Summertime activities can be exciting and fun. However, for children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), engaging in new experiences like travel and going to unfamiliar places in the community can cause stress, anxiety and sometimes meltdowns. The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) has resources for flying, riding public transportation, museums and libraries that can make the experience more enjoyable for all while you are out and about this summer!
TAP spearheaded Community Avenues for Autism, a project to help individuals with an ASD more easily access resources in their communities, in conjunction with the city of Chicago. This initiative provides tools to make navigating community locations more enjoyable and help those with disabilities become more independent community members. While TAP worked initially with the city of Chicago, tools created are applicable to resources in cities and town across the state, including Springfield.
Autism is a growing issue with recent rates from the Centers for Disease Control identifying 1 in 110 children as having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and recent research from the National Institute of Health indicates the prevalence rate could be much higher. Research has shown that those with an ASD often have difficulty organizing their thoughts, transitioning between tasks, navigating new places and responding to new sensory experiences.
In response to these characteristics, TAP created tools to make enjoying our towns and cities easier. Tools include social guides which explain what to expect at locations like museums, airports and libraries. The social guides are available in three levels to accommodate all reading levels and use photos and graphics to help individuals become familiar with the processes and surroundings at these locations. The website also offers the capability to create visual schedules for reference when using these community resources, and rule cards are available for public transportation to model appropriate social and safety behaviors.
All accessibility tools in the Community Avenues for Autism program are free to download on the TAP website: www.theautismprogram.org.
The TAP Springfield clinic, hosted at The Hope Institute for Children and Families and located in the Noll Medical Pavilion at 5220 S. Sixth Street Road, can help you access these resources as well. To make an appointment, call 525-8332.
TAP has 12 centers and more than 30 partners statewide providing diagnostics, treatment, training and support for children with an ASD and their families. Yearly, TAP impacts more than 16,000 families through its centers and work in public policy.
For more information about TAP and other programs, visit The Hope Institute for Children and Families on our Mom's Choice Directory.
