Autism Gym in the News

 

The Gym in the News

Please go to: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-autism-gym-20100530,0,3381320.story 

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-05-30/news/os-autism-gym-20100530_1_autistic-kids-gym-floor-ocoee-gym

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20106230321  

view the stories at there links.    

And the West Orange times wrote up an article about the Prom but we only have a picture of it. Click here.

BBQ at Winn Dixie

This past Memorial weekend Steve Roe of Winn Dixie held a BBQ fundraiser at the store for the Autism Gym program in Ocoee. .  They raised $714.00!  for our gym!!  Special thanks to Robin Wright and Joyce Davidson for all of their hard work. Pictured  Mr. Roe receives the "Joey Award" for his continued support for the program from JoAnne and Jennifer Houwers.
pictured left to right:
 Jennifer Houwers, Steve Roe, JoAnne Houwers, Robin Wright

 

Car Wash -

The carwash was held on April 25 in front of BankFirst in Winter Garden raising $371.00.

Pictures:

Names from left to right: 
Britney Clark  (top)
Brianna Fox
Samantha Hovis
Cynthia Fox  (front)
Alyssa Cokonis
Kazzie Nieves

2nd picture:  Nathan Hines helping Dominik Roumeliotis wash cars

car wash picture carwash2-photo

Article Sent to West Orange Times April 04, 2009

Story:

A very special spa day held at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort The second Smooch Project was held recently at the Rosen Shingle Creek Spa in Southwest Orlando for mothers of participants in the Autism Gym Program at the Jim Beech Recreation Center in Ocoee.

Setting up the "Special Moms of Outstanding Children with Handicaps" spa day was Ashley Shelton. The top 10 sellers of the Autism Gym Program chocolate fund-raiser were selected to take part, and they traveled by limo to the spa where they each received a free facial, massage, pedicure and manicure. From there, they went to Bonefish Grilel for dinner and left with a bag of gifts.

Article Sent to West Orange Times Nov 2, 2008

With the help of fundraising, grants and the continued support from the Jim Beech Recreation center in Ocoee, the Autism & Related Disabilities Gym Program sponsored 21 children for swimming lessons this year! We are proud to say that has more than doubled since last years 11. Our goal is to have fun, but at the same time teach them to float, and stay above water for survival skills they might need some day. Our lifeguards were amazing! It was very new to them, to teach kids with a disability, and the kids absolutely loved them, as well as the parents! They received baked goods and gift certificates from the parents! A very big thanks to Mark Johnson, Paul Burdziakowski for their continued support to the program and meeting the kids needs!  Special thanks to Our lifeguards:    Jeff Parrish  Ryan Francis  David Torres 

  1st photo: left to right Jeff Parrish, David Torres, and Ryan Francis with Domomik Roumeliotis  2nd photo: learning how to hold your breath and go under  3rd photo: Jeff Parrish and Francisco Schwarz learning the back float  4th photo: Victoria Howard and Ryan Francis 

 

Florida Golf Central Magazine Florida Golf Central Magazine featured the Autism Gym annual Golfing FORE Autism in their August 2008 issue. See more at www.floridagolfcentral.com

Central Florida News 13 - Watch the video feed HERE and/or read the artical below or(click on Central Florida News 13 at the front of this line).

Autism Gym

Friday, April 06, 2007 2:24:40 PM

To an outsider looking in it appears to be your typical gym class. Each child in here has a special need or is related to someone with a special need.

Jacob Nachtsheim’s 12-year-old brother Alec has Down Syndrome. Nachtsheim said, "I've learned a lot about the disability stuff."

Here at the Autism Gym, Alec leads the kickball game.

Theresa Nachtsheim, Alec's Mom said, "He is running from the minute he gets here to the minute he goes home and that interaction, that energy has him feeling better-physically well, he's not going to get overweight."

Joanne Houwers the founded the Autism Gym said, "They won't know why they're running, all they know is that we're clapping for them, we're happy for them and they're smiling and running."

Houwers created the Autism Gym seven years ago, so her then 15-year-old autistic son would have a place to go not only to exercise, but to socialize as well.

"They're kind of standoffish.  They don't really want to play with other people, but if the ball's coming at them, they're going to catch it and hopefully they'll throw it back," Houwers said.

Vincent Condello’s daughter Sienna has Autism. Condello said, "There's more coordination."

Condello comes to the gym once a week with his daughter. He says she interacts better and is more calm.

"Not only do the children get to exercise and socialize here, but the Autism Gym also provides a great support system for the parents," Condello said.

"I love the whole peer support.  I love to talk to the other mothers," Theresa Nachtsheim said.

"We want our kids to be able to play and have a good time.  We want them to swim and interact with other people and we want them to be as normal as possible and that's what I like about it," Houwers said.

