August 24, 2006
Kids CLUB helps children with autism improve social skills
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Children with a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome can participate in a weekly Purdue University program that emphasizes social skills and peer interaction.
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"Autism can affect children very differently, and those with Asperger's do not experience cognitive delays but are affected by language problems related to social skills," says Maria Dixon, a speech language pathologist and clinical assistant professor. "Every child falls somewhere different on the spectrum of how autism affects their lives."
Starting Monday (Aug. 28), the Kids CLUB meets 4-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, 'Tweens Club meets 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Teens Club meets 4-5:30 p.m. on Fridays. The price is $20 per session. For more information or to register, call (765) 494-3795. Parents also will be able to watch the group activities through closed-circuit television monitors or can attend parent support group discussions.
The club is a social outlet for children and teenagers because they tend to have difficulty interacting with others, Dixon says. During the weekly sessions, the group focuses on elements of conversation – starting conversations, handling disagreements, taking turns and listening. The activities are built around what the children want, such as writing and publishing a newspaper, organizing an environmental club or running a carnival.
"Even though many children with Asperger's are smart, they struggle because they cannot always plan or organize effectively," Dixon says. "These children make it through the 12th grade, then they find college a challenge because their social skills hinder them when working in a group.
"No matter the age, these children know they are different but still want friends."
The club also is a great learning experience for Purdue's speech students who may have never worked with an autistic child, Dixon says. The students participate in the club as part of their clinical rotation.
"The college students are just amazed at how smart these children are," Dixon says. "For Halloween, they wanted to dress up as figurative language, such as 'easy as pie.' That's not exactly something your average child thinks of."
The cause of autism is unknown, but the neurological disorder is usually detected in young children. It is a developmental disability that usually affects speech and language. There are more than a million people with autism, and the majority of them are males.
Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu
Source: Maria Dixon, (765) 494-3795, mvdixon@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Related Web sites:Purdue Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
PHOTO CAPTION:
Maria Dixon, speech language pathologist and clinical assistant professor at Purdue, gives 8-year-old Thomas Owens a thumbs-up during the summer Kids CLUB carnival. The club is offered to children with a form of autism called Asperger's syndrome to help them with their social interaction skills. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
A publication-quality photo is available at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/+2006/dixon-kidsclub.jpg
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