Central New York Autism Society of America, a not-for-profit support organization composed of parents and professionals in the CNY region, has identified as a community need alternative summer programming for school-age children on the autism spectrum.  For the past three years CNY ASA has piloted inclusive “extended year” services for six weeks in July and August.  Our efforts began in 2007, when in collaboration with the East Area YMCA in Fayetteville, N.Y., we created a program for six elementary students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.  All of these children were being served during the school year in inclusive programs in their home districts. The YMCA has a history of welcoming a wide range of students and some of their staff had experience supporting children with autism.  The children participated in the YMCA Summer Camp six hours a day and were supported by a CNY ASA paid NYS certified Special Educational Teacher and one-on-one aides as needed.  Consultants (including licensed Occupational Therapist and Speech Therapist) provided training to the Y and CNY ASA staff on inclusive programming and also provided suggestions for adaptations and problem-solving as specific issues arose. The feedback from families and from the Y staff was very positive and the number of requests for the following summer increased.

         In the summer of 2008, CNY ASA implemented this program at two different locations, providing more opportunities for families searching for appropriate summer options for their children.  The two sites included the second year for the East Area YMCA through its Y Kids Camp Program in Fayetteville, and the Jewish Community Center in DeWitt partnered with CNY ASA to implement a second inclusion program as part of its Camp Rishon.  Between the two sites CNY ASA was able to serve 12-16 children.  The following summer (2009) CNY ASA expanded to a third site run by the North Area YMCA in an effort to diversify the geographic locations and serve more students; this program was able to serve 6 students in a half-day program located at Roxboro Elementary School in North Syracuse. 

         In each of these sites the inclusive summer program provided children with autism the opportunity to participate with their typical peers in activities where their social skills and recreational skills could be improved.  For many of these students with autism, the activities and routines typical of a summer camp (swimming, sports, games, art projects, pretend play, field trips) presented great challenges as well as great opportunities for socialization. The CNY ASA special education and therapy staff, with input from the school year staff, parents and each child’s IEP, created the adaptations in terms of personnel support, materials, communication aids, sensory diets, positive behavioral supports, and adaptation of routines and activities to enhance each child’s successful participation.  They addressed educational goals in order to maximize each child’s retention of learned skills and provide repeated practice of social skills, choice-making, and self-regulation.

         Over the three years since the CNY ASA Inclusive Summer Recreation Program began we have enrolled students from 9 different school districts (Baldwinsville, Cicero-North Syracuse, Fayetteville-Manlius, Jamesville-Dewitt, Liverpool, Pulaski, Syracuse City, Tully, and West Genesee). We can serve six to eight children with autism at each site. A total of 22 children were enrolled for the summer of 2009. Training was offered to all recreation and CNY ASA staff about autism, typical learning needs of children on the spectrum, and ways to adapt activities in an inclusive program.  In addition to the teaching staff, a Supervising Special Education Teacher was available daily for consultation regarding modifications and crisis management.  Using grant monies geared toward piloting this model, CNY ASA has provided funding for the inclusion personnel at each location including special education teachers, therapists and teacher aides as required to meet the needs of the children.  We also purchased sensory and communication materials necessary to enhance the involvement of specific students.  In addition, CNY ASA has provided funding for team planning meetings to better enrich the quality of the program. Our goal is to encourage school districts to offer inclusive options for students on the autism spectrum eligible for summer services.  As an organization we hope to work with families, school districts, BOCES, and local colleges to facilitate the availability of quality inclusive opportunities for students with autism.

Planning for the 2010 CNY ASA Inclusive Summer Recreation Program is currently underway for our three sites: East Area YMCA/Y Kids Camp, the Jewish Community Center/Camp Rishon and North Area YMCA/Roxboro Elementary School. The CNY ASA Summer program currently serves children through the age of 8. (The child must be 8yrs old or younger on July 1st.)

For more information, please contact us at cnyasa@yahoo.com