The Autism Gym is free and is open to all ages. They are sponsoring a charity golf tournament on Saturday June 9 at the Orange County National Golf Course. All proceeds will go toward the program.

For more information on the Autism Gym log onto their Web site at http://www.autismgym.org/

If you would like to see this story or other Health & Fitness stories, you can see it on Central Florida On Demand, at no extra cost. Just go to channel 300 on your digital cable and select Central Florida News 13.

Autism Gym The Autism Gym To an outsider looking in it appears to be your typical gym class. Each child in here has a special need or is related to someone with a special need. Jacob Nachtsheim’s 12-year-old brother Alec has Down Syndrome. Nachtsheim said, "I've learned a lot about the disability stuff." Here at the Autism Gym, Alec leads the kickball game. Theresa Nachtsheim, Alec's Mom said, "He is running from the minute he gets here to the minute he goes home and that interaction, that energy has him feeling better-physically well, he's not going to get overweight." Joanne Houwers the founded the Autism Gym said, "They won't know why they're running, all they know is that we're clapping for them, we're happy for them and they're smiling and running." Houwers created the Autism Gym seven years ago, so her then 15-year-old autistic son would have a place to go not only to exercise, but to socialize as well. "They're kind of standoffish. They don't really want to play with other people, but if the ball's coming at them, they're going to catch it and hopefully they'll throw it back," Houwers said. Vincent Condello’s daughter Sienna has Autism. Condello said, "There's more coordination." Condello comes to the gym once a week with his daughter. He says she interacts better and is more calm. "Not only do the children get to exercise and socialize here, but the Autism Gym also provides a great support system for the parents," Condello said. "I love the whole peer support. I love to talk to the other mothers," Theresa Nachtsheim said. "We want our kids to be able to play and have a good time. We want them to swim and interact with other people and we want them to be as normal as possible and that's what I like about it," Houwers said. The Autism Gym is free and is open to all ages. They are sponsoring a charity golf tournament on Saturday June 9 at the Orange County National Golf Course. All proceeds will go toward the program. For more information on the Autism Gym log onto their Web site at http://www.autismgym.org/

The Orlando Sentinel SMOOCH The Autism and Related Disabilities Gym Program, a nonprofit organization that serves families with disabilities and operates in the Jim Beech Recreation Center in Ocoee, is having its first SMOOCH Day (Special Moms of Outstanding Children with Handicaps) on Sunday. It will be a day of relaxation and pampering for the 10 selected moms who face the challenges of caring for children with autism and related disabilities daily. Activities include a one-hour massage, manicure, pedicure and facial, followed by dinner at Luma on Park Avenue. These moms will be transported to their destinations in a limo donated by Mears. They also will receive handmade goody baskets and personalized SMOOCH polo shirts. For information about the organization, go to autismgym.org

From the Ellen Degeneris Show! Jo-Anne is the Voice of Autism! Walt Disney Monorail Coordinator, mother, wife, friend, President of a non profit organization. My mother is all of these things. My name is Jennifer Houwers, my mother-Jo-Anne Houwers. Several years ago she founded The Autism and Related Disabilities Gym Program in Ocoee, Florida. My brother (Joey) is Autistic. At age 3 Joey was diagnosed with Autism, meaning my brother would never have a normal life. All of my brother's life, my parents have given him everything they had. When Joey graduated high school my parents were faced with a difficult decision: how could my brother still continue to grow and interact with kids his own age? That is when my mother founded our non-profit. Once a week, children with Autism and other disabilities meet at a recreational center and play with toys, a jump house, a pool, etc. This gives the children a chance to be normal and play and interact, while growing. It also gives the parents a chance to bond with one another. My mother is constantly adding more and more parents and children to this organization and she works tirelessly to make it more and more successful. We have an annual golf tournament, annual appreciation dinners, car washes, fund raisers-all designed to raise more money so that we can take these children (and their families) to Walt Disney World, Sea World, to the beach, the Zoo, to buy more toys and equipment, music, instruction. In Feburary 2008, we will have our first ever SMOOCH ( Special mothers of outstanding children with handicaps ). This is one special day where the mother of our children will have a day of pampering-facials, manicures, massages, dinner, and a show. My mother has taken a small town and broadened it's horizons and opened thousands of eyes to the world of Autism. Educating people and their children. Letting them know that there IS a place for them to bring their children to play and be normal, a place where parents can talk and express their worries, concerns, joy.

