The summer at SEEDs has been full of extra energy and life with the addition of campers ages 14-22, who are joining us to explore and create. Each individual is so special and precious, and all the staff at SEEDs makes me so proud to work alongside them, as we all continue to find solutions to whatever daily challenges arise, in order to provide the best personal experience for each camper. Challenges can be an understatement when you talk about autism…..who to the outside world may appear as “difficult kids who just need some discipline”. But to the staff at SEEDs, we realize the challenges may be exhibited by a young adult who doesn’t quite know how to express themselves, who may hear sounds more piercing that others can’t, who may have trouble sitting still, or who is still learning how to navigate how to understand being calm in the moment. The challenges WE have are to interpret the words in action that have no alphabet, and discover the need, the want, the best connection to be supportive and helpful. The journey is wide open and sometimes the answer is in the form of participation and sometimes it is in finding a quiet space, with a moment of absolutely no expectations at all. But the one thing that is a constant is that every one has completed the projects, have joined in, have worked together, and have all done so as individuals who bring their own special qualities. Yes, summer has definitely been FULL of ENERGY and we are glad to be able to provide each family a place for their young adult that encourages the fun that can be had when you have others to listen to the individualized language with or without words.
Mary Ann LaRoche
Executive Director / SEEDs for Autism
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Whether it's a single bead on a handcrafted bracelet, a bar of goat's milk soap or a ceramic heart - Shop at SEEDs for Autism and receive 10% off anything that is red, white or blue! Just enter the Promo Code "BOOM" when you checkout!
seedsforautism.org/shop
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"Friends are the sunshine of life." - John Hay
Friendships enrich our lives, make us happy and provide us with a sense of purpose and belonging. At SEEDs for Autism we understand that making friends can be especially difficult for those on the autism spectrum. Our multifaceted program helps participants develop important social skills which empower them to interact with their peers, connect with others and build friendships. We asked our participants to share their thoughts on what it takes to be a good friend.
Sydney and Erik share a conversation as they work together on a puzzle
BRIANNA
A good friend is friendly, kind, helpful, someone you can talk to, spend some time with, and makes you laugh!
NATHAN B.
It takes a lot to be a good friend. For starters you need to be kind and friendly. You also need to be selfless and also need to be loyal as well. The final thing you need to be a good friend is to be funny and make them happy. That is what it takes to be a good friend.
CHRIS M.
I believe that a good friend will always be there to support you in achieving your goals, whether it’s a family member or a best friend. And sometimes you will have to be a good friend in order to support other people you know. A bad friend, however, would offer bad advice or lie to people, only to make things worse. Overall, being a good friend to others would depend on you. If you know what’s right or wrong, just do it.
SEEDs participants enjoy some social time before morning meeting!
MICHAEL B.
What makes a good friend? It is a question that passes through our minds at multiple times throughout our journey in life. This question guides and shapes our interactions, relationships and the future of every person we meet on planet earth. As a result, I believe the three qualities that make up a good friend are compassion, empathy and a good understanding of interpersonal relationships. Overall, these three traits when displayed correctly in the appropriate manner convey to others that they have the skills needed to be not just be a good friend, but an outstanding friend to rely on at any given time.
DANIEL N.
Getting to know the other person better is very important for friendships to form and sometimes they take years. Listening to the other party is fuel to form friendships.Talk about what the other party is interested in and topics that are appropriate for the conversation like "What do you like to do for fun?" Listen when the other party is talking to you and talk when it is your turn. In conclusion, friendships are very fragile and they need to be maintained.
JUSTIN M.
How to be a good friend: 1) Introduce yourself. 2) Tell funny jokes. 3) Make them happy. 4) Help them with a puzzle. 5) Shake hands.
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Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life, it's about what you inspire others to do.
-Anonymous
Inspirational people help us believe in ourselves and motivate us to strive for excellence. These rare individuals make us want to reach further, do great things and take ACTION! Although there are many inspiring personalities in movies and television, it is the ones we encounter in our own lives that make the greatest impact. We asked SEEDs participants to tell us about the inspirational people in their lives.
JOSE
My mom, as cliche as it is, is the person who most inspires me. She is the sweetest, coolest and most creative person in my life. She has the ability to listen despite how hard she works. I feel alone when I'm away from her and she is always there for me when I have to do things that are hard. She prays for me and she listens to my problems. I am happy when she has my back, in the toughest of times. Sometimes, when she is away, I have to learn how to be a grown man. It is hard. She taught me a lesson early on that I'm a special important person and I'm there to help people so that’s why I have to be a grown up even when she is far away. A lot of times she will tell me things that are hard to hear but she only says it out of love. My mom has the best way of expressing her love. She will have little sayings like, “Hike up your britches", "I have a hug in my arms", or "I am in awe of you, Jose” that's a special way she lets me know I'm her good son, whom she loves.
I look at the strange days that have passed me sometime ago. There were always these moments when I couldn’t lift my head up but mom would not let me give up! And the hard days were there because I was supposed to power through them. At the end of the day, I remember having a good feeling because my mom and I got through our day together. My Mom inspires my creativity, positivity and hard work. My family is important to me and my mother really inspires me because she is the person I most admire.
ANNA
My dad inspires me because he is in a wheelchair but he doesn't let that make him not go to work. He is probably the hardest worker I know. He often gets no sleep but goes to work any way. And will often help me in any way he can even when he is tired.
JAKE M.
