenty of resources are available.
Her advice to them: “Start therapy early and stick with it. Early intervention was definitely instrumental in getting Cooper to where he is today.”
However, parents shouldn’t necessarily expect immediate results, Koenigsknecht advises.
Cooper’s road to improvement began at his two-year well-child doctor’s visit in late 2006. Jennifer Koenigsknecht had worried for a couple of months that his behavior had regressed. But the doctor told her Cooper likely was merely letting his three older sisters do the talking, and also reassured Koenigsknecht that boys develop differently from girls.
But her husband, Scott, a school administrator who is now superintendent of the Ingham Intermediate School District, had experience with developmentally delayed children and was skeptical of the doctor’s advice.
The Koenigsknechts decided to contact Early On, which sent evaluators to their home to examine Cooper’s speech and behavior.
“There were a lot of red flags, and within 20 minutes they were referring me to have further testing for autism,” Jennifer Koenigsknecht said.
She admits she didn’t immediately take action. “There was a little bit of denial,” she said. “I didn’t want to believe anything was wrong with him.”
Although she is now a referral specialist for Early On, at the time she was working as marketing coordinator for an East Lansing engineering firm. In addition, autism spectrum disorder wasn’t as understood as it is now. “I didn’t even know what autism was back then,” Koenigsknecht said.
However, two months after the visit from Early On evaluators, Cooper began speech therapy. He was officially diagnosed with autism in May 2007, and began early childhood education through the Clinton County Regional Education Service Agency that summer.

…Cooper participated in various speech, occupational, behavioral and recreational therapy programs. His earliest breakthrough occurred at the Early Childhood Music Education program at Michigan State University’s Community Music School. Research has shown that music-based activities can help young children develop language skills.

…Cooper also responded well to hippotherapy offered at the Beekman Therapeutic Riding Center near East Lansing.
“Kids with autism often really connect with animals, and they used a horse to encourage him to use his words, telling his horse when to ‘go’ and when to ‘stop’ and to request different activities,” Koenigsknecht said.
Cooper’s incremental improvements led to a memorable breakthrough when he was 6. Whenever she came home, Jennifer would call his name and get no response — until one day he replied with ‘What?’
“It was a beautiful sound,” she said.
Cooper …has continued to develop and is now fully conversational…

Here is a link to a short public service announcement video on Build Up Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWUZDo4RBMA

(source: 'He’s come such a long way': Boy with autism makes great strides)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

To the south, ProMedica Children’s Hospital is a Toledo, Ohio-based non-profit that caters to the hospitalization needs of children and adolescents in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Promedica’s Autism Early Learning Program provides intensive behavioural services for children with autism from diagnosis to six years of age…

When a child has an autism spectrum disorder …it is common for parents to go into denial and assume the little signs and behaviors they are noticing will go away, said Cathy Cantor, a ProMedica physician who has personally been down this road.
Dr. Cantor and her husband, Zack Shaffer, started noticing their son, Zachary, was not hitting the same developmental milestones as his twin sister, Emily, when the children were about 18 months old. Emily was making leaps and bounds in speech, eye contact, and play, outpacing her brother, Dr. Cantor said.
All around them, however, family and friends assured them that all kids are different and Zachary would catch up.
“Whether they are being nice or just being politically correct they are gonna say ‘oh he’s just a boy — don’t worry about it or he’ll come around,’ so you know you kinda get that little false hope that it’s gonna be OK because everybody else is telling me he’s fine,” Mr. Shaffer said.
Even though she is a practicing pediatric and internal medicine physician,

Dr. Cantor said it’s different when it’s your own child. 'He’ll come around. Gosh it might just be a little delay, so I thought well maybe I’m just making too much of it," she said.

…ProMedica opened the Autism Early Learning Program nearly four years ago, which offers behavioral services for children up to six years. It was opened in part as a response to the increase in autism rates and because there was a gap in the Toledo community in providing services for children who are being diagnosed at an early age, around 2 years old, she said.
Three-year-old Zachary’s parents were referred to the ProMedica program about a year ago by his speech therapist.
"Once we had his full evaluation and the autism diagnosis came up I think we had this point one evening when I said what are we gonna do if he’s really autistic and my husband just said ‘then we make him the best little autistic boy he could be,’ " Dr. Cantor said.
There are about 25 children enrolled full time in the ProMedica early intervention program with Zachary, said Ms. Schlotterer. There are 13 behavioral therapists who work with the children in groups or one-on-one helping them develop the skills they are lacking when they come in the door.

The therapists use a program called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with the children, a technique that uses positive reinforcement and teaches them basic and complex skills — a technique that is backed by years of scientific research, she said.
When the center opened it was the first in the area to use ABA therapy for children and there is a waiting list for children to get into the program, she said. There are now other programs in Lucas County that have board-certified behavior analysts on staff which is a very important question for parents to ask when they are choosing an intervention program for their child, said Catina Harding, executive director of The Great Lakes Collaborative for Autism.
ABA programs are considered the gold standard in autism services, but many such programs in the area have a waiting list, Ms. Harding said.
Dr. Cantor said even though she is a ProMedica employee, she was not aware of the autism program before Zachary’s speech therapist recommended it.
“I could really see where parents would struggle with knowing who to contact. It requires a lot of time on the parents’ part for appointments and time off of work and all those things,” she said.
Zachary’s first year in this program has been ‘life changing’ for her family, Dr. Cantor said.

