Western Kentucky University
The Kelly Autism Program: Independence and Productivity for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Institution
Western Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Marty Boman
Abstract
The Kelly Autism Program was developed for adolescents and young adults diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum continuum in south central Kentucky. The program has three powerful goals: independence, productivity, and community involvement, and provides educational support, social skills development and expansion, leisure/recreation development, community involvement, and transitions support for the students. Focusing on the needs of three distinct age groups including junior high, senior high, and post-secondary students, the program works closely with the schools to offer educational support in developing transition goals. By offering tutoring, students’ skills in literacy, functional math, technology and daily living activities are improved. In the area of social skills, the group has developed a Teen Council where they can practice leadership and group skill-building. Since the program is housed on the campus of Western Kentucky University, there are many social events for their participation. The students interact weekly or daily with their peers and the college community. Recreation and leisure activities are plentiful on the campus since they are allowed access to the Health and Fitness Center. This past summer the students took part in rock climbing, canoeing, and other various outdoor activities. Community involvement is a huge component for the program as the students created, printed, and sold Christmas cards so that they could raise their own money. Their goal was to adopt families in the community for the holiday season. They also have made baskets for a number of nursing homes, and sorted clothes for redistribution for one of the local churches.
The Kelly Autism Program: Independence and Productivity for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
The Kelly Autism Program was developed for adolescents and young adults diagnosed within the Autism Spectrum continuum in south central Kentucky. The program has three powerful goals: independence, productivity, and community involvement, and provides educational support, social skills development and expansion, leisure/recreation development, community involvement, and transitions support for the students. Focusing on the needs of three distinct age groups including junior high, senior high, and post-secondary students, the program works closely with the schools to offer educational support in developing transition goals. By offering tutoring, students’ skills in literacy, functional math, technology and daily living activities are improved. In the area of social skills, the group has developed a Teen Council where they can practice leadership and group skill-building. Since the program is housed on the campus of Western Kentucky University, there are many social events for their participation. The students interact weekly or daily with their peers and the college community. Recreation and leisure activities are plentiful on the campus since they are allowed access to the Health and Fitness Center. This past summer the students took part in rock climbing, canoeing, and other various outdoor activities. Community involvement is a huge component for the program as the students created, printed, and sold Christmas cards so that they could raise their own money. Their goal was to adopt families in the community for the holiday season. They also have made baskets for a number of nursing homes, and sorted clothes for redistribution for one of the local churches.