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Why Recreation Belongs in Education, Health, and Community Systems for Individuals with Autism and Other Disabilities
Play and recreation are where many of the most important parts of human development take shape. Through shared activities, people learn how to connect with others, how to manage differences, how to experience themselves to their fullest abilities, and how to feel part of something larger than...
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Building Prerequisite Skills for Spectator Participation in Community Events: Supporting Family Outings for Children with Autism
Family activities often extend beyond the home and into the community. Participation in community events can be an important part of family life. Leisure activities such as joining a team, enrolling in a class, or developing a hobby provide opportunities for individuals to engage with their...
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The Performing Arts: More Than Access to Recreation for Autistic Children and Adults
The school district I attended between 4th and 9th grades included a professionally managed theater arts program. In fifth grade, my class was treated to a live performance of Pippi Longstocking. The following year, I was cast in a small, non-speaking role in Tom Sawyer. My parents enrolled me in...
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Bringing the Arts into Direct Support: How Theatre Programs Empower People with Developmental Disabilities
A career on Broadway isn’t the only way to incorporate a love for theatre into a job. Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) often find meaningful ways to include the arts and performance into their work every day. Shayna Stroh, a DSP at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises (FREE), who has...
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Safe and Inclusive Aquatics for Autistic Individuals: An Evidence-Based Approach to Water Safety and Skill Development
Key Points Autistic individuals often experience significant barriers to recreation, limiting social engagement, physical development, and overall well‑being. Drowning risk remains a major safety concern, with autistic children being 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical...
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“It Really Is Disneyland”: The Benefits of Sleepaway Camp for Autistic Children and Adults
After 32 years as the Director of Family Support Services at Citizen Options Unlimited, Savita Sharma still begins a countdown to the organization’s Camp Loyaltown in Hunter, NY each January. “Parents tell me: ‘Bags are packed, it’s only January. [Our child] knows camp is coming,’”...
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Do’s and Don’ts of Connecting Through Classical Music: An Autistic Perspective
Neurodivergent special interests can be more or less "obscure." The author used to be fascinated by mathematics and was a math student through graduate school. Even at that time, I began spending an unsustainable amount of time in music libraries and record stores. Decades later, after writing...
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How Animals and Pet Therapy Enhance Recreational Experiences for Autistic Individuals
For individuals on the autism spectrum, recreational activities can sometimes feel overwhelming or stressful. Loud noises, crowded spaces, or unfamiliar social interactions can make participation challenging. This is where animals can make a big difference. Animals provide a comforting,...
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From Gardens to Galleries: Cultivating Confidence, Identity, and Belonging Through Inclusive Community Experiences
At AABR’s Program Without Walls (PWOW) and Day Habilitation Programs, we believe that access to hobbies, recreation, and cultural exploration is not a luxury — it is a pathway to growth, confidence, identity, and belonging. For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),...
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How Enhancing Access to Art Activities Supports Well-Being and Social Inclusion of Children on the Autism Spectrum
For many toddlers, some of the earliest joys are simple things: the playground, toy trains, building towers out of blocks. But one of the first things that truly captivated my son Matthew was something much quieter. It was crayons. When Matthew was very young — before he was speaking much...
