Soaring Eagles Center for Autism Newsletter Fall 2014

www.soaringeaglesautism.com

 The 2014 Summer Program produced a dynamic environment due to the large size, intergenerational social interaction, field trips and new this year: a greenhouse.

 This year 34 participants learned how to appropriately interact socially with not only their peers but all age groups as well. They learned to play games together and collaborated during group time. This process also further developed individual self-regulating.

 At the Pueblo Zoo

The two field trips provided the opportunity to teach each person how to focus on the group by waiting for others, having lunch together and paying attention to others. The older clients went to the Pueblo Zoo;  

 The younger kids went to nearby Cattail Cross Park in Pueblo West and had fun feeding the fish and ducks.

 

SECA’s 2014 Summer Program was a Blast!

The acquisition of the greenhouse is an expansion of our life skills program. Our clients learned how to plant seeds or plants and nurture each. The greenhouse provided each person the opportunity to attend to something outside of the self. Digging in the soil, planting and watering provided sensory. The GardenSECA’s Youth Mentorship program provided a volunteer opportunity for young people to gain a hands-on education in the care of and interaction with persons with autism, which they can use later in life no matter their vocation.  The Foster Grandparents program filled the need for additional volunteers due to the large number of participants in this year’s program. They brought a wealth of knowledge as they interacted with our teens and helped our clients cultivate the vegetable garden of carrots, bell peppers, tomato and zucchini plants. The success of the Summer Program was seen in the improvement and progress that each person made in their program and the good time they had.

“When riding a horse we leave our fear, troubles and sadness behind on the ground.” -Juli CarlsonHorses have been used for many things down through the ages: war, pulling the plow, herding cattle, etc., now they come to SECA to provide therapy.

Once a week for two hours two horses visit the Center to provide a new sensory experience for our cliental.

Shelly Harwood, owner of the horses, has a riding school on her ranch in Beulah and has offered riding lessons for kids as well as being a trainer for approximately 15 years. She became interested in providing equine therapy because she “enjoys watching people grow emotionally, mentally and physically.” Winston Churchill said the same when he famously said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of man.”

SECA chose the horse because of their calming effect they have on individuals with autism. Horses pick up energy differences and response appropriately, which is perhaps why an anonymous author penned these words, “All I pay my psychiatrist is the cost of feed and hay, and he’ll listen to me any day.”

Equine Therapy

The activities our clients will engage in with the horse are: petting, painting, grooming and riding.

Each experience gives the person the opportunity to be around animals, to bond with the horse by doing things for it. But most importantly, they learn to look outside themselves, and be who they truly are when they’re in the saddle.

Faren has attended Soaring Eagles Center for Autism for almost two years.FarasttendeSoaring Eagles Center for Autism for almost two years. 

When he first began attending, he was having major issues with behavior and socializing.  Today, Faren is more social and his behavior is beginning to improve.  Faren is excited to go to SECA and be with all his friends and teachers.  He has grown extremely fond of the entire staff with his absolute favorite being Anthony.  He also says that he likes to be with Lynzee   “I like learning.”  I asked what he has learned and he said he has learned not to fight, not to interrupt others when they are talking and to say please and thank you.  Faren also enjoys the Wii because he is learning how to work it, especially when it has Star Wars I & II.  “Guess what mom?  I can also count to 20.”I asked Faren what he wanted to be when he grows up and he said, “a cop, because they help people.”  When Faren first started going to SECA, he was afraid of anyone in a uniform, now he is admiring them.  What an accomplishment! Faren enjoys making airplanes and flying them. He pretends he is the pilot.   He says that he will be an inventor and make planes more awesome.As the grandparents of Faren, we have noticed that he is more polite, he listens and understands more and is very anxious to learn as much as he can with what interests him the most at the time.  Faren also has more confidence in himself and is understanding more about his emotions and those of others.  We have truly been blessed to have the staff of Soaring Eagles there to assist us all.  Recently, Faren’s sister has been experiencing traumatic events of her past and Faren will approach her and hug her, telling her that she will be ok because he is there to protect her and he will never let anyone hurt her again.

Client Profile: FarenBy Linda Thompson

TRINIDAD’S AUTISM AWARENESS

Trinidad Autism Awareness Organization was founded for the purpose of providing information, resources and education.Linda Thompson established the Organization in February 2014. Her motivation for doing so comes from being a life-long instructor and being introduced to the new would of autism through the eyes of her grandson — Faren.Faren has been attending Soaring Eagles Center for Autism for two years and during that time Linda became inspired by the staff at Soaring Eagles.Through her interaction with the staff and seeing the progress her grandson has made, she developed a mission and vision for the Trinidad Autism Awareness Organization.The mission is the: “Respectful involvement with the communities and families who have members with autism. To…provide information, resources and guest speakers to provide education.”The Organization’s vision is: “To be a place of support and encouragement to those in our communities affected by autism. To begin support group for families who have loved ones with autism.”Information and education is the overall aim of the Organization. To achieve this, they plan to hold public informational meetings to help people understand autism and get their questions answered.You can support the Trinidad Autism Awareness Organization by donating $5.00 for one of their two magnets on display in the waiting area of Soaring Eagles.