Getting on Track: Autism and Fitness
Meeting all of the needs of an individual with autism can be a difficult task. Parents try to do everything they can to care for their children, however, it’s easy to get wrapped up in providing for a child’s special needs, and forget to address their physical fitness needs. While therapy is extremely important, exercise is often overlooked in its favor. The reality is that everybody needs some type of physical activity, and individuals with autism are no exception to that. S
Striking a Chord: Music and Autism
Everyone can relate to music, no matter our age or abilities. It is one of the most popular forms of communication and recent studies suggest that participation in music makes us more social. For that reason, parents of individuals with special needs children have turned to music therapy to increase communication and socialization. That’s why music classes are one of the many programs offered at SNACK. In recent years, research studies have shown the benefits of repeated musi
Swimming and Autism
What do you think about when you hear the word “water?” For most people, the images of a relaxing beach, serene lake or flowing river are the first things that come to mind. However, for the parents of children with autism, the word is associated with much more concerning imagery. This concern is derived from the statistics that show a trend in drowning amongst individuals on the spectrum. According to the National Autism Association (NAA), the mortality rate is twice as high
Sometimes You Don’t Need to Speak to Be Heard: Art and Autism
Our ability to communicate verbally is something we often take for granted. We seldom consider how hard it would be to express ourselves without speech. Even more rare is how often we consider the fact that for some, this life is a reality. One of the indications of autism is impaired social communication, meaning people on the spectrum cannot always express their wants and needs effectively. One third of people with ASD are nonverbal, but communication does not always have