…“He probably had about 50 words that were kind of words when he started. There were probably only 15 or 20 that the average person would recognize as a word. During the first few weeks he came home all of the sudden, he was like ‘I love you mommy’ or ‘I love you daddy’ and it was like we never heard that before and after just a couple months,” she said.
Zachary’s father said a year ago he was nervous about taking him out to public places like ball games or the store because he would get frustrated easily. He would scream, run, bite, and throw tantrums, Mr. Shaffer said.
His behavior has improved so drastically that Mr. Shaffer, who is a stay-at-home father, now takes both kids out in public with no fear. “You can see that it’s starting to connect. He’s putting it together. You can just see it in his eyes that something’s going on,” Mr. Shaffer said.
In fact, Zachary has now surpassed his twin sister in some developmental skills, he said.
“It’s just mind boggling. It has given us hope that he can learn and be happy,” Dr. Cantor said.

…[Dr. Cantor] said in the case of her son, early intervention at the age of 2 has been crucial to his rapid improvement and development.
“If we would have waited until kindergarten or until someone saw an issue within the school district, we would have missed an opportunity and I know that early intervention is the key. I know that cost makes it very scary for parents because it’s like what if he’s not? What if it’s a wrong diagnosis, you know? I think it’s just worth it,” she said.

Here is a link to some photos of Mother’s Day at Promedica’s Autism Early Learning Center from a few years ago: https://www.facebook.com/ProMedicaToledoChildrensHospital/photos/?tab=album&album_id=456957944395429

(source: Tackling autism in children - The Blade)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was ProMedica Children’s Hospital, a Toledo, Ohio-based non-profit that caters to the hospitalization needs of children and adolescents in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Promedica’s Autism Early Learning Program provides intensive behavioural services for children with autism from diagnosis to six years of age.

Mercy Children’s Hospital is a Toledo, Ohio-based non-profit that is northwest Ohio’s resource for advanced pediatric care, research and education. Mercy Children’s Hospital has an intensive preschool for Autistic children…

…progress helps show that intensive early intervention is critical for those with autism, a developmental disability that can affect communication and behavior in varying degrees…

…The Mercy Children’s Hospital program is in its second 12-month session, which serves a dozen autistic preschoolers for 24 hours a week in Holland. The program started seven years ago with intensive preschool sessions lasting a month each before expanding in 2008.
Other programs for autistic children from birth to age 6 are held at the 1049 South McCord Rd. preschool. The program blends approaches to prepare autistic children for school, and employees also work with parents and visit homes to address problems that families encounter…

…Derek Romstadt, who is nearly 6 and has Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, finished Mercy’s yearlong program last summer. He is in kindergarten in the Northwood Local School District, said his mother, Amy Romstadt of Northwood.
“He’s doing wonderful,” Mrs. Romstadt said.
Before, Derek couldn’t handle being around a lot of people because of sounds, was obsessed with shapes, had limited speaking abilities, and wouldn’t play like other children. Although Derek continues to work on socializing, he is doing so well that his developmental doctor released him from regular visits, Mrs. Romstadt said.

…Locally, public schools also have preschool programs for developmentally disabled children, but typically they are not geared to autism and offer just 10 to 12 hours a week of instruction…

Toledo Public Schools has a full-day preschool program for autistic children, although they spend part of their day with other peers, Mrs. Weinberg said. Other local early intervention programs for autistic children include Capable Kids in Sylvania and the School for Autistically Impaired Learners in Toledo, she said.
ProMedica Health System is considering offering an early intervention program for autistic children. And it is collaborating with other community groups, including the local Autism Society and Great Lakes Center for Autism, to open an autism center at Toledo Children’s Hospital for families to connect with various services, said Catina Harding, executive director of the Great Lakes Center for Autism.
“Locally, what we hear from families is that services are really disjointed,” Ms. Harding said.
The Mercy Children’s Hospital program - which includes 1,500 hours of therapy - costs $30,000 per child, although $20,000 is covered by a state grant and other funding is available…

Here is a link to photos: https://www.facebook.com/147441898639903/photos/?tab=album&album_id=282453601805398

(source: Autism programs focus on early intervention - The Blade)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Judson Center Autism Connections is a Royal Oak, Michigan-based nonprofit that is dedicated to enhancing the lives of Michigan children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its services include: Applied Behaviour Analysis, Social Skill Groups, and Facilitated Playdates…

When …Teresa Summers, first learned her 16 month old son, Sam, had autism she was devastated.

He was completely non-verbal at the time of his diagnosis.

Despite the challenges, Teresa chose to embrace the diagnosis and commit to doing everything she could to help him.

…Teresa was willing to do whatever it took financially to make sure Sam got the right treatment, not matter what the cost…

After very intensive therapy and biomedical interventions including a special diet, Sam no longer had an autism diagnosis by school age.

He was enrolled in a regular classroom and never had to be in special education classes.

When she had him reevaluated by the same doctors who originally diagnosed him, they said his progress was unprecedented.

Teresa’s son, Sam, is now 9 and his triumph over autism is her inspiration.

Teresa has dedicated her life to helping other parents of children with autism find hope and help.

This is one reason why she began working at Judson Center’s Autism Connections program.

At Judson Center, Teresa was introduced to Ann Adams, who last year started raising funds through her fundraiser, Duffey Adams Run for Autism, so families like Teresa’s could afford treatment.

“Ann came up with the idea of creating a scholarship fund for families in need by hosting this fundraiser. Her passion and dedication to this cause touches my heart. She is truly aninspiration to me and to so many other families affected by autism,” said Teresa.

Teresa will be participating in the …Annual Duffey Adams Run for Autism…

All proceeds raised from this event will benefit Judson Center’s Autism Connections Scholarship Fund.

Teresa is forming a team …in hopes of spreading the same passion she has to many others.

