N
By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 2-23-09
GREENSBORO, NC — Children with Asperger’s Disorder want to be accepted by other children, but they often have a hard time making friends. Social awkwardness frequently makes them a target for bullying and teasing. Dream Camp can help.
The UNCG Psychology Clinic will offer the second annual summer day camp for children and adolescents with Asperger’s Disorder for three weeks this summer.
In addition to practicing social, communication, and emotion regulation skills, campers will have the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities in a supportive environment. The camp is open to 6- through 16-year-olds who carry an Asperger’s diagnosis.
The sessions run 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. June 22-26, July 13-17 and Aug. 3-7 at the North Campus of Gateway University Research Park. The camp costs $400 per week or $1,000 for all three weeks. For more information, contact Kellie Whelan at kjwhelan@uncg.edu or (336) 256-0011.
Funding sources are still being sought for scholarships for children whose families can not afford camp fees. The camp is also seeking donations of goods, such as sporting equipment, or services, such as art or music lessons.
Asperger’s Disorder, first recognized in 1944, is sometimes referred to as “high-functioning autism.” Research indicates that the disorder occurs in about one in 300; boys are 10 times more likely than girls to be affected.
A child with Asperger’s may struggle to adapt to changes in daily routines, have difficulty judging personal space, and experience extreme sensitivity to stimuli like odors, loud noises and clothing textures.
Symptoms can include a deep fascination with a particular subject, such as trains. A child with Asperger’s may learn everything about his interest – makes and models of trains, routes, schedules, etc. – then overwhelm others with this knowledge.
Dream Camp is led by Dr. Susan Keane, professor and director of clinical training at UNCG. Last summer, when the camp started, more than 40 campers attended, including a boy from Maryland, who stayed with relatives in the Triad.
“Parent and camper response to Dream Camp was so positive, that there was never a question of whether we should continue the camp, but rather how we could expand the camp and continue to make it a resource for the community,” Keane says. She cites the camp as an example of how the UNCG Psychology Clinic achieves its three-pronged mission: to teach, to do research and to serve the community.
During the past three years, referrals for Asperger’s services at the UNCG Psychology Clinic have more than tripled, Keane says. In response, the clinic has offered a number of evening groups to help young people learn and practice social skills. Simultaneous sessions with parents focused on how to help children succeed at home and at school.
The idea for Dream Camp came from a parent whose son participated in one of the clinic’s social skills groups. Given the potential to lose those skills without practice, programming during the summer, when schools aren’t in session, is particularly important.
Each week of Dream Camp, parents will be invited to attend an information session to review the skills addressed during the week of camp, to discuss strategies for helping children continue developing these skills, and to help parents connect with other families who may be facing similar struggles.
Organizers hope Dream Camp will be a model for similar programs elsewhere. The camp also provides valuable experience for doctoral-level trainees in the UNCG Clinical Psychology program. As more families seek treatment for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders, there is a growing demand for trained therapists.