The effects of summer camps on the autistic children's development

Autism is one of the pervasive developmental disorders. Despite all the researches from the past to the present the cause and treatment of autism have not been found. To facilitate the lives of autistic disabled people and their families in a variety of treatments and therapies are being applied. The treatment methods for autistic disabled people is very important to contribute positively to their physical, mental and social development.The purpose of this study is to determine whether there is an effect of camping on socialization of autistic children.In addition to literature review, autistic children who continue their education in Izmir Sebahat Akşiray Autistic Children Training Center and attend Izmir-Urla summer camp and their learders in this camp participated this study.In this study, as the first test-post test, questionnaire was administered to collect data. Before the camp a questionnaire was administered to the camp leaders o obtain information about individuals with autism. At the end of camp, same questionnaire was administered to the same leaders to measure the effect of the camp on individuals with autism. In the study, seven-day camp program was implemented. In the evaluation of the obtained data statistically the software package program SPSS 15.0 was used. When the study data were being evalutioned, in addition to descriptive statistical methods (Mean, Standard Deviation) in the comparison of qualitative data, Pearson Chi-Square test was used. Spearman Correlation Analysis of both quantitative data were used for comparison. Within group comparisons of non-normally distributed parameters the Wilcoxon sign test was used. Results were evaluated in 95% confidence interval and significance were evaluated in p <0.05 level.As a result of the survey which was performed before and after the camp, large muscle skills in children, young muscle skills, skills in dressing, toilet skills, cleaning skills, dining skills, social and civic skills, academic skills, the recipient language skills, speaking skills showed no significant change in post-test measures (p>0,05). Behavior problems of children has increased more significantly in the post-test measurements (p<0,05).As a result, the camp has shown positive results in the behaviour problems of the autistic disabled.It must be known that the camp has a router and supporter effect at all ages of autistic disabled.Key Words: Autism , Camp, Disability