Comments on: Good Sports

By: Geoff Fargo

Geoff Fargo — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:59:29 +0000

This fall, I was fortunate enough to be tapped by a local non-profit to put together a soccer program for children on the autism spectrum.

We had about 45 kids, aged 2 to 15, all of them on the spectrum, running around, kicking the ball (occasionally picking it up) and having a great time. We weren’t interested in rules or about keeping score, so we didn’t. We just let the kids have fun and gave the parents a chance to cheer.

One of the most heartening things about the entire endeavor was the level of involvement and enthusiasm demonstrated by our youth volunteers. We had at least a dozen youths working as peer assistants and they all had as much fun as the kids.

We had numerous parents come up to us and thank us for putting together the program. In the end, all it took was a venue (we used a local church gymnasium), a few goals, a few soccer balls, and a group of dedicated volunteers. Our spectrum kids took those ingredients and made something magic.

By: M

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 05:30:12 +0000

i had a terrible time on team sports growing up…that was basically my parents catch-all solution for the differences. “He’s not making friends…put him on a baseball team”.

However…they did eventually try taekwondo and that went extrememly well. There aren’t the social dynamics at work, or at least not as much; you can focus on your own performance of the moves. it was good exercise, good confidence-building.

My parents group-based Normalcy Solution accidentally helped this one time.

By: Alli

Alli — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:26:50 +0000

so far we are doing really well at soccer, it is at the local club and he has a few of his friends from school in the team and a great coach, I’m hoping next season we do as well, his skill level improved and his movement too. We also did swimming lessons through school, we were all a bit nervous and they wanted his aide there too but he was amazing, we are signed up for more classes in two weeks and while on his registration autism is noted they haven’t said I need to be in the water with him.

We will take soccer as far as he wants to go, I love that it is local and everyone can play.

By: Betty and Boo's Mommy

Betty and Boo's Mommy — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 02:00:28 +0000

Boo was in Challenger t-ball last year and it was such a wonderful experience. I can’t say enough great things about those volunteers. They were so good with Boo and the other kids on his team. We moved that summer, otherwise it’s quite possible he probably would still be playing.

By: farmwifetwo

farmwifetwo — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:35:26 +0000

We’re enjoying a small group (4kids) integrated gymnastics program for the little one – at a “normal” gym club. He also takes piano 15min/wk with a retired school teacher – she’s amazing!!

And Karate for the elder w/ a Martial Arts Canada, totally integrated program. There’s a girl with Down’s in his group.

Little boy will join the Karate club in a year… they will give him 1:1 support as necessary to teach him.

There’s lots of “normal” programs out there that will take all children… those are the one’s we want for our boys.