Healing Thresholds Autism Therapy Topic Feed

Sports League for Kids with Autism Thrives in California

scottie — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 17:11:52 +0000

Teaser:

What do you do when you can’t find a team sport for your kid with autism?

Body:

What do you do when you can’t find a team sport for your kid with autism? You start the Autism Youth Sports League (the “A” League). Lora Mancini got the league started when she found there were other parents who had children with autism and couldn’t find team sports for them. This summer there are 200 participants and their activities include baseball, karate, bowling, soccer, and hip-hop. One parent appreciates that her child is not judged in the “A” League, another explains, “I put my child in mainstream sports and it was not working out. This was the best solution for all ages 4 –18, all abilities.” Mancini goes on to say that while these children have their own league, it doesn’t mean they’re not pushed to do their best in sports.

Read original article: A Sports League for Kids with Autism Expands

martial arts

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:48:24 +0000

Jujitsu Champ Developed Martial Arts Class to Help Kids with Autism

scottie — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 16:34:44 +0000

Teaser:

Allan Goes, a jujitsu champion, and his wife Carolina, a psychologist, began teaching a martial arts class specifically for kids with autism.

Body:

Allan Goes, a jujitsu champion, and his wife Carolina, a psychologist, began teaching a martial arts class specifically for kids with autism. When their second son was diagnosed with autism, they worked with his ABA and occupational therapists to develop a martial arts program for him. Now the Goes Martial Arts Center holds one class a week for kids with special needs, and has found that the children also benefit from participation in classes with neurotypical kids. The benefits from martial arts are not just self-defense, but self-confidence and interpersonal skills and communication.

Read original article: Mixing Martial Arts and Autism

Karate Studio Adds Marital Arts Classes Specifically for Students with Autism

scottie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:20:48 +0000

Teaser:

Samurai Karate Studio in South Carolina has added a martial arts curriculum for students with autism.

Body:

Samurai Karate Studio in South Carolina has added a martial arts curriculum for students with autism. Sensei Chris Feldt was encouraged to add the classes because one of his adult students has a son with autism who took interest in karate. An applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapist helped Feldt develop a curriculum that includes exercise and social skills. Feldt explains that martial arts is "about learning self discipline, focus and concentration and I do not believe we should treat our Autistic children any differently. Lastly, we hope that these classes will provide a social setting for these children to meet and have fun with other children."

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Martial Arts Provides Structure for Young Man with Autism

scottie — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:47:48 +0000

Teaser:

Thomas Cameron Stuart, a 23 year old with autism, has earned his brown belt and is on his way to earn his black belt in martial arts.

Body:

Thomas Cameron Stuart, a 23 year-old with autism, has earned his brown belt and is on his way to earn his black belt in martial arts. Stuart has had an interest in Japanese culture and found the Tenkobushi Martial Arts studio near his home in California. Stuart's instructor, Stephen McGovern, has developed a martial arts program specifically for Stuart. McGovern says that the practice of Ninjutsu and swordsmanship provides increased social, emotional, and physical skills for Stuart. In addition, Stuart participates in a group class and learns interaction with his neuro-typical peers. Stuart's grandmother has noticed an increased mental focus, ability to concentrate, and social skills in her grandson.

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Mixed Martial Arts as Therapy for Children with Asperger Syndrome

scottie — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:58:02 +0000

Teaser:

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) may be a useful intervention therapy for children with Asperger's syndrome.

Body:

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) may be a useful intervention therapy for children with Asperger syndrome. An Ohio mom has found that her son with Asperger's enjoys the physical therapy aspect of MMA as well as the social interaction. MMA has built his confidence and self-esteem. His instructor explains that, "martial arts are great for children with all types of disorders. It's a built-in attention system....where you have certain cues or attention anchors, to get kids' attention."

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Martial Arts Therapy

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:20:16 +0000

Lisa Chin is the owner/founder of Fireflies in NY City - it is a martial arts therapy center for children with special needs.

Special Ed Teacher Combines ABA and Tae Kwon Do to Reach Kids with Autism

scottie — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:38:43 +0000

Teaser:

Lisa Chin, founder of FirefliesNY, uses her training as a special education teacher, Tae Kwon Do black belt, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapist to reach out to children with autism.

Body:

Lisa Chin, founder of FirefliesNY, uses her training as a special education teacher, Tae Kwon Do black belt, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapist to reach out to children with autism. She has found that the well-established ABA one-on-one intervention integrates with the physical aspects of the martial arts. FirefliesNY allows for exercise and socialization. Chin says of FirefliesNY: "Sessions involve a blend of TaeKwonDo, music/movement, balance, stretching, and breathing exercises all guided by Applied Behavior Analysis."

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Quadruplets with Autism, Quadruple the Therapies

scottie — Tue, 13 May 2008 20:13:50 +0000

Teaser:

The Mann quadruplets all fall on the autism spectrum, but their therapies are as individual as they are.

Body:

The Mann quadruplets all fall on the autism spectrum, but their therapies are as individual as they are. The boys are engaged in various interventions that include circle of friends, swimming, team sports like baseball, and karate. Their mother explains the importance of karate for them, "The karate is important not just for the confidence but because it is helping them get in better tune with their bodies."

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DEFY is Martial Arts Therapy for Children with Autism

scottie — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:51:51 +0000

Teaser:

Defense and Exercise for Youths (DEFY) uses martial arts as therapy to teach a young boy with Asperger's self-confidence and self-control.

Body:

Defense and Exercise for Youths (DEFY) uses martial arts as therapy to teach a young boy with Asperger's self-confidence and self-control. The New Jersey Underground Fitness program combines martial arts with fitness to teach "self-defense techniques derived from boxing, kick-boxing and grappling combined with basic fitness."

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