"All of our activities are based around social interaction," said Grant Lowrance, who acts as the nonprofit's director along with Woodlanders Ignacio Pena and Ruben Ramirez. "None of us are doctors, but what we have learned with our kids is that the more they interact with traditional children, the more it helps them to incorporate into society a little better. They become more of a functional member of society that way."
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 2, there are plans for each Saturday throughout the month including arts and crafts, book reading and a field trip to the fire station.
The sport programs and other social activities are open to autistic children, their siblings and parents at little to no charge. The group is actively fundraising to keep the program free for parents. "Autism affects a lot of people, and we're just trying to spread the word and give our children a traditional childhood just like you and I had," said Lowrance.
According to the foundation, one in 88 children are diagnosed with autism, and one in 54 will be boys.
"There are 56,000 people in Woodland, 26 percent under 18. With those
In addition to organized children's activities, the Autistic Programs Foundation also promotes advocacy, Lowrance explained. "A lot of people don't realize what autism is," he said. "We help parents who have autistic children go through the process of getting their kids into the proper facilities in the schools." Maxwell Elementary, for example, has a Leaps and Bounds class for autistic children.
In partnership with the UC Davis Mind Institute, research conducted by Dr. Abbedeto on the interaction between autistic children, siblings and parents is passed on to families in the program so they may in turn better interact with their autistic children, brothers and sisters, said Lowrance.
Autism is in fact a group of developmental brain disorders, collectively called Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the foundation. The term "spectrum" refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills and levels of impairment - ranging from mild to severe - that afflict diagnosed children.
Autistic children might appear deaf, they don't look at you when you speak to them, said Lowrance. They may not be able to speak, or they may speak with difficulties. Very often, autistic children engage in repetitive behaviors as simple as opening and closing a door over and over again.
"There is no cure (for autism) because autism isn't just one developmental disorder," Lowrance said. "There are some medications that work to help symptoms. As parents, I am opposed to pump my kids full of medication. We find (that) through our activities, it helps them develop the areas of their brain that are lacking, particularly the social functions."
For more information and the monthly events calendar, visit autisticprograms.org, call (916) 520-4631 or email firstname.lastname@example.org. Spanish speakers may call 867-0033.
Follow Elizabeth Kalfsbeek at twitter.com/woodlandbeat