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home/academics/school of health sciences and rehabilitation studies/Whole Children Family Fun Soccer Club | |
Whole Children Family Fun Soccer Club |
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Dr. Julia Chevan, an associate professor of physical therapy at Springfield College, was recently featured in an article by Jo Glading-DiLorenzo in the Daily Hampshire Gazette. Chevan spends her Sunday afternoons coaching a diverse team of soccer players and is committed to getting kids with special needs more involved in team sports.
Many of her players demonstrate marked deficits in social interaction and communication, both spoken and non-verbal. They are on the “autism spectrum of disorders.” Many exhibit repetitive behaviors and some respond in seemingly strange ways to common sensory experiences. According to Chevan, they all have a deficit “in the arena of social interactions, perspective taking and pragmatic language, which if you think about it are all key to team sports.” But Chevan’s team members also exhibit a strong desire to play. “On any given practice or game day, coach Chevan collects a hand-tingling tally of high fives from her players,” according to Glading-DiLorenzo. Last year, Chevan’s efforts received support and attention from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Chevan’s soccer club for autistic children, officially known as the Whole Children Family Fun Soccer Club, was awarded an $18,000 grant from the Foundation to support her work. Through Chevan’s efforts, kids will have the chance to play at a level that suits them. For more information about the Whole Children Family Fun Soccer Club, contact Whole Children at http://www.wholechildren.org or 585-8010. Updated: 09/26/2006 |
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springfield college 263 alden street, springfield, MA 01109-3797 (413)748-3000 | ||