Her goal is to raise $1,000.

“I have been fortunate enough to see the impact of our …fund this past year, through the families who were given an opportunity to pursue Judson Center’s services where they might not otherwise have been able to,” said Teresa.

Here is a link to a video on Judson Center Autism Connections: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ranO8xO1ro

(source: https://kristinerichmond.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/freep_jc_autism1.pdf)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

The Copper Country Autism Awareness Foundation (CCAA) is a Houghton County, Michigan-based nonprofit that was founded to do something to help people living with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The Foundation is devoted to promoting awareness of the issues and challenges faced by those affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders and seeks to provide support to all who are living with Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as the educators, medical professionals and volunteers who provide assistance to those in the area who are affected…

Families with children who might be on the autism spectrum will be welcomed at [CCAA’s] second annual Family Fun Day Saturday.

The free event, sponsored by Copper Country Elks Lodge No. 404, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Houghton Elementary School gymnasium.

Kathe Lanctot, a founder of the group, said the event is intended as a safe space for the families to come and have fun.

“So many times, it’s very hard for families to get out in public,” she said. “…Everybody’s in the same boat.”

Attractions will include games, facepainting, …a rock wall and light snacks. There will also be prizes…

Last year’s event was a success, Lanctot said.

“We saw a lot of smiles, and a lot of happy parents, grandparents and children,” she said.

…[Lanctot] wanted to create a place where people could get information, share their stories and to make more people aware of autism.

“When we came home, we wouldn’t hear anything about autism in the area, so we thought it might be beneficial to create some awareness of autism, and to also help the families that have children on the autism spectrum,” she said.

Here is a link to a set of presentation slides on Houghton Elementary School’s Autism Program: www.waterford.k12.mi.us/NorthstarMedia/download/96501?token

(source: Family Fun Day being held for autistic children - MiningGazette.com | News, Sports, Jobs - Houghton, Michigan - The Daily Mining Gazette)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

A new school program in the Eastern Upper Peninsula pairs traditional learners with their autistic classmates to provide educational opportunities for both. The LINKS program is used in Gros Cap School, Pickford Elementary School, St. Ignace Middle School, and Turner-Howson Elementary School in Rudyard.
This program helps both sets of students, said special education supervisor Rachel Byma of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (ISD), as traditional learners can learn to assist their peers and autistic students can acquire valuable new social skills through these interactions. Participation in the program is voluntary for all traditionally learning students, whose enrollment in the program is borne of a natural desire to help their peers.

General education students in elementary and middle school are given the opportunity to participate after being presented with information on autism and how it affects their classmates. Part of this initial presentation includes a conversation about their own strengths and weaknesses. Since students are honest about their own talents and limitations, said autism specialist Carrie Carr of the ISD, it serves as the perfect springboard to discuss how autistic classmates have similar individual strengths and weaknesses.

Those who sign on as links offer their assistance throughout the school day, in the core classes, recesses, gym, music, or art classes. Meetings are held every two weeks during lunch period, where the general education participants can share what they’ve observed with their ?link buddies? and discuss new ways to involve them in school activities. These meetings are productive, Mrs. Byma said, as students are very candid about what worked and what didn’t.

In one scenario, for example, a link student may comment that his friend only plays one game at lunch, such as Spider-Man or Batman. He’d then brainstorm with staff on how to involve that individual in other activities, Mrs. Carr said. A possible solution might be to give a game of soccer or baseball a Batman or Spider Man theme.
?Students are natural helpers. They are excited to see their friends with autism doing well,? Mrs. Byma said. ?They?re always coming up with ideas that help their classmates. These are approaches that we may not often think of, since the participants are viewing things from a child’s perspective. Adults interact very differently with kids than kids do with each other.?
This peer involvement was the missing link to seamlessly introduce many of the required social skills, Mrs. Carr said.
The program, in place since December, is already advancing the goal of preparing students to live independently, said social worker Angela Craven of the ISD. Essential skills such as coping with change and accepting the ideas of others are just some of what is learned.

?We teach that ?you can think it, but you shouldn’t always say it,?? Ms. Craven said, citing that those with autism can get in trouble by being too frank with their bosses or other authority figures.
Mrs. Carr said this is the most exciting educational program she’s been a part of. When the LINKS concept was first introduced to special education staff with the ISD as part of training provided by the Statewide Autism Resources and Training program, based at Grand Valley State University, Mrs. Carr knew that immediately that it would make an impact.
?We have had teams of talented adults who have been working hard to find ways to introduce these social skills,? she said. ?But who better to model appropriate social behavior than their peers??
Even some of the teachers? best efforts could not prepare students to in- teract with their specific peer group.
?We were teaching that the way to introduce yourself to new friends was with a handshake or a high five,? Mrs. Carr said. ?When they tried to practice in the hallways, other kids would wonder, ?who are you and why are you shaking my hand???
Youth now acknowledge each other with head nods or other informal gestures. Behaviors like these in a student’s social scene may change so fast that teachers may not be aware of it all, Mrs. Carr said. Having a friend to model behavior for them can make all the difference.
Students don’t need to learn anything profound to be a good link partner, she said. They need to be a friend first and have a genuine interest in their classmate’s well being.
?The earlier we create these links, the easier it’s going to be for autistic students as they progress through their school experience,? Mrs. Byma said. ?They see that their classmates are willing to help them and that they see them as just another student.?
The presentation was an eye-opening experience for Marshall and Rachel Bestemann of Rudyard, whose son Jared serves as a ?link? for an autistic classmate. As parents, they were worried about the effect an autistic student would have on the classroom’s learning environment if teachers had to stop lessons to address behavior concerns.
They understand now that all of the students in the class are moving forward naturally and there is tremendous benefit to all involved.
?Autism is something where you can’t just write it on a piece of paper and expect to understand it,? Mrs. Besteman said. ?Now I know what Jared is doing and am really proud of how he has helped his friends.?
Eighth grade student Kayla Shantz also wanted to talk about the program.
?Our classmates with autism aren’t any different than us,? she said. ?They just have a more difficult time with certain parts of school. Working with them and being their friend is fun, even though sometimes they don’t want to participate. It’s when they don’t want to and they have fun anyway, that it really feels rewarding.?
Taz Tasker agreed that the program benefits those who serve as links.
?I have a couple buddies I’m linked with,? he said. ?They call me Mr. Taz. I’ve helped them learn to write better, do math, and work together. They work together better now than when they first came in.?
There are currently 92 students in the intermediate school district with autism spectrum disorder, 31 of who are in the LINKS programs offered at various schools. Needs vary for students with autism, and some do not need to be in the program.
Between Rudyard Area Schools and students at the Rudyard Center, which enrolls special education students from seven school districts, 14 students with autism spectrum disorder participate in Rudyard’s LINKS program.

