All little boys and girls look forward to the holiday season for the possibility of a shiny new toy or five. But toys can have additional meaning for the estimated 1 in 166 children in the U.S. who are diagnosed with autism, resulting in learning and developmental deficiencies.
Children with autism struggle to express themselves and form relationships with other people. Some cannot communicate their needs and wants; others are overwhelmed by the touch of a simple hug; even imaginative play — the building block of childhood learning — can be impaired by this lifelong neurological disorder.
However, according to representatives of the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, with educational toys and with assistance, children with autism can learn and overcome some of their developmental deficiencies.
It is with that goal in mind that LDAF is again holding its annual Educational Toys for Autism this holiday season, seeking to collect donations of new and “gently used” toys, as well as cash donations, to bring additional toys to Sussex County’s school for autistic children, the Sussex Consortium.
“All of our toy drop-off boxes and our money banks have been out since before Thanksgiving, and are going to be collected on Monday, Dec 18, so that the items can be sorted and distributed to the Consortium before they go on Holiday break,” said toy drive organizer Peggy Glenn this week as the effort headed toward the finish line.
Businesses in Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island, Rehoboth Beach, Georgetown and Lewes have joined with LDAF to assist in the Educational Toys for Autism Campaign this year, serving as drop-off locations for the donated toys, specialist retail outlets at which to buy new toys to donate and temporary custodians of cash donations toward the campaign.
“Monetary donations are certainly welcome,” Glenn said this week. “We ask for ‘wish lists’ from the Sussex Consortium staff and try to get them things that they need for their classrooms.”
Toys more than playthings
The toys collected by LDAF’s annual toy drive are incorporated in the work that goes on each weekday at the Consortium. In addition to their pure play value, the toys might be used to teach the interaction skills with which autistic children can sometimes have difficulty.
The school’s groundbreaking PEC “picture education” system — in which picture cards substitute for spoken words — incorporates many of the toys found in its classrooms, encouraging children to ask for a specific toy by bringing the associated card to the teacher before they can begin playing with it.
For many of the children, asking for one of these toys is the first real step toward interaction that they make on the journey to speech and group play.
The toys can also benefit autistic children in other ways, such as encouraging them away from the fixation on spinning objects that is common among many children with autism and teaching them proper play techniques.
For James Cook, 4, of Ocean View, it was the daily encouragement of his teachers at the Consortium that taught him that toy trucks could be pushed along the floor, rather than simply turned over to observe the spinning wheels. And James surprised his parents by riding a tricycle on his first attempt at home — a skill he learned during his days at the Consortium.
So, for teachers at the school, the toys donated during the annual LDAF toy drive are more than just something to keep their students entertained — they are the tools used to help teach the autistic children the life skills most parents take for granted.
Variety of toys needed
According to Glenn, appropriate educational toys, for any age, may include: Leap Pads; animal or science picture books; Macintosh software such as “Thinking Things,” “Millie’s Math House,” “Kidspiration,” “Successmaker” or “Bugdom”; Pixters and Pitxter games; elementary-level board games and card games; sensory toys; new-release G-rated VHS and DVD videos; electronic games; CD/DVD players; children’s books on tape; Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues toys; play tents; art supplies; K-Nex building toys; atlas map books and globes; Quantum Pad games; Little People toys; farm sets zoo sets; Thomas the Tank Engine toys; wooden puzzles and regular puzzles up to 100 pieces. “All are terrific for children with autism,” Glenn said.
Local businesses pitch in
For ideas on specific educational toys, toy listings are also available at Kids’ Ketch Toys in Lewes and Pitter Patter Children’s Store in Bethany Beach, where donors can purchase appropriate educational toys right from the displays.
New and gently-used educational toys may be dropped off at: Beitzel Cabinet & Millwork in Rehoboth; Jefferson, Urian, Doane & Sterner in Georgetown; Plantations’ Fitness Center in Lewes; John F. Kleinstuber & Associates Realty Office in Fenwick Island; and Sea Colony Fitness Center in Bethany Beach.
In addition to the toy donations, cash donations may be made in the LDAF puzzle-piece collection banks located in all Atlantic Book Warehouse stores, including locations at Route 1 in Lewes, Rehoboth Avenue, Bethany Beach, Fenwick Island and Dover.
For more information on the Educational Toys for Autism Campaign, call Peggy Glenn at the LDAF office (302) 644-3410 or visit our website at www.ldaf.com. All contributions are tax deductible.
Donations support LDAF activities
As the end of the year nears, LDAF is also kicking off its annual giving campaign, aimed at raising funds for activities the group offers year-round to autistic children and their families.
“Swimming, biking, singing, or laughing with friends — these are just a few of the things that childhood is made of. But for children with autism, these simple activities can present enormous challenges,” according to LDAF President Rudy Beitzel. “The Lower Delaware Autism Foundation is not, however, without hope, without faith, and not without the promise of a better life for our children with autism.”
“It is with this spirit that LDAF works each day to provide individuals with autism opportunities and experiences that are enriching and meaningful to their lives,” Beitzel said.
The group’s many programs include an adaptive bike camp, a summer swimming program and a music program in partnership with Keynote Music Studio. Scholarships and stipends are also offered to help the Sussex Consortium attract and retain talented teachers and staff.
Most recently, LDAF has launched a Government Relations Program, working with the state legislature and local government to ensure that the families receive the support and services they need.
“LDAF’s programs and services provide important support, as well as recreational and social outlets, for our children with autism and their families,” Beitzel said. “In order to continue to offer programs such as these and to expand our services to our families, we need the continued support and generosity of people like you.”
The foundation kicked off their campaign recently at the LDAF office in Lewes, with their first official donations to the campaign. The donations, totaling $200, were given in honor of Mark Kleinstuber, a 14-year-old child with autism, by his family and friends.
Each year, the foundation’s annual appeal helps LDAF to raise funds used to support their programming and services, to expand their offerings to those affected by the by autism, and to help cover general operating expenses incurred as the organization provides these opportunities to children and families affected by the pervasive developmental disorder.
New programs offer options, raise awareness
In 2006, LDAF launched its new music program in partnership with Keenote Music Studios, as well as holding the swimming and bike programs, among others.
Accomplishments for the 2006 year also included the creation of a new position with the foundation for a program and event coordinator and the implementation of the aggressive government relations program, which enables LDAF to work at the legislative level to strengthen awareness, support, and funding for autism programs in southern Delaware.
“Annual Giving is the lifeblood of non-profit organizations like LDAF,” said Melissa Tice Martin, LDAF’s program and event coordinator. “Without the generous support of donors in our community, LDAF could not provide such a high level of quality services for Sussex County’s children and individuals with autism. These funds, which are raised and spent within a calendar year, help us to make a difference in their lives in very meaningful ways.”
To learn more about the Lower Delaware Autism Foundation, or to give to the LDAF Annual Giving Campaign, visit the Web site at www.ldaf.com and click on “Contributions,” or call the office at (302) 644-3410 for more information.
Gifts to the foundation are also tax-deductible. Gifts may be made in honor of a special friend or family member. LDAF will send a special letter of recognition to inform the honoree of the gift, making it another option for holiday giving.