Central Michigan University

CMU HOSTING ART, MUSIC CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH ASPERGER SYNDROME, RELATED AUTISM DISORDERS

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Topics in this story: Arts and events, Education and schools

Area children with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism disorders are gathering for lessons in the arts during a two-week camp at Central Michigan University.

Max's Place for Social and Emotional Growth, a weekday camp that runs through June 22, is engaging children ages 7 to 13 in hands-on activities in visual arts, creative writing and music. The 15 campers, who are from Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Osceola and Midland counties, have Asperger Syndrome or similar forms of autism, which means they are able to function in the public domain and have a strong command of language.

Faculty members, students and alumni from several CMU academic programs - the art department, the School of Music, and the counseling and special education department - are serving as the instructors for the camp, which was founded and organized by Lake Isabella resident Marie Lannen in cooperation with VSA Arts of Michigan. According to the organization's Web site, VSA Arts "promotes arts, education and creative expression involving children and adults with disabilities, thereby strengthening the human spirit and improving the quality of life for all."

In addition to its benefits to the campers, the new camp serves as an observational "learning laboratory" for CMU students pursuing careers in special education and music education. Max's Place also is the focus of research being conducted by Patricia Kopetz, a professor of counseling and special education at CMU.

"Via questionnaires, the parents, counselors and campers, we are assessing campers' acceptance and enjoyment of camp activities, as well as socialization opportunities, which are hugely significant for individuals with autism/Asperger Syndrome," said Kopetz. "Additionally, the data collection will enable camp personnel to reflect upon this pilot program's strengths and weaknesses, as well as plan for future summer camp programs; and such research enables faculty researchers to compare the perceptions of the camp offered by parents, counselors and campers themselves to the findings reported in published literature focused on camps for individuals with autism/Asperger Syndrome."

Max's Place is named for the late Max Paladino of Lake Isabella, who died in 2006 shortly after his 12th birthday. Max was the best friend of Lannen's son, Peter.

The camp is funded by a $15,000 grant from The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation of Midland, a $3,000 contribution from CMU's Center for Public Service through Music and the Arts, and a $1,000 grant from VSA Arts National.