Autism Awareness Month

Autism Awareness Month: Spotlight on Little Red Hen’s Autism Lifespan

April is Autism Awareness Month, and there are many organizations in the North State that provide valuable services to families of children on the spectrum. One such organization is Autism Lifespan in Chico, CA.

Little Red Hen, a non-profit corporation based in Chico which serves children and adults with developmental disabilities, created Autism Services & Lifespan. Funded by Far Northern Regional Center, Autism Lifespan provides resources, connection, and support to families in Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity counties.

Brooke Burrows, the supervisor of children’s programs at the Autism Lifespan Center, explains that they are often the first point of contact for families after receiving a diagnosis of autism for their child. The Lifespan Center’s resource office provides information that people need to find services. They also offer a lending library of books, CDs, and DVDs relating to all aspects of autism spectrum disorder, along with a variety of literature consisting of pamphlets, brochures, and fliers for local services and events.

There is also a small store located in the resource office which sells items for developing play skills, social and language skills, and sensory and fine motor skills, along with autism awareness merchandise. Brooke explains, “Many of the sensory items available such as chewies, fidget spinners, and cubes are toys that have worked for us in our programs.”

Along with being an important resource for information and services, the Autism Lifespan Center hosts several children’s programs. Lil’ Sprouts, ages 4 through 8, and Buddin’ Sprouts, for ages 8 to 13, are year-round programs that provide one-on-one support to help develop socialization, behavioral and communication skills. These programs, Brooke says, have two primary goals of play therapy and socialization. She adds, “those will look very different between kids as each child on the spectrum is unique in their own way.”

The Growing Together Teens, ages 13 through 17, is a socialization program for teens with autism and other developmental disabilities. It is a place where teens “can just come and be themselves,” says Brooke. The consistency the year-round programs provide allows the children to form relationships and bonds with their peers.

The Lifespan Center also offers two summer programs: Feeling Like One Common Kid (FLOCK) and the Not Your Garden Variety Theater. FLOCK is a two-week summer socialization therapy program for children ages 6 to 15 and is held at the California State University, Chico. The program consists of supported community outings and uses what Brooke describes as a friendship curriculum, a tool to learn how to handle emotions, addressing topics such as bullying, and how to handle certain social situations.

For more information about the Lifespan Center, please call (530) 897-0300.

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