…The LINKS program at Turner- Howson Elementary School in Rudyard has received $1,000 from the Michigan Association of Administrators in Special Education (MAASE), who awarded it two $500 grants Wednesday, April 18.
The grant money will provide lunches during the student brainstorming sessions and fund two socialization activities, a field trip to Sault Ste. Marie for bowling Friday, May 11, and a second activity that has yet to be determined.
Carrie Carr and Angela Craven of the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District asked the association for $500 for the program. The program was awarded that money plus an additional $500 after the association reviewed 120 applications from throughout the state. The second award came as a surprise, Mrs. Byma said, as MAASE’s President Janis Weckstein and Executive Director Anthony Thaxton traveled to Rudyard to award it.

Here is a link to a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2ix_C5wnPU

(source: New Effort Links Students With Autistic Classmates, To Benefit Learning for Both | www.stignacenews.com | St. Ignace News)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Woodhaven Kiwanis Club is a Woodhaven, Michigan-based nonprofit that provides funds and services through service projects for at-risk children, schools, other community organizations, and the children of the world through Kiwanis International. Each April, Woodhaven Kiwanis Club holds their annual movie for children with Autism and their families at the Emagine Theater in Woodhaven…

…The Kiwanis Club of Woodhaven is sponsoring a special movie day event for children in the Downriver area who are impacted by the disorder.

The movie will be hosted at the Woodhaven Emagine Theater, 21720 Allen Road, at 10 a.m. April 9.

Kiwanian Jim Robbins said the tradition, which has been going on for six years, brings in over 150 autistic children and their parents each year. After the event, he said, the Kiwanis Club receives an “overwhelming positive response” from parents showing their appreciation for the special event.

Alma Gregory of Woodhaven said she took her 6-year-old son for the first time two years ago. She said that before then he wasn’t able to attend a movie with family or friends because he has issues with loud, sudden noises.

Gregory said she’s thankful for the group hosting the special event so he is able to adjust easier and enjoy the day with his family and friends.

Robbins said many children with autism become ‘overwhelmed’ in certain environments, so they specialize the movie so it is “child friendly, with lights on, sound low and the doors open.”

Children with autism, along with their parents, grandparents or guardians, are invited to attend at no charge. An adult must accompany all children…

Here is a link to a few photos from this year’s event from a few months ago: https://www.facebook.com/woodhavenkiwanis/posts/10154742180563294

(source: Children with autism invited to attend special movie day event in Woodhaven - thenewsherald.com)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

The Mid-Michigan Autism Association is a Lansing, Michigan-based nonprofit made up of local people working to improve the quality of life for individuals and families living with developmental disability in Mid-Michigan. Eight years ago, MMAA was started by a small group of parents and professionals who wanted to understand best treatment options and local resources for kids with Autism…

For these students, a hair cut is a challenge. The brushing, spraying, and clipping can be overwhelming.

That’s why Paul Doher’s students at Okemos Public Montessori at Central get hair cuts in class.
“It’s a way to kind of help the kids get used to tasks and skills that they may not have regular access to or may be difficult for them,” says teacher Paul Doher.
It’s the only classroom in the Okemos Public School District for kids kindergarten through fourth grade with autism.
Going to a barbershop with unfamiliar faces, bright lights, and loud music can be sensory overload for autistic students like 7 year old Austin…
“We’re trying to break it down make it a little bit easier for them and provide a familiar setting,” says Doher.
To make it through the trims, the kids take breaks, eat snacks, and rely on hugs from mom.
In December the first “haircut day” took about 2 hours. The second time around there were more smiles and less time spent.
“About 45 minutes to get a haircut in,” says Doher, “but, they are able to do it and succeed.”

…The progress is a reminder that just like any other 6 year old, the boys can grow and learn, they just do so differently.

