Autism Program Gives Free Training to “Extreme Makeover” Family- February 15, 2007

The University of Texas Autism Project (UTAP) recently participated in the production of an episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” a popular ABC television program in which a deserving family with a house in ill repair gets a total home renovation in seven days.

“A newspaper article about this family caught my eye,” says Dr. Jody Jensen, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education and co-director of the UTAP. “I read that ‘Extreme Makeover’ would be in Austin to provide a new home to a family with six children, five of whom have autism. I and UTAP co-director Pamela Buchanan, who is a lecturer in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, immediately knew we wanted to offer our program and services to the family.

 “We contacted Karl Miller, the College of Education’s assistant dean for resource development, he reached an ‘Extreme Makeover’ producer, performed some miracles and we were invited out to the O’Donnell family’s home. We toured the new house, offered suggestions for making it suitable for autistic children with of different ages and offered to conduct a workshop for the family. The producers loved the idea, so we presented a certificate for an exclusive professional development workshop and they passed it along to the O’Donnell’s.  The workshop included an invitation to all of the children’s educators, therapists and friends who are involved with the family.”

The workshop was held at Anna Hiss Gym on The University of Texas at Austin campus on Feb. 10, and mirrored the training that Buchanan and Jensen have been offering throughout the state for the past seven years. Based on the premise that one can alter and improve a child’s actions if one knows the basis for the inappropriate behavior, Jensen and Buchanan set about teaching educators, parents and clinicians how to deal with the problems that autistic children have interpreting or acting on sensory input. During the workshops, attendees learned instructional play techniques that give children natural opportunities to build social, motor and communication skills. The emphasis is based on functional interpretation of visual, auditory, vestibular, tactile and proprioceptive sensory inputs.

In addition to gaining information about how to use the sensory items that were built into the new home, the O’Donnell’s and their children’s teachers left the training with new activity ideas, more facts about autism, bags full of sensory-based equipment and The University of Texas at Austin’s What Starts Here Changes the World T-shirts.

“We work with parents, children, teachers and therapists on sensory and motor integration,” says Jensen. “It takes 10,000 hours of dedicated practice to become an expert in just about anything, and most children get that practice and learn to ‘calibrate’ themselves to their environment naturally through play - adults sometimes lose sight of how important play is for a child with autism.

“Through play, children can learn basic skills like opening and closing doors without slamming them, shaking someone’s hand with the correct amount of pressure and playing with siblings without having an emotional meltdown. A child with autism may have problems being touched or filtering out background noise in a room and focusing or even handling the flickering of overhead fluorescent lights. They need experience – through play – in how to better process all the sensory input the world gives them.”

At the workshops they conduct throughout Texas, Buchanan and Jensen teach attendees how to engage in around 500 beneficial and fun activities, using a variety of toys and equipment in their demonstrations for parents, teachers and children. Around 14 University of Texas at Austin students assist each semester with the workshops, setting up activity stations, teaching play techniques and answering questions.

“Before our students venture out to share information and activities with the children, parents and teachers,” says Buchanan, “we stress to them that there is nothing more important than working with someone’s children and providing a safe environment. By the time our students do go out into the field with us, they’re thoroughly versed in the research behind our techniques and know sensory-motor integration principles inside and out. It’s extremely hard work for both us and them, but it’s immeasurably rewarding.

“We really do believe that what we’re doing in these workshops, with the assistance of  our students, exemplifies UT’s credo – what starts here really does change the world.  We want to thank Robin Gerrow, Susan Clagett, Doug Bolin and Lisa Camero - all from the Office of Public Affairs - for working with us after hours on a Friday night and Saturday morning and providing UT T-shirts that could be given to the ‘Extreme Makeover’ creators, producers, crew and design team. We shared with the TV crew what the UT brand means to UTAP and the university and found that their passion is the same.  Now these shirts will speak throughout the nation to others as ‘Extreme Makeover’ travels and continues to change the world in their own way.”

The “Extreme Makeover” episode airs Sun., Feb. 18, 7-8 p.m. CST.  For more information about the UTAP, go to www.edb.utexas.edu/UTAP.

NOTE: One week before the Autism Program offered their workshop to the O’Donnell family, the program suffered a severe setback and lost thousands of dollars worth of toys, supplies and workshop equipment when Anna Hiss Gym was flooded.

—Kay Randall, Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs, 512-232-3910
Photos: Liza Gonsalves

Related Links:

• UTAP Website