I am writing about someone who inspired me in my life. That person is Officer Franklin Marino. Officer Marino was an adult member of Boy Scout Troop 30. When I was younger and got into trouble with my peers in Troop 30, Officer Marino was there to pull me aside and talk. I didn’t always appreciate it at the time but as I got older I started to understand his methods. Some of the things he instilled in me were to respect all my peers, parents, elders, and people of authority. Other things he taught me were skills like coping skills and when to remove myself from troubling situations and people with a toxic attitude. He also wanted me to come to him if I needed help. Finally the most important thing he told me was that I can only control my actions. Having a guy like Officer Marino in my life was crucial in my development as a person.
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Summer vacations, family trips, visiting relatives - and everything in between! At SEEDs for Autism we invite and encourage our participants to share their stories and experiences with others. Here, Sydney is happy to write about the wonderful time she had on a recent camping trip.
Two weeks ago, I went camping at Camp Colley in Northern Arizona. On Friday afternoon after we set up camp, we ate dinner in the mess hall. I ate two quesadillas. Then we went back to camp and sat around the campfire, eating s'mores. The next day, after breakfast, we went crawdad fishing, which consisted of taking a stick, tying a long piece of fishing line around it, taking the other end and tying it around a rock wrapped in bacon and sticking it in the water. I think I caught the most crawdads, with ten. I didn't eat any because they kind of creeped me out. That afternoon, we went to ride horses around a large corral. My horse was named Chief. It wasn't much fun because all we did was ride the horses around this large corral. After dinner, I was really tired and went to bed. On Sunday morning after breakfast, we went to the archery range and fired arrows at a target. I shot 8 arrows but only 1 of them hit the haystack behind the target. Then we ate hamburgers for lunch. I only ate one and was full afterwards. Then we packed up and went home. Going to Camp Colley was like going on this wild and crazy adventure. It was one of the best weekends of my life.
The Dining Hall at Camp Colley
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Music is the soundtrack of our lives! It is part of who we are and resonates in the deep places of our hearts. Listening to music provides relaxation, builds confidence and helps us explore different emotions. We asked SEEDs participants to share their favorite songs and tell us why they like them.
HANNAH
My favorite song is "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel who plays Queen Elsa in Disney's Frozen. I love the song because it is so empowering and beautiful. When I listen to "Let It Go" it makes me feel happy and powerful and it makes me feel like a queen just like Elsa. I sang "Let It Go" at my high school graduation last year.
MICHAEL H.
My favorite song is "Life is a Highway". It is one of the first songs I have heard from an artist. It relaxes me and feels adventurous. I used to play it often.
XAVIER
My favorite song is Andy Timmons's, "Cry For You" because I like the guitar in the background.
NATHAN B.
My favorite song is "Ride the Lightning" by Metallica. The reason why I like "Ride the Lightning" so much is because it makes me feel invigorated and pumped up. The song also gets me in a good mood as well. That is my favorite song and why I like it.
KERI
My favorite song is "Red" by Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is a great singer and an amazing person probably with a great sense of humor.
MICHAEL S.
"What Makes You Beautiful" by Cimorelli is my favorite song because it is a good song and it makes me feel happy.
TALIA
I like Bon Jovi "Dead or Alive". Because it's a rock and roll song. I like to sing that song.
ANNA
One of my favorite songs is the Christmas song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Yes I'm talking about a Christmas song in July. I just love the Christmas season so much. But I also like it because if you listen to the song it’s bittersweet. The words in the song “Next year all our troubles will be out of sight” reminds me that things do get better. I have troubles which make me anxious or very worried sometimes because of my OCD but honestly those things I worry about go away. Maybe not next year like in the song but they do go away. When I was nineteen for Christmas vacation I went to New York City, somewhere I always wanted to go. However the experience was very bad for me and ruined the Christmas season for me. But next Christmas after that was just good. The song spoke the truth to me. By the way, Judy Garland sings it the best.
BRIAN D.
I do like "A Year Without Rain" by Selena Gomez because it makes me happy and feeling in love.
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Great advice stays with us all our lives. It helps us grow and makes us see the world and ourselves in a different way. These words of wisdom can help us navigate through life's experiences and provides a powerful message that we can share with others. We asked SEEDs participants to share some of the best advice they've ever received.
ANGEL
One piece of advice that I received is what my friend wrote in my yearbook. She wrote: “Be You” as in be yourself. That piece of advice will always follow me as a reminder that I don’t have to change my personality, I have to be myself, never think negative, clear my mind and always think positive. Learning that piece of advice from my friend means I could use my version of the advice to tell someone that I know, talked to or maybe on social media like Twitter.
CHRIS M.
I’ve been given a lot of advice when I have to solve problems, but I think the best words of advice I ever got was this: Be Positive. It can be hard to remain positive in times when other people do things or act negative, but you can get over it and think of the good life, not by holding a grudge against the people who act negatively. My Mom always reminds me to look on the bright side whenever I feel negative and/or depressed about the bad things. I know I cannot control other people, but I can try being positive. Look for the Bare Necessities of Life.
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At SEEDs for Autism we provide summer programs designed specifically for teens and young adults on the autism spectrum. Our summer participants experience a wide range of age appropriate activities while engaging with peers in a structured, supportive environment. Summer campers experience positive social interactions, develop fine motor skills, improve communication, build self confidence and most of all... have lots of fun!
For more information about our summer program please call
602-253-4471 or email director@seedsforautism.org
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Many thanks to Maurice Chait and Erik for the generous donation of a Schacht Floor Loom & Accessories!
Sonja & Sydney pose with our new Schacht Floor Loom!
photo credit: Brianna
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Contact us at admin@seedsforautism.org if you would like to hold your very own trunk show where you can invite your friends to purchase SEEDs products, have refreshments, and meet some of the artists. |
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