This mother's 'big dreams' just may come true

Published April 13, 2005 in the Orlando Sentinel Jo-Anne Houwers has just worked a 10-hour day, but hearing her talk you get the sense she can work another 10 without a hitch. She rattles off a list of exciting possibilities as giggling children run around an Ocoee gym. More mats and equipment. Music instruments. Field trips to amusement parks. A swim with the dolphins. A theater room. A music therapist. Oh, and a horseback-riding camp. "I have big dreams," Houwers tells me as several dozen families stream into the gym for their special kids' weekly hour of fun. If it's Tuesday, it must be the Jim Beech Recreation Center in Ocoee, where Houwers started a volunteer program five years ago for children with autism and other related disabilities. She hopes to expand the program, which runs most every Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m., to young adults. It all started thanks to Joey, now 20. Houwers was looking for a place where children and teens like Joey could "go where they don't have to feel different." A place where parents could share their experiences. The Ocoee center gave the nod, and through word of mouth and a Web site (www.autismgym.org) whole families started showing up. Joey has an obsessive-compulsive disorder, a common symptom of autism. He has difficulty speaking. He can retain information, his mother says, but "he can't always let it out." On this particular Tuesday, Joey is tossing a ball with parents of younger children. A 3-year-old boy with Down syndrome giggles as one of the center's counselors lifts him up to touch the basketball rim. Even the loud music that's playing can't muffle occasional screeches from delighted kids and hollers of "Be careful!" from vigilant parents. It's all part of what Houwers sees as a nurturing community to help families cope with a disability that now affects one in 500 American children. Some studies have suggested high levels of mercury in certain older versions of vaccines as a possible cause, though others dispute those findings. One thing's clear: The number of cases has grown exponentially for this neurological disability. Alan Moss says the Ocoee program gives his soon-to-be 9-year-old son, Joseph, the chance to make friends, have fun "and not break anything." He's helping Houwers recruit 144 golfers for a May 7 tournament at Walt Disney World's Palm Golf Course at the Shades of Green Resort in Lake Buena Vista. I don't usually write about fund-raisers, but I'm making an exception because there are so few taxpayer-supported recreational activities specifically for those with developmental disabilities. State-financed basic care programs to help those with autism, cerebral palsy and other disabilities have long waiting lists. Last year, almost 14,000 were waiting. The state has designed flexible programs that train family members to provide care. Joey gets some of that assistance. His parents work different shifts so that he's always supervised. What's lacking are organized activities. Houwers' program, which sometimes includes volunteer therapists, is an ingenious way to help families help themselves. If you would like to play golf May 7 or help in some way, call Houwers at 407-234-7456 or Moss at 321-303-7672. Or drop by the Ocoee center. Joey will be waiting. If you're lucky, he'll smile and toss a ball your way. Myriam Marquez can be reached at mmarquez@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5399.

Interesting Articles

Autism Breakthrough: Girl's Writings Explain Her Behavior and Feelings Carly Fleischmann has severe autism and is unable to speak a word. But thanks to years of expensive and intensive therapy, this 13-year-old has made a remarkable breakthrough. Two years ago, working with pictures and symbols on a computer keyboard, she started typing and spelling out words. The computer became her voice. "All of a sudden these words started to pour out of her, and it was an exciting moment because we didn't realize she had all these words," said speech pathologist Barbara Nash. "It was one of those moments in my career that I'll never forget." Then Carly began opening up, describing what it was like to have autism and why she makes odd noises or why she hits herself. "It feels like my legs are on first and a million ants are crawling up my arms," Carly said through the computer. Carly writes about her frustrations with her siblings, how she understands their jokes and asks when can she go on a date. "We were stunned," Carly's father Arthur Fleischmann said. "We realized inside was an articulate, intelligent, emotive person that we had never met. This was unbelievable because it opened up a whole new way of looking at her." This is what Carly wants people to know about autism. "It is hard to be autistic because no one understands me. People look at me and assume I am dumb because I can't talk or I act differently than them. I think people get scared with things that look or seem different than them." "Lay people would have assumed she was mentally retarded or cognitively impaired. Even professionals labeled her as moderately to severely cognitively impaired. In the old days you would say mentally retarded, which means low IQ and low promise and low potential," Arthur Fleischman said. Therapists say the key lesson from Carly's story is for families to never give up and to be ever creative in helping children with autism find their voice. "If we had done what so many people told us to do years ago, we wouldn't have the child we have today. We would have written her off. We would have assumed the worst. We would have never seen how she could write these things how articulate she is, how intelligent she is," the grateful father added. "I asked Carly to come to my work to talk to speech pathologists and other therapists about autism," said Nash. "What would you like to tell them? She wrote, 'I would tell them never to give up on the children that they work with.' That kind of summed it up." Carly had another message for people who don't understand autism. "Autism is hard because you want to act one way, but you can't always do that. It's sad that sometimes people don't know that sometimes I can't stop myself and they get mad at me. If I could tell people one thing about autism it would be that I don't want to be this way. But I am, so don't be mad. Be understanding."