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Upstate autism expert pens children's book to help kids connect with friends with autism

Upstate autism expert pens children's book to help kids connect with friends with autism

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- The Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center’s KidSpeak Program has been promoting understanding and acceptance for children with autism spectrum disorders in classrooms all over Central New York for about 10 years. A new children’s book, Carey & Sally, Friends with Autism, is a colorful companion piece for the existing puppet workshop and curriculum that lives on when the program is finished.

The book is written by Carroll Grant, PhD, director of the Margaret L. Williams Developmental Evaluation Center. The colorful illustrations are by Chittenango artist Jerry Russell. Grant began her focus on autism in the early 1970s and has been managing the center since 1982. Her clinical focus shifted from teaching skills to children with autism to educating their peers when she realized that changes in culture would be required for the kids to connect and be welcomed socially.

“I wanted to make it more comfortable for kids in the class to reach out to their peers who are different,” Grant explained. “When someone acts differently, or unpredictably, kids may choose to avoid that person instead of reaching out in friendship. In older kids, this can even become bullying. I developed KidSpeak to encourage understanding and acceptance. In addition, through the actions and dialogue of the characters, children and adults in the audience learn ways to successfully interact with children with autism.”

The KidSpeak Program consists of three components. The first is the puppet workshop, where the characters of Carey and Sally are introduced. Carey and Sally are puppet characters with autism who have different abilities. They help explain and demonstrate different behaviors, learning styles and feelings of children with autism. The puppet workshop, presented by members of the center, launches a five-week curriculum in the classroom focusing on inclusion and teaching kids how to better interact with classmates who have differences. The book will be used throughout the program to reinforce material presented in the puppet workshop, and also after the program’s completion as a refresher. Working with KidSpeak not only gives students a better understanding of autism and their peers, but it provides a shared language for teachers and students to use when addressing issues of autism.

The KidSpeak Program is designed for children aged 6 to 9 years and teaches that everyone has unique gifts and ways that they can contribute. The program has been presented to hundreds of classes since it’s inception. Any parent or educator interested in bringing the KidSpeak Program into their school may contact the Margaret L.Williams Developmental Evaluation Center at 315-472-4404 for more information.

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