Athletics Big Boost for Kids with Autism: Cincinnati Enquirer 4/8/10
Athletics big boost for kids with autism
by John Johnston and the Cincinnati Enquirer
Thursday, April 8, 2010
At a track meet the other day, 13-year-old Mason Quinn looked like any other competitor.
He's as coachable as any kid we've ever had," said coach and teacher Tom Thompson of Lakota Plains Junior School, where Mason is in seventh grade. "Great attitude. Makes you smile every day.
"We don't treat him any different, and he doesn't expect us to."
But Mason is different. At age 5, he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder.
Parents Mark and Lisa Quinn of West Chester Township say Mason has benefited from sports in a variety of ways, from easing his acceptance by peers to teaching that success comes from hard work. They hope that by telling their story, other children with autism and their parents might be encouraged to explore athletics.
That's also the goal of Heath and Fitness for Autism Weekend, a first-of-its-kind event sponsored by Families with ASD, a local non-profit organization for families affected by autism. Nine free clinics Saturday and Sunday in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky will offer young people an introduction to activities such as yoga, cheerleading, taekwondo and wrestling.
About 1 in 110 children are diagnosed with autism, a developmental disability that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. It's considered a "spectrum disorder" because it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Asperger's is a mild form of autism.
"It's always bothered me that kids with autism were not more involved in sports," said Doug Blecher, board president of Families with ASD and organizer of the weekend clinics.
He's a therapist trained in applied behavior analysis, one of a number of therapies used to improve the lives of children with autism. He believes athletic activities complement those therapies, and he's not alone.
Geraldine Dawson and Michael Rosanoff are the chief science officer and assistant director of research and public health, respectively, for Autism Speaks, a national advocacy group. On the organization's Web site, they write:
"Besides improving fitness, motor function, and behavior in individuals with autism, among the most important advantages of physical activity are the social implications of participating in sports and exercise."
More than half of children with autism are either overweight or at risk of it, Dawson and Rosanoff say.
But participation in physical activities can be especially challenging for such children for reasons that include limited motor function, lack of motivation, and the potential for sensory overload.
"People look at people with autism and see the deficits," said Blecher. "They don't really see what they're capable of."
Mason has shown what he's capable of, even though he, too, struggles with social and communication skills.
At age 4, he participated in taekwondo. "Too many steps. Too complicated," his mother said. He also swam for a number of years.
But he shines as a wrestler. It's his favorite sport.
He wrestled in fifth and sixth grade for the Lakota Kids Club, then continued the sport last winter at Plains. In January, at the 12-team Firebird Classic, Mason won five matches in one day to claim first place in the 92-pound class.
"He's awkward out there," his father said. "His skill set is limited. But he's very strong."
Mason's parents signed him up for cross-country last year in part because practice began in the summer; they saw it as a good way for him to meet kids before the school year began.
Track coach Thompson said, who also coaches cross country at Plains, said, "The kids he runs with love him to death. He's an absolute crack-up. He knows more movie lines than I do."
"I'd be lying to say my child isn't different," said Lisa Quinn, who also has a typical fifth-grader, Jensen. "Sometimes, it's getting the coaches on board, understanding that...you might need to explain things differently. The coaches have actually embraced him."
Blecher believes there are more Masons out there who could gain much by participating in school sports. For others with autism, Special Olympics might be more appropriate.
He hopes the weekend "brings awareness to families that exercise for kids on the autism spectrum is an important issue".
These free clinics will be offered during Health and Fitness for Autism Weekend. Call 513-444-4979 to register.
Saturday
• Yoga: 10-11 a.m., Kid Power Therapy Services, 5989 Meijer Dr., Suite 4, Milford.
• General fitness camp: 10 a.m.-noon, Abilities First, 4710 Timber Trail Dr., Middletown.
• Kids in the kitchen (healthy snacks and meals): 10 a.m.-2 p.m., University of Cincinnati Campus Recreation Center, 2820 Bearcat Way.
• Horseback riding: 1:30-2:30 p.m., Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship, 1342 Ohio 50, Milford.
• Taekwondo: 2-4 p.m., Cincinnati Taekwondo Center, 4325 Red Bank Road, Madisonville.
Sunday
• Yoga: 10 a.m.-noon, Rising Star Studios, 701 Philadelphia St., Covington.
• Cheerleading: Noon-1:30 p.m. Midwest Cheer Elite, 8730 North Pavilion Dr., West Chester.
• TOP soccer: 3-5 p.m., Wall2Wall Soccer, 846 Reading Road, Mason.
• Wrestling: 5:15-6:45 p.m. Recreations Outlet, 885 Ohio 28, Milford.
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