New Hangouts For People With Autism

[Geordie]

A unique youth caf? for children with autism is set to begin in Galway City next month.

Local charity Galway Autism Partnership (GAP) is facilitating a pilot programme for young people aged between 11 and 18 with high functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome who may be at risk of social isolation or bullying.

The youth caf? will meet weekly between September and Christmas and will be run by a facilitator and GAP committee member Jessica Doyle, who will be involved in the programme?s design and assisting with its delivery.

Speaking to the Galway Independent, GMIT student Jessica, who has Asperger?s syndrome, said the group aims to provide support for young people at an age that is difficult ?whether you?re on the [autism] spectrum or you?re not on the spectrum?.

Many children with autism have a strong interest in a particular topic or area and 22-year-old Jessica explained that the youth group would be concentrating on developing the social side of children?s special interests.

?Each session we would concentrate on one of the kids? special interest, we would have a speaker in about that special interest and then the next session we would do a practical on that special interest, as well as support sessions for whatever problems the kids need support with.

?By the end, we would hope to connect all their special interests all together so they would be connecting and making friends through what they love,? she said. "Autistic individuals can find it hard to connect with others because of social skills problems but also sometimes because they get so distracted by their special interest they forget the world outside exists."

The local community has proven ?very supportive? of the planned pilot programme, according to Jessica, and Youth Work Ireland is to provide its premises on Prospect Hill free of charge to allow the youth club to meet each week.

GAP has also received funding from the National Lottery for the programme, which will permit the recruitment of a facilitator for the youth caf?.
There are a limited number of places available at the youth caf? for young people with high functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome - for more details, email [email protected]. For more information on GAP, find the group on Facebook or Twitter, or phone 083-1222302.

Unique youth caf? for children with autism - News - Galway Independent

A Smithtown Eagle Scout earned his rank by helping renovating a nonprofit's playground for children.

James Galley spent countless hours renovating the Young Autism Program's playground and the entrance of the Development Disabilities Institute in Medford as his Eagle Scout project.

"DDI could not contribute to improving the lives of the 5,000 children and adults we serve with autism and other developmental disabilities without the generosity of people like James," said Dan Rowland, DDI's Director of Development, in a written statement. "His support plays a key role in supporting the mission of DDI. We thank James for his time and commitment to DDI and congratulate him on his accomplishments."

On his way to becoming an Eagle Scout, Galley earned 21 merit badges and served Troop 565 of Smithtown in a variety of leadership roles. He chose to help DDI with his community service project.

Galley refurbished DDI's Youth Autism Program playground by sanding and painting the swing set a bright red, then painting the rail road ties a bright blue and those top rail road ties a bright yellow so children can easily distinguish where the play area ends. He also helped to beautify the bus entrance to DDI Medford by replacing the old railroad ties, adding new mulch, white rocks, plants and a cement bench to sit and wait for the bus.

DDI is a nonprofit agency based in Smithtown with more than 30 locations through Suffolk and Nassau counties, including their Medford location. The agency provides special educational, vocational, day and residential programs, as well as healthcare services for over 5,000 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities.

Eagle Scout Renovates Playground for Autistic Children - Smithtown, NY Patch