RU Hosts RiteCare Family Autism Clinic

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RU Hosts RiteCare = Family Autism=20 Clinic

RADFORD -- The Radford University Department of Communication = Sciences=20 and Disorders (COSD) in the Waldron College of Health and Human = Services=20 will host the 14th annual RU RiteCare Language and Research = Clinic.=20 This year=92s clinic will focus on children diagnosed with autism = spectrum=20 disorders. The event, sponsored by the Scottish Rite of = Freemasonry, will=20 be held now through Friday, June 27, in Waldron Hall.

=93For the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase = in autism=20 spectrum disorders,=94 said Pat Rossi, RU=92s RiteCare = clinic=20 coordinator and speech-language pathologist. =93This camp gives us = the=20 opportunity to research and evaluate the effectiveness of speech = and=20 language intervention for children diagnosed with autism in an = attempt to=20 make breakthroughs for future generations.=94

The clinic theme is =93Communicating in Tents,=94 which = highlights the goal=20 of facilitating a child=92s intent, or desire, to communicate. = Children will=20 pretend to set up a camp and sleep under a starry night sky = replicated=20 indoors using a laser star light show. Participants will explore = nature=20 with friends and family. They will take nature hikes using walking = sticks=20 designed by the children, swim in a pond also constructed by the = children,=20 sail on Gypsy, the Scottish Rite playground pirate ship, = and learn=20 to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Each week, participants will read a book, which they may keep = at the=20 conclusion of the camp. They will also explore new concepts and = words as=20 they take on various roles, such as a child chasing a frog or a = frog being=20 chased.

=93This experiential play serves as a foundation on which to = build=20 symbolic play, which comes to fruition as the children recreate = stories=20 and dialogue using toy animals, dolls and a wide array of = miniature=20 props,=94 said Rossi.

Diane Millar, an associate professor and director of the RU = Autism=20 Center, will design and conduct research during the clinic; Rossi = will=20 implement necessary treatment. They will collaborate to educate = students=20 and families about evidence-based intervention practices for = autistic=20 children. Graduate clinicians in the RU speech language pathology = program=20 who have received Scottish Rite scholarships will work with the = children=20 individually and in peer groups. Every child enrolled will receive = a=20 comprehensive evaluation and 20 hours of speech and language = therapy per=20 week. Caretakers and siblings of participants are encouraged to = attend the=20 family camp to facilitate family-centered learning.

The RU RiteCare Language and Research Clinic is a = collaboration=20 among COSD, psychology and music therapy faculty members and = students at=20 the university. Peer models, undergraduate volunteers and one = adult client=20 from the RU Speech and Hearing Clinic will also participate in the = event.

Due to the generous support of the Scottish Rite, all services = in the=20 RU RiteCare summer clinic program are offered to parents at = no=20 cost. To learn more about the clinic, contact Diane Millar at = (540)=20 831-7635 or dcmillar@radford.edu=20 or Patricia Rossi at (540) 831-7734 or prossi3@radford.edu.

June 4, 2008
Contact: Mindy Buchanan (mlbuchana@radford.edu;=20 540-831-7764)

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