Summer Camp Enriches Lives of Children with Autism

A transformative summer camp for children with autism continues to make a profound impact on campers and their families. Texas State University’s Autism Summer Camp provides individualized attention aimed at improving social, language, communication, and motor skills.

With over half of the campers returning each year, the camp has demonstrated a consistent commitment to fostering positive development. This year, the Department of Health and Human Performance faculty member Dr. Jennifer Ahrens, assumed the role of camp director, with Kelly Hargraves from Frisco ISD serving as the curriculum coordinator. Supported by several small community-based grants and donations, the camp offers an essential service to an underserved population.

Counselors guide campers through a structured daily schedule filled with enriching activities such as music, arts, crafts, games, swimming, yoga, and dance. This non-competitive environment nurtures growth in fine and gross motor skills, sensory-motor development, self-esteem, and socialization skills. The program also helps campers choose suitable physical leisure activities, preparing them for success in integrated settings both now and in the future.

Additionally, the camp introduced a new swim program that incorporates a pre-swim ritual and Aquaticity skills designed to develop fight-or-flight responses in the water. Data was collected on the correlation between the completion of the pre-swim ritual, daily skills, and the participants' level of autism (1-3). Dr. Stacey Bender and Dr. Jo An Zimmerman assisted with the swim portion of the camp.

In the first week, Department of Theatre and Dance faculty members, Vlasta Silhavy, and Lorena Portillo, conducted theatre lessons for two days. 

“We are so thankful for the support and collaboration of the theatre department,” Ahrens said. “They are amazing!”

Dr. Kevin Byrne, a fellow faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance, and a parent of an eleven-year-old boy with autism named James, shared his heartfelt appreciation for this collaboration. 

Byrne recounted the unique collaboration between the Texas State Theatre Camp and the Autism Summer Camp, where students and faculty from the theatre camp engaged with the campers through workshops.

"They played and imagined and dressed up and performed, all of which are deeply necessary skills for kids on the spectrum," Byrne said. "I will never forget James telling me about catching an 'invisible ball' and having to send it to another camper across the room."

Dr. Byrne praised the camp organizers and faculty for their understanding of neurodiversity and their dedication to education and the therapeutic potential of art and performance. 

"I have never been as proud to be a faculty member at this university," he added.