On Friday April 4 students from Niagara College’s Educational Assistance and Adult Supports (EA&AS) program welcomed 32 children living with autism spectrum disorder or an intellectual and/or developmental disability to the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at NC’s Welland Campus for a fun-filled morning of recreational activities.
Organized in partnership with Bethesda’s Children and Youth Services team, this is the second time NC students in the School of Community Services have offered PA Day programming to school aged children in support of the families served by Bethesda.
“We’re pleased to once again be working with the amazing team at Bethesda to support families in the wider Niagara community,” said Ann Marie Raos, Professor, EA&AS. “Not only is this a fantastic experiential learning experience for our students, but it also gives the children participating in the program the confidence to try new activities in an inclusive and safe environment.”
The experience featured 20 different student-led activities which included horseshoe toss, bowling and parachute games. Each child from Bethesda Children and Youth Services was paired with an NC student who was able to support them through the various activities. NC students were able to apply their knowledge of accommodation, modification and behaviour management to ensure the children were engaged, happy and having fun.
“Participating in the PA Day Camp was a great way for me to use the skills I’ve learned in the classroom to benefit others,” said EA&AS student Kaylie Slingerland. “Being able to provide a child with a positive day camp experience was very impactful to me and I proved to myself that I know what I’m doing and that I’ve chosen the correct career path.”
When preparing for this initiative, students discussed the importance of engagement and redirection when working with school-aged children with exceptionalities.
“Throughout our courses we’ve been taught the importance of flexibility and being quick on your feet,” said Slingerland. “I prepared for the day by reviewing different cool-down games that I could pivot to if a child was overwhelmed or was disinterested with the designated activities.”
This type of learning offers NC students the opportunity to build connections with community partners as well as the population they will be working with once they graduate.
“We are so proud to once again partner with Bethesda to support the PA Day Camp initiative,” said Jackie Frail, Associate Dean, School of Community Services. “These types of experiential learning opportunities allow our students to gain hands-on experience working with children with unique needs and highlights the importance of community partnership and the power of inclusion.”
Bethesda, a longstanding community partner of the College, initiated this collaboration with the School of Community Services last year to add to the supportive opportunities offered to the families they serve.
“This collaboration allows us to provide enriching experiences tailored to the individual needs of each child, and we are incredibly grateful for the dedication and creativity of the Niagara College students,” said Alyson Wilson, Director of Bethesda’s Children and Youth Services.
Students from NC’s Autism and Behavioural Science (ABS) program also participated in the day, working collaboratively with students from the EA&AS program to create a fun and barrier-free environment for participants.
Recently, Bethesda also worked with NC’s Dental Hygiene and ABS programs to provide dental care to children with autism. The continuous collaborative efforts between both organizations highlight their shared commitment to building inclusive communities and providing meaningful learning opportunities.
