UNE Occupational Therapy students mark Autism Awareness Month with service projects
The Centers for Disease Control and prevention estimate that 1 in every 68 children is affected by Autism. Occupational Therapy students at the University of New England observed Autism Awareness Month with events to provide education and resources to the community.
Occupational therapy can be instrumental for people who have autism and their families. Occupational therapy offers family-centered care, sensory modulation strategies, driving habilitation, contexts for work, play, education, and community participation for children and youth on the Autism Spectrum.
In April of 2016, The UNE Department of Occupational Therapy hosted the Autism Expo of Evidence-Based Interventions for youth and families affected by autism. The event included experiential activities to illustrate each occupation-centered approach, as well as educational materials and the evidence to support each intervention approach.
On Sunday, April 17, UNE O.T. students created and staffed a “sensory room” at the Portland Seadogs Autism Awareness game. The sensory rooms are designed to create and sustain a space for children with autism and their siblings to get away, find their own place or explore sensory modulating activities in order to participate in a baseball game experience with their family. Students were able to interact with families, provide games and activities, create sensory spaces for exercise or relaxation and offer fidget objects and other input to help children at a sporting event.
The event was organized by Kyle Kish (MSOT, 2016) and Erin Schwenke (MSOT 2016). UNE professor and interim program director Kathryn Loukas, O.T.D., M.S., OTR/L, FAOTA, has been working with Karlene Frost of Embracing the World of Autism and Courtney Rague of the Portland Seadogs for more than five years to facilitate the sensory room.
