Arts 'n Autism graduates first students from ILEAP program

Jan. 22—It was all about the balloons for two boys graduating from Arts 'n Autism's new pre-kindergarten program Thursday. A cascade of blue balloons stretched to the ceiling, fascinating Kory Gulley and Justiss Moore.

The program's staff eventually gave a balloon to each boy, shortly before the boys received their ILEAP diploma.

ILEAP is an early intervention program designed to help children with autism develop the social skills needed to be ready for pre-kindergarten programs in the public school system. The name is an acronym representing the programs facets; intervention, learning, engagement and advocacy.

"Early intervention is extremely important for any child, but especially for a child with autism or other special needs," said teacher Maggie Whitson. "With early intervention, we typically emphasize social skills, socialization, working on sharing, things like that. This program is about developing school readiness skills."

Jan Sikes, the executive director of Arts 'n Autism, said the program caters to 2- and 3-year-olds.

"When they turn 4 they would typically go into the pre-K program in the public schools," Sikes said. "We had 2- and 3-year-olds who had aged into the program in January and these guys are so much bigger and they are ready to do academic stuff. We thought we would set up a kindergarten readiness class for them. They will have their own class here to get them ready for kindergarten. They graduated from the early intervention program and now they will go into a pre-K program we just started today."

Kory and Justiss, wearing blue robes with mortar boards, walked down a set of steps to the applause of their family members. At the bottom of the stairs, Whitson waited with a diploma, which she presented along with a hug to each of the boys.

"I'm a first-year teacher and it has just been the best experience. Working with these children is more rewarding for me than it is for them," Whitson said. "Two- and 3-year-olds, like they say, the terrible twos, I haven't experienced that. But these children have all these emerging skills at this age. They are capable of more than you can imagine. Most people think day care at this age is just watching and babysitting. That's not it a all. Their minds are growing and they are learning new skills every day."

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