…And in this classroom, there are no limits.
“Really autism is just a different style of learning,” says Doher.
Parents and teachers will tell you students are intelligent, loving and just like any kid, they’ll squirm during a haircut.
There’s a huge, supportive community in Mid-Michigan for families with kids who have autism. It’s called the Mid-Michigan Autism Association, and they have a lot of resources, provide support, and organize social events…

Here is a link to a set of presentation slides on ‘Michigan Autism Safety Training’, which the Mid-Michigan Autism Association helped to develop portions of the content: https://www.gvsu.edu/cms4/asset/903124DF-BD7F-3286-FE3330AA44F994DE/autism_awareness_presentation_-_autism_safety_training.pdf

(source: Teachers Helping Students With Autism with In-class Haircuts)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

Michigan State University has established the Institute for Research in Autism, Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (RAIND) to bring together a wide variety of multidisciplinary initiatives already being pursued by more than 90 researchers and numerous post-doctoral associates across campus – from education and human medicine, to the social sciences and clinical research. The institute also incorporates MSU ’s work as a founding partner in the DOCTRID (Daughters of Charity Research into Disability) Research Institute on Autism and intellectual disability, a coalition of 12 Irish universities, MSU, UMass Medical School, and the Daughters of Charity Service in Dublin, Ireland…

The role of virtual reality technology (VRT) represents a growing area of research within the field of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for over two decades. The term, VRT, remains fairly broad and includes:

• Virtual reality head-mounted displays (VR-HMD), (Strickland et al., 1996)
• Virtual environment simulations (VES), (Mitchell et al., 2007; Parsons et al., 2004; 2005)
• Collaborative virtual environments (VE) (Fabri et al., 2004)
• Immersive virtual environments (IVE) (Wallace et al., 2010) and
• Virtual worlds (VW) (Kandalaft et al., 2013; Newbutt, 2013; Stendal & Balandin, 2015).

All of these technologies involve 3D ‘immersive’ graphics, many involving avatars (representations of oneself), independent controls, and/or communication input/output.
As a result of these endeavors, efforts have been devoted to support the notion that VRTs might provide an effective and engaging space for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to become immersed and develop specific skills supporting their communication needs, community integration and employment-related skills training, such as job interview training (Smith et al., 2014; Smith et al., 2015; Strickland et al., 2013).

…Virtual reality technologies represent a simulation of real world training environments based on computer graphics. These can be useful as they allow instructors, therapists and service providers to offer a safe, repeatable and diversifiable environmental platform which can benefit the learning of individuals with ASD (i.e., Georgescu et al., 2014; Kandalaft et al., 2013; Newbutt, 2013; Parsons et al., 2004).
As a result of this immerging and developing research field we undertook a study with Michigan State University colleagues (College of Education, Office of Rehabilitation and Disability Studies), with the aim of understanding experiences using head mounted displays (HMDs) by people on the autism spectrum. This involved the use of a recently developed HMD VRT; namely Oculus Rift**, **with participants with autism in Michigan. A HMD is a headset worn as a pair of goggles within which a display is presented on two lenses; proving a 360-degree view of a virtually simulated environment.

…Due to the potential of VRTs within an academic context (from the late 1990s to date), we were keen to explore the role and potential future of head-mounted displays (HMDs) used by people on the autism spectrum.
However, and before we can start to better understand this, we felt it especially important to ask some basic, even fundamental, questions related to the use of this technology; especially from the perspectives of the users (in this case, the ASD population).
Therefore the study focused on two main questions:

1. Are HMDs and the presentation of a virtual environment acceptable to a person with ASD?
2. What psychological issues are experienced when using a VE in a HMD?

a. Sense of presence, immersion, ecological validity (feeling natural in the VE space), and negative effects
b. Anxiety

…We set equipment up in a vocational rehabilitation centre in Lansing, Michigan with a view to engage a group of people with ASD and explore their experiences of using the HMD.
The participants’ mean age was 32 with a range from 17-52. They all had a diagnosis of autism, and the mean IQ of the group was 83.6 with a range from 48-135.
We then worked in two phases to address our research questions:

…Through Phase I of the study we found that 100% of the participants were willing to wear the HMD and experience two of the virtual environments (VEs). A total of 95% were willing to view/experience all three. Through Phase II we found that self-reported anxiety levels were not increased after the HMD VE experience. In addition, we found that negative effects (feeling dizzy, sick, etc.) were low, with sense of presence, immersion and feeling natural in the space reported as high.
These results could be interesting as it appeared, from the group we worked with, that wearing the HMD proved to be not a barrier or issue for engaging with this technology, and while there were some comments from participants feeling a little dizzy, an overall positive picture immerged of the willingness to wear a HMD and engage with a VE therein.
In addition, the participants reported a high sense of presence and immersion; leading us to believe that the experiences from a HMD are potentially highly realistic, and could help the research field in seeking to generalise skills development in VEs to the real world…

Here is a link to a video on the initiative: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFuuI9m_oBs

(source: The potential of virtual reality technologies for autistic people | Network Autism)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of recent posts has mainly been on Autism-related events and organisations in the state of Michigan.

To the southeast, Step By Step Academy (SBSA) is a Worthington, Ohio-based nonprofit treatment centre, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using its Continuum of Care model, it offers a range of services, including those that provide the appropriate treatment and environment for children across the Autism Spectrum…

Step By Step …announced today its support of the passing and implementation of Michigan’s Autism Insurance Reform bill, which took effect late last month. The passing of this bill, which Step By Step provided testimony in support of, means countless families and individuals throughout Michigan are now eligible for coverage under their private insurance plans for costs associated with diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder; Medicaid will begin to cover autism treatment therapies and expenses in January 2013.
Michele LaMarche, BCBA, executive director and Morgan Aue-VanDenBerg, BCBA, clinic director at Step By Step, a native of Michigan and a graduate of the Western Michigan University’s Board Certified Behavior Analyst program, was asked by Michigan’s Lieutenant Governor earlier this year to provide testimony in support of the bill. The new legislation makes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), a highly-effective evidence based therapy used in early intervention programs, more affordable and feasible for families with children affected by [Autism Spectrum Disorders].
“I hope that my testimony, on behalf of Step By Step, helped bring access to those in Michigan who need treatment, and I hope this will lead to the passing of similar legislation in other states,” Aue-VanDenBerg said. “There is a huge need everywhere for autism funding, treatment and services. Because of this bill’s passing, we can now help families get the treatment they deserve for their child or loved one who is diagnosed with autism.”
Step By Step …has served the greater Columbus area for more than 10 years. Its staff of trained experts and behavioral therapists have provided intensive behavior intervention using ABA therapy to hundreds of students to deliver the best possible outcomes for individuals affected by autism and other developmental disabilities.
To serve the ever-growing need within the autism population, Step By Step will be expanding its operation to bring its best practices treatment model by opening an ABA treatment facility in Michigan in 2013.

