Guidelines for Increasing Participation of Children and Youth with an ASD in Extracurricular and Community Programs

1. Guidelines for Increasing Participation of Children and Youth with an ASD in Extracurricular and Community Programs Mary Hall Lori Mages Natalia Solache Heidi Woolley

2. Recreation should be for everyone! • Group activities can be hard! • Individual Barriers • social understanding, communication, rigid thinking, sensory, behaviors • peer & adult misinterpretations of the above • Program Barriers • information re: ASDs & typical accommodations • training • no system

3. Project Description • Develop a tool • program considerations • individual challenges • reasonable accommodations • facilitate communicate/collaborate • Implementation • Resource list

4. Program Overview • Participants • Children with HFA or AS • Parents • Community members • Format • brochure • Website • Evaluation Tool • Questionnaire

5. The Process • Evidence based Accommodations • Visual supports • Peer buddies • Predictable routines • Website content • Rationale • Guidelines • Accommodations • Feedback & Collaboration • Resources • Parent Feedback: Positive! • Suggested Changes & additions

6. Let’s Take a Look Guidelines for Increasing Participation of Children and Youth with an ASD in Extracurricular and Community Programs ¡En Español! Home The Challenge Plan for Success Children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism frequently want to participate in extracurricular and community recreation programs. Indeed, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public programs or programs that receive federal funds cannot limit program participation on the basis of disability if a child meets the participation criteria and can participate when provided with reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are individualized techniques and resources used to enhance program participation without fundamentally altering a program Including children with diverse abilities in recreational programs can enrich the experience for everyone involved. By identifying reasonable accommodations and supports adolescents with Asperger Syndrome and high functioning autism can successfully participate in extracurricular and community recreation programs. Parents, staff, and ideally the children themselves, can work together to support success for the child. Accommodations Templates Templates References Parent Resource Links Feedback Survey Autism Spectrum Disorders Home | Service List | Project List | Related Links | General Information | match activity to kid! | My Plan Template | Presentation to Children | session feedback form | References | Parent resources | Parent resources | template - visual schedule

7. Outcomes • Products • Website • Brochure • Limitations • Direct Teaching • Address Individual Challenges • Future Directions • Not just for parents • Development of Related Tools • Increased community Participation, Social & Physical Health

8. URLEND – Positive Outcomes • Networking • Exposure to Other Programs and Practices • Opportunities to forge new interdisciplinary relationships • Updated information on EBP • Increased awareness of current legislation • Increased awareness of family concerns and perspectives

9. Suggested Changes/Additions • Expanding Communication Options • Technology • Trainee collaboration • Site based groups • Participation/clinical hours • Redefine projection of participation hours • Stream line logging hours • More Flexibility • Clarity for Projects • Use assignments as building blocks • Establish responsibility guidelines