Arts workshops offered for autistic children

Art instructor/supervisor Alexandra Block saw the workshops bring together two young women. "We did a lot of cooperative mural work together, and these two kind of hit it off," Block says. "The power of the art helped the two girls kind of break the ice, and having something in common really promoted the development of that friendship."

Arts for the autistic

VSA New Jersey offers arts workshops for children with autism this fall.

TELL ME MORE: The weekly workshops can teach kids to communicate ideas in a different way, says Vanessa Young, executive director of VSA New Jersey, whose mission is to harness the creativity of people with disabilities. The workshops "introduce children to the beauty and appreciation of art, while also focusing on the enhancement of skills," Young says.

"The parents always report back that the children have a wonderful experience," she says. "Through the arts children find new ways to express themselves and their ideas, and this translates to the classroom."

The workshops are geared toward children with autism aged 3 to 21; "[We] encourage siblings to participate as well," Young says. One parent must attend per child with autism.

Art instructor/supervisor Alexandra Block saw the workshops bring together two young women. "We did a lot of cooperative mural work together, and these two kind of hit it off," Block says. "The power of the art helped the two girls kind of break the ice, and having something in common really promoted the development of that friendship."

DETAILS: Workshops take place Saturdays, Sept. 25 to Dec. 4, in New Brunswick, Morristown and Waldwick. Registration fee for families: $30. Registration deadline is Wednesday. For more information, contact VSA at 732-745-3885 or see vsanj.org.

— Catherine Trautwein