…“With the passing of the new insurance reform bill in Michigan, thousands of individuals affected by autism, who to this point have been unable to secure coverage because of financial means, may now receive the treatment they need to enhance their quality of life,” said Step By Step’s executive director, Michele LaMarche, BCBA. “As a treatment center committed to delivering outcomes driven affordable care to all individuals with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] and other developmental disabilities, we are very excited to open a center in Michigan and provide accessible comprehensive treatment to individuals with [Autism Spectrum Disorders] in Michigan.”
Step By Step offers a range of services designed to diagnose the nature and extent of the [Autism Spectrum Disorder] and provide the appropriate treatment and environment across the spectrum for children, adolescents and young adults.
Step By Step currently serves children, teens and adults throughout the greater Columbus, Ohio, metro area…

Here is a link to a video on Step By Step Academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apRdlwJBSpY

(source: Step By Step)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of yesterday’s post was Step By Step Academy (SBSA), a Worthington, Ohio-based nonprofit treatment centre, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using its Continuum of Care model, it offers a range of services, including those that provide the appropriate treatment and environment for children across the Autism Spectrum.

United Way of Union County is a Marysville, Ohio-based non-profit whose mission to bring neighbors and resources together to improve lives in Union County, Ohio. It funds various organisations including Memorial Hospital of Union County’s Speech, Language, & Hearing Department…

Colin Merklin was diagnosed with autism when he was two and a half years old. Autism is a complex developmental disability that results in difficulties with verbal and non-verbal communication and social interactions. Colin couldn’t talk…

After nearly a year and a half of weekly therapy sessions, Colin has made incredible strides. Now six years old, Colin speaks in short sentences, can distinguish, and make choices.

“He’s really come a long way,” says Leah Miller, Colin’s speech therapist. “He’s learning his biographical information and breaking the habits that he has. He’s learning to be more flexible.”

But [Mary Beth, his mother] says her son would not likely be able to attend therapy on a weekly basis without help from the United Way of Union County, which annually funds the Speech Language & Hearing Department for clients whose insurance does not cover the cost of treatment…

“I never thought United Way would be a part of our lives,” Merklin said. “I had the idea that United Way was for people in lesser economic situations, in the inner-city, something like that. But I think very few working families could afford the costs that are involved with these therapies, and I am thankful every week when we come here because if United Way weren’t here, we might only be able to come once a month. That wouldn’t result in the progress we’re seeing now.”

The Merklins believe that Colin has the potential to live independently as an adult because of the work being done now. They also actively participate in the Union County Autism Support Group, which meets the third Tuesday of every month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m… It is open to anyone with a connection to autism.

Here is a link to a video on the organisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz_YF2nDjWI

(source: United Way of Union County (Ohio), Inc.: Contributor Newsletter)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was Step By Step Academy (SBSA), a Worthington, Ohio-based nonprofit treatment centre, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using its Continuum of Care model, it offers a range of services, including those that provide the appropriate treatment and environment for children across the Autism Spectrum…
Here is a link to a video on Step By Step Academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apRdlwJBSpY

(source: Step By Step)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was Step By Step Academy (SBSA), a Worthington, Ohio-based nonprofit treatment centre, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using its Continuum of Care model, it offers a range of services, including those that provide the appropriate treatment and environment for children across the Autism Spectrum.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Nisonger Center, based in Columbus, Ohio, has a mission to work with communities to value and support the meaningful participation of people with disabilities of all ages through education, service and research. The Nisonger Center provides Early Childhood Education for children ages 1-6, early intervention and preschool programs serve up to 64 children with developmental delays, including Autism Spectrum Disorders…

Shakespeare’s The Tempest isn’t the most realistic play…

But the fantastic tale and exaggerated emotions, some people think, can help children with autism in everyday life.

Using excerpts from the play, volunteers from the Ohio State University Theater Department are working with Columbus schoolchildren with autism to improve their eye contact, recognition and expression of emotion as well as other social skills that can be difficult for those with the disorder.

The students’ progress over 42 weeks is the subject of a study at OSU’s Nisonger Center, the first research facility to look at the “Hunter Heartbeat Method” developed by British actress Kelly Hunter.

Hunter, who initially formed relationships with Ohio State through the Royal Shakespeare Company, had no experience with autism when she began teaching Shakespeare at a special-needs school in 2002.

Through trial and error, she found that autistic children seem to benefit from reciting lines in Shakespeare’s iambic pentameter rhythm (hence the “heartbeat”) and from using their imaginations to portray the expressive characters.

The Ohio State study, she hopes, will produce scientific evidence of the success she has seen.“Children who never spoke before start speaking; children who have never made eye contact — their parents and teachers are amazed they’re now doing that,” said Hunter, who lives in London. “Anecdotally, it’s fantastic.”

Hunter recently visited Winterset Elementary… where students since January have participated in a weekly program led by OSU theater professor Robin Post and five actors who are either OSU students or recent graduates.

