GMAS recently developed an instructor’s training that gives an overview of autism, as well as strategies to engage and instruct in a way that is beneficial for both the learner and the instructor. The training was done in person in early December 2021 at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
We invite you to review the recording and share it with your team. We hope that you will find it helpful and that it will assist in the instruction of any sport for individuals with autism. The powerpoint is also available here.
How it all started…
Marcy Pelkey and Meg Denton are both seasoned occupational therapists, and Green Mountain Adaptive Sports board members who have worked for many years in school systems.
Realizing the therapeutic benefits for individuals with disabilities to learn how to Nordic ski, they attended a workshop at Craftsbury Outdoor Center (COC) for US Paralympic Nordic skiing.
The workshop was geared towards individuals with physical disabilities and was wonderful but there was no discussion addressing individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism accessing Nordic skiing.
After talking with Davis Sutherland, the Nordic Center Coordinator at COC, a partnership between Green Mountain Adaptive Sports and Craftsbury Outdoor Center was born, and this training was created.
Over a dozen of the COC cross country ski instructors attended the live training, in preparation for the Adaptive Cross Country Ski Open House on Sunday, January 23, 2022, 1:30-4pm. We hope that many people will come and give cross country skiing a try. The event is free, and participant must re-register to attend.
GMAS is also offering Adaptive Nordic Ski scholarships for individuals with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism and individuals with both physical and intellectual disabilities to take cross country ski lessons, or get a day pass to ski or snowshoe at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center.
To apply for a scholarship to any of our programs, click here.