Autism camp teaching kids social skills through cake and presents

SALT LAKE CITY — Ava, 9, and Steven, 13, went to a birthday party this week at Sugarhouse Park. But it was nobody's birthday.

It was an "unbirthday party," Ava explained. "A birthday party for no reason."

There was, actually, a very good explanation.It was part of the University Neuropsychiatric Institute's Kidstar Summer Camp for kids with autism.

The camp pairs children with high-functioning autism, like Steven, with "neurotypical" children, like Ava. The program tries to give children a fun summer camp experience while teaching them social skills.

"Children on the autism spectrum have a hard time making friends," said Kidstar director Karina Rasmussen. "They have difficulty reading social cues, facial expressions, and understanding what to do in certain social situations."

Their day begins at the institute with a lesson from the "Superheroes: Social Skills" program developed by University of Utah researchers.

Using comic books, videos, games and "power cards," campers learn how, step by step, to follow directions, to maintain eye contact, and other skills that many other kids pick up naturally. Then they practice those skills throughout the day and watch the children without autism, like Ava, model that behavior.

Rasmussen said the children had an "unbirthday party" to practice thinking about other people, something that's difficult for children with autism.

First, it was a trip to a dollar store to shop for presents. Steve bought Ava a bag of strawberry bonbons, a bag of popcorn and a can of potato chips. Ava got Steven bottle cap candy, potato chips and a bottle of root beer.

Then it was off the park to decorate cupcakes, break piñatas, and wrap and open presents.

"We make them sit in a circle and wait, and they have to open (the presents) up individually," Rasmussen explained, "and that's also very hard for the kids."

"It's just very rewarding to see these kids open up and have fun," she added. "I worry that kids on the autism spectrum don't get to have a lot of fun because they're so anxious about social environments or social situation. So I love watching them be able to be kids and run down a hill and get wet and laugh and so that's what the camp's all about."

"We get to hang out with our friends," Stephen said. "That's all that really matters."

The camp holds separate sessions for children 8-12 and 13-17. For more information visit http://healthcare.utah.edu/uni/services/kidstar_camp.html.

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