At Winterset, she met two 10-year-olds at opposite ends of the autism spectrum (two others were out sick). Although Neil Plunkett didn’t return Hunter’s greeting, Julian Ackerman ran into the cafeteria and shouted, “Nice to meet you!”

To warm up for the class, actors and students established a circle and a heartbeat rhythm, patting their chests as they chanted, “HEL-lo, HEL-lo.” Hunter then asked them to add various emotions, hoping that the children would imitate the actors — so animated that they seemingly wept with sadness and their veins bulged with anger.

The group then took turns portraying various characters in short scenes from The Tempest. Although the kids think it is a game, the adults try to draw out social skills in the repetitive scenes.

One asks the children to make eye contact as characters Ferdinand and Miranda meet and fall instantly in love, standing close and staring into each other’s eyes.

In another scene, rebellious slave Caliban sneaks up behind Prospero and exclaims, “Toads, . . . beetles, . . . bats!” When Prospero whirls around, Caliban ducks out of view from his master, who shouts, “Abominable monster!”

“The confusion is making him angry, because that’s what makes us angry,” Hunter explained, trying to help Julian express the appropriate emotion.

Although the students have good days and bad, the actors have seen their communication skills improve over time.

Julian, who initially insisted that every Shakespearean character was a cat, assumes different roles and remembers lines (although he sometimes requires a gentle reminder that perhaps Prospero need not yell so much).

Neil, seemingly expressionless in the first part of the recent class, began giggling every time he and the actors, playing Caliban as a group, hit the floor to hide from Prospero.

Later in the class, actor Alex Boyles, 27, heard the boy speak for the first time. Boyles, playing Miranda as she teaches Caliban to pronounce his name, was repeating “Cali-, . . . Cali- . . .” when he heard Neil quietly add, “ban.”

Hunter always assumes that children are processing the activities — some just might need more time to respond.

“You should never underestimate what’s going on in someone’s mind if they have autism,” she said.

Nisonger Center researchers evaluated the students’ social skills at the program’s beginning and will do the same at the end of the 42 weeks, comparing their gains to those in a control group of children who didn’t learn Shakespeare.The study will wrap up in fall 2014, after OSU adds a second Shakespeare session at Winterset and another at Arts Impact Middle School.

If the program proves effective, center director Marc Tasse said it could easily be replicated in other schools. Hunter’s method, he said, incorporates techniques used in other autism work, including repetition, imitation and exaggeration.

“When I saw the intervention for the first time, it kind of struck me as brilliant,” he said. “It does a lot of things that we would do . . . but does it in a very drama-based way.”

Actors are advised not to worry about the research but to focus on engaging students in the program. There aren’t right and wrong reactions for the students — and the same is true for the actors…

Here is a link to photos of the program from a couple of years ago: https://www.facebook.com/Shakespeare-and-Autism-Project-216743851825896/photos/?tab=album&album_id=317288868438060

(source: A new stage for Shakespeare | The Columbus Dispatch)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Columbus, Ohio.

Roads to Recovery is a Fairborn, Ohio-based non-profit that is dedicated to providing therapeutic and academic intervention, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Among other things, it provides training for therapists, social skills and art camps, and a learning and resource center for children with autism and their families…

…Subaru in Fairborn Ohio has selected Roads to Recovery as their local Share the Love charity.

[Subaru in Fairbon Ohio] not only donates money to Roads to Recovery, but our staff and Dealer Principal… commit a significant amount of our personal time and resources to the organization.

They are a learning and resource center for children with autism and their families…

Here is a link to photos from Roads to Recovery from a few years ago: https://www.facebook.com/316527155078104/photos/?tab=album&album_id=332712190126267

(source: Subaru Love Promise Begins With Wagner Subaru in Fairborn, OH)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last post was Step By Step Academy (SBSA), a Worthington, Ohio-based nonprofit treatment centre, including for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Using its Continuum of Care model, it offers a range of services, including those that provide the appropriate treatment and environment for children across the Autism Spectrum.

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Nisonger Center, based in Columbus, Ohio, has a mission to work with communities to value and support the meaningful participation of people with disabilities of all ages through education, service and research. In the last few years, OSU staff have worked with English actress, Kelly Hunter of the Royal Shakespeare Company, to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorders…

Actors will play interactive sensory games with a young audience as they tell the magical story of The Tempest.

They will take children and teenagers with autism on a journey …on an island where nobody feels ordinary.

The intimate 75-minute transatlantic production for [children from the age of eight] is based on an innovative method devised over 10 years by Kelly Hunter, the award-winning RSC actress, director and teacher.

“There are six actors who sit around in a circle with a maximum of 15 children. They act out very short scenes telling the story and in each scene is embedded one of the sensory games. They allow the young people to embody the roles with the actors,” Kelly explains.

“In one game the children lock eyes. Making eye contact is very difficult for a child with autism. Each game has a different target. Improving spatial awareness, developing facial expressiveness and building language skills are key, as well as introducing imaginative play and the concept of ‘playing a part’. The children are having a huge amount of fun and do not realise there is a target.”

The Hunter Heartbeat Method is now being studied as part of a long-term Shakespeare and autism research project at Ohio State University.

Performed by six actors – three from the RSC, including stalwart Greg Hicks, and three from Ohio State – there will be 13 performances of the play at The Other Place at The Courtyard Theatre until July 4. It will then transfer to Ohio State University in mid-July.

Kelly, a Laurence Olivier Award nominee, says: “It’s a big coup to have Greg, who is such a perfectionist. The success of the show relies on the power of the actor’s performance. It’s such specific work, they have to engage with a demanding audience. There is no set, no music.”

