For many children, summer is a time to make friends, play together and explore new interests in a fun-filled, relaxed environment like camp or a summer program. For youth with special needs, however, these kinds of experiences can be hard to access. But thanks to a newly expanded program created by the University of Maryland and its community partners, local autistic children and teens spent the summer building lifelong memories and friendships at a program designed especially for them.
On six consecutive summer Saturdays, 20 children and teens played games, made music and art, and shared stories and snacks at the Promoting Meaningful Interaction and Social Engagement (PROMISE) program, held at the Chinese Culture and Community Service Center (CCACC) in Rockville, Maryland. The participants were divided into two age groups: ages 3 to 8 and ages 9 to 15.
The free program welcomes autistic youth of all backgrounds but is designed to be culturally relevant to and meet the needs of the Asian American community. PROMISE employs bilingual staff and incorporates Asian cultures into activities–including reading books aloud that feature Asian traditions and celebrations, playing a Chinese version of Duck Duck Goose, singing children’s songs from various countries in Asia, and serving favorite Asian foods during snack time.
“We wanted to focus on culturally relevant activities, talking about neurodiversity and helping them develop positive identity as Asian autistic youth,” said Veronica Kang, assistant professor of special education at UMD. Kang launched PROMISE as a pilot program last summer with the support of the UMD Graduate School’s Faculty-Student Research Award in partnership with Kate Lu, director of CCACC’s Health Center, and Ariel La, a speech therapist at Speech Gardens and Treatment and Learning Center in Rockville.
Kang and her partners decided to create the program after hearing from Asian American parents of autistic youth that they often had trouble accessing organized summer experiences for their children. There is a shortage of summer programs where staff are trained and able to support autistic children. Kang and colleagues have found in their research that Asian American autistic youth and their families face language and cultural barriers that limit their access to resources and social support.
This year, the PROMISE program expanded in size and focus, thanks to a $50,000 grant from UMD’s new Do Good Campus Fund. PROMISE’s grant was the largest of the 27 grants awarded from the fund. With the new funding, PROMISE organizers were able to extend sessions from two to four hours, giving participants more time to build social and conversation skills. PROMISE was also able to welcome more children and teens and hire enough staff for a one-to-one ratio between staff and youth, or “big buddies” and “little buddies” as they’re known at PROMISE. With this low ratio, staff members could focus on each child’s needs and their progress toward individualized goals. Each family chose goals for their child to work on at the program, such as having good sportsmanship, learning how to develop positive friendships and practicing emotional regulation skills.
“The PROMISE program is truly one of a kind, and the genuine love and concern for the children are palpable,” said Paule V. Joseph, parent of 12-year-old Caleb, who has attended PROMISE for two summers. “We are incredibly grateful for the positive impact [PROMISE] has had on Caleb. We’ve seen significant growth, particularly in his speech development [and] social interactions. … It has not only created a wonderful community for the children but also for us as parents.”
“For kids like Kyle who need extensive communication and sensory support, the opportunities to be engaged in a group setting where his needs are fully supported are rare. The PROMISE program was fun, supportive and dynamic,” said Ivy, parent of 4-year-old Kyle, who asked to be identified by her first name. “On the first day, Kyle already made meaningful connections, which does not come easily for him. The program also gave us parents a much-needed respite on the weekend.”
PROMISE staff members are predominantly UMD, George Washington University and Gallaudet University students, with one postbaccalaureate fellow from the National Institutes of Health. Staff members gain valuable experience in clinical skills, such as learning how to work with autistic youth in a positive, strengths-based way, and research skills, such as using a datasheet to track participants’ progress toward their goals. In this way, the program helps to build a future workforce of practitioners in special education and related fields who are prepared to work with people of color with disabilities. A couple of staff positions were funded through UMD’s Do Good Institute’s Impact Internship program and UMD-REACH (Research, Equity, and Access in Communication and Hearing).
“This was my first time working with a student with disabilities, and I learned so much during all the sessions and activities,” said Shehzad Iqbal Awasi, a PROMISE staff member and Ph.D. candidate in UMD's international education policy program, who works with Kang on research projects related to the experiences of parents of autistic youth. “One of the most satisfying moments for me was the daily briefings I had with my buddy's mother. Seeing her happiness and hearing about the positive impact of [PROMISE] on her child was incredibly rewarding.”
In addition to the summer program, PROMISE hosts year-round, monthly support group meetings for families.
“[The youth] say they want to come back next week or they want to come back next year,” said Kang. “They have a place where they belong, and they feel included and welcomed.”
