USF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities Helps Tampa Parks and Recreation Department Serve All Children

This past summer, staff from the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) at USF wanted local students with Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) to benefit from the social skills curriculum they had developed for schools in Sarasota. But first, they needed a location in Tampa where adolescents with AS could be included in summer camp activities to learn and practice social skills necessary to interact successfully with other peers and adults. At the same time, the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department wanted training for their staff so they could increase their capacity to serve children of all abilities.

A six-week partnership began – CARD agreed to offer training to parks staff while the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department offered CARD a location and camp activities.

"Our partnership exemplifies how municipalities and USF’s Center for Autism and Related Disabilities can collaborate to provide outstanding services to all children regardless of their abilities, " said Karen Palus, Director of the Tampa Parks and Recreation Department.

The six-week camp allowed participants time for learning and practicing social skills within the typical summer camp routine. It also allowed CARD to teach the Parks and Recreation staff strategies for including children with developmental disabilities. For the five students with AS participating in the summer program, the first two hours of camp each day involved participating in the social skills curriculum. They then joined the other kids for regularly scheduled camp activities.

"While some individuals with AS may display an interest in friendships with others, it is often difficult for them to initiate or engage in age-appropriate social interactions,” said Karen Berkman, director of CARD. “The difficulties, however, can be made easier through learning and practicing social skills, as evident in Sarasota, where the first after school group we implemented was one-and-a-half years ago, and the kids are still friends.”

During the first week of camp, Berkman said that in addition to CARD staff discussing disability issues with campers, diversity and cultural issues also needed to be addressed.

“It gave us an opportunity to talk about how we are the same and we’re all different. The group came to understand that neither diversity nor disability has to be a barrier to making friends. Through the course of the summer, we were proud to see that campers were able to transcend through all of the issues. They took ownership in what they wanted the camp to be, and it became more of a club atmosphere.”

Berkman added that the Tampa Parks and Recreation staff worked very well with CARD staff Mindy Stevens and Glenda Koshy.

"In fact, said Berkman, "when the program planned a 'last day of summer' party by going to Game Works, the campers with AS and CARD staff were also invited to participate. The City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department has been extremely generous with our constituents. We will be working further to build inclusive camp opportunities and are very excited to continue partnering with our friends at the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation.”