Kelly has worked in classical theatre, West End musicals, film and TV and has most recently played Goneril and Hermione for the RSC in David Farr’s productions of King Lear and The Winter’s Tale in Stratford, London and New York, between 2009 and 2011.

“This year I have been wholly dedicated to this work. I did two shows last year,” she says.

“I began running my own company in 2001 and I gave myself the brief to introduce children with no access to the arts to Shakespeare.

“I worked with a special school in Bromley where there was a unit for children with autism. I started playing games with them and almost immediately the children began to respond. We have seen amazing communication breakthroughs. Shakespeare has been the way in.”

The three-year research project in Ohio asks whether drama – particularly Shakespeare – can break through the communicative blocks of autism.

Kelly’s Hunter Heartbeat Method has two major themes: the rhythm of the iambic pentameter, which creates the sound of a heartbeat, within which the children feel safe to communicate. Second is an exploration of the mind’s eye, allowing children to explore imaginative worlds.

“There has been a lot of anecdotal evidence over the years but in order for it to be taken seriously it has to be evaluated on a scientific basis. I am very lucky to have this chance,” she says.

Up to 30 carers, teachers, parents and other family members may also watch the show in the outer circle.

The young audience will be free to take time out of the auditorium at any time…

Here is a link to a video of the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkNLSA902Pg

(source: The Tempest at The Other Place at The Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon - Coventry Telegraph)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in Columbus, Ohio.

4 Paws for Ability is a Xenia, Ohio-based non-profit whose mission is to increase independence, assist families, and enrich the lives of children with disabilities and veterans who have lost the use of their limbs or their hearing while in active combat by providing them with high quality, task trained service dogs.

?Good boy! Good boy!? These are the two words that are overheard throughout 4 Paws for Ability training center. And it’s exactly what Samuel DeWitt will be hearing when he comes to class on Tuesday, Oct. 23 to finally meet his service dog, a Golden Retriever named Lugnut.
After tears of frustration turned into tears of joy, Samuel?who was scammed by an Illinois woman claiming to run a service dog agency?will soon be able to rely on his new best friend for life.

Samuel, who has autism, does not understand dangers. He has no fear of water or cars or even strangers. Lugnut will keep Samuel from wandering off, and will basically keep him safe as well as at ease.
The idea of having such a dog was almost crushed when they raised money for several months, but heard nothing back from the organization in Illinois that they were sending money to. That’s when 4 Paws stepped up.
Earlier this year 4 Paws for Ability decided that they had to do something for this family who was right in their own backyard, said Executive Director and Founder Karen Shirk.
?We felt that this family had been through enough,? said Shirk about donating a $22,000 service dog to the family for Samuel. And when Wrestle Against Autism heard what 4 Paws was doing for the DeWitts, they donated a large portion of the money needed to fund Samuel’s dog.
?It?s going to give Samuel opportunities to really have normal functioning and give him a better daily life,? said David DeWitt. ?It was just such an amazing act of kindness.?

It’s not something Samuel understands completely, just yet.
?We had sat down and actually had talked with him a little bit that Samuel, you are gonna get a dog. And we weren’t quite sure it really even sunk in at first, but about three or four minutes later, Samuel was just running around the house going ?Oh man! Oh man! Oh man!? said Elizabeth DeWitt of her son’s reaction.
Visit their Facebook page ?Autism’s Ruff? and follow their journey for a service dog…

Here is a link to photos: https://www.facebook.com/182576231755624/photos/?tab=albums

(source: An autistic boy)

[Visionary7903]

The subject of the last couple of posts has been on Autism-related events and organisations in the Columbus metropolitan area of Ohio.

The Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Child Development Center at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital, a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit, provides comprehensive, multidisciplinary care focusing on evidence based treatment, education, research and advocacy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Its mission includes to provide assistance to every child affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders who is in need…

Home to one of the largest intensive intervention and diagnostic centers for autism, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has long been recognized as a leader in autism intervention efforts.

Now the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is also setting the standard for the care of brothers and sisters of children with autism.

…While much time and attention is focused on the child with autism, brothers and sisters of autistic children may have feelings that are difficult to express: sadness that an autistic sibling can’t learn things that others take for granted, anger and frustration over recurring behavioral problems or pride when a sibling with autism learns a basic but important life skill.

As a result, in 2007 Nationwide Children’s began offering a program called Sibshops, designed to teach coping skills and provide support for siblings of children who are physically ill or have special needs.

Unlike most Sibshops programs, Nationwide Children’s has tailored its program specifically for brothers and sisters of autism patients.

“The strains autism places on families are very real and can be extremely difficult,” said Jacquie Wynn, PhD, director of the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders at Nationwide Children’s and a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

“By helping siblings cope with the effects of autism, we help heal and strengthen the entire family.”

Nationwide Children’s program is modeled from Sibshops curriculum provided by The Sibling Support Project, the national effort dedicated to the lifelong concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental or mental health concerns.

It uses games and activities to help kids explore feelings and share emotions and experiences.

Participants also learn how to handle difficult or stressful situations, and they learn more about autism and their siblings’ special needs.

Nationwide Children’s Sibshops for Autism program is one of only a handful of such programs in the country and is one of several autism education efforts at Nationwide Children’s.

Interactive parenting classes are also available to help caregivers manage the challenges of parenting a child with autism.

Also, Nationwide Children’s Autism Academy provides general autism information …and resources available within the community.

Here is a link to a video on the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders and the Child Development Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAyAEoKeWZE

(source: Program Assists Brothers and Sisters of Kids with Autism | Autism | Disease and Conditions)