Open house showcases autism programs

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Chloe Tome, 8, of Naugatuck, tries her hand on the rock wall during the Naugatuck YMCA’s Autism Day on Sunday. The event was held to showcase community programs available at the YMCA to children on the autism spectrum. -JIM SHANNON/REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — Each room had different activities.

In one room there was a short rock wall, pingpong and foosball tables. In another, there were art activities, mason jars filled with watercolor paint and plates filled with play snow made of baking soda.

And because this was the Naugatuck YMCA on Church Street, there was obviously a pool where families could swim.

On Sunday afternoon, these rooms were open to families of children diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum as a way to introduce those families to the Naugatuck Y’s “We Belong” Autism Spectrum Caregiver Support Group.

“It’s like an open house for families in the community that have children with autism to come down and see what we have to offer,” said Sherri Beck, youth and family director for the YMCA. “A lot of times parents don’t realize that we’re here and they don’t realize that we are offering different programs for them. So we want to make sure they’re aware of what we have.”

The program is partly funded by a grant, and partly funded by the YMCA and by a small fee parents pay. Beck said 20 to 30 families typically attend the support group sessions.

Beck said she started the support group three years ago, shortly after learning of her grandson’s autism diagnosis.

“I tried to find services for him and I was not able to find any,” she said. “The school does a great job. They offered services for me. But I wanted more for him. And I needed support myself and I couldn’t find anything close. With that, I wanted to do something.”

Not long after, Beck said, she received a phone call from Naugatuck Youth Services, and was asked, “If I had funding what would I do?

“I said, ‘I would start a support group for families on the spectrum,’” she said. “There are different programs that are a distance away and the cost is very expensive. So this is something that’s great for families. It’s right in their hometown and they don’t have to travel.”

Travel is often difficult for families with children with autism, Beck said.

“So this is just right down the street for them. That’s the main thing. Its home base is here,” she said.

Danielle Klapcik, the mother of a 13-year-old boy with Asperger syndrome, is “one of the new moms” in the support group. Her family moved to Naugatuck a year ago. On Sunday she was a volunteer overseeing the activities in the room with the rock wall.

Joshua Tome, 6, of Naugatuck, plays table tennis with his mother, Diana Tome, during the Naugatuck YMCA’s Autism Day on Sunday. The event was held to showcase community programs available to children on the autism spectrum. -JIM SHANNON/REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

As a member of the support group with an older child, she is able to help parents of younger children, by offering advice to those parents.

“What we’ve been through, someone else’s child has not gone through yet, so I might be able to help them,” Klapcik said.

In another room, Elizabeth Wierzbicki, a member of the Naugatuck Arts Commission, led children in hands-on activities including painting with watercolors and sculpting objects out of pretend snow made of baking soda.

“I think sensory is very important to our children. It’s very calming if they’re upset. And it’s an outlet for them to be able to use their hands,” Wierzbicki said.

Experts were also on hand, including a team from the autism program at the Yale School of Medicine’s Child Study Center, who registered families for different studies, including anxiety and behavior, offered by the program.

Erin MacDonnell, the program’s research intake coordinator, said in her experience “everyone benefits” when there is support available.

“No one wants to cope alone,” MacDonnell said. “You definitely want someone to be with you on your journey.”

The We Belong program is growing. Beck said a new music therapy program will be starting up next month.

“We’re very supportive of each other,” Beck said. “Some families they have no clue where to start. It’s understandable. It’s so overwhelming. So our support group comes together, to help families deal with that.”

The support group meets the first and third Monday each month from 6 to 8 p.m. Families seeking more information about the group can email Beck at sbeck@nagatuckymca.org.