Sargent Center expands summer program

Posted 7/3/18

The Sargent Rehabilitation Center's Community Recreation/Therapy Program is offered during the months of June through August to students diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder and Multiple Handicaps in the Pediatric Center Day School, the Transitional Living

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Sargent Center expands summer program

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The Sargent Rehabilitation Center’s Community Recreation/Therapy Program is offered during the months of June through August to students diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder and Multiple Handicaps in the Pediatric Center Day School, the Transitional Living and Vocational Unit and the Neurorehabilitation Center Adolescent Brain Injury Unit. The program began four years ago. 

The primary sports include sailing, golfing, bowling and summer Olympics. David Dermksian, Sargent’s Adaptive Physical Education Teacher, organizes and supervises the program. Sailing is offered through the Sail-To-Prevail program in Newport. Golf is offered with the Golf Pro, Chad Spencer, instructing at Valley Country Club. Bowling is offered at the North Kingstown Wickford Bowl. On an annual basis students are grouped to compete according to their levels of advancing performance.

As they engage in friendly competition therapists assess a student’s therapeutic status in transferring physical, occupational and speech/language therapy skills clinically acquired to functional use in community activities. The assessment is used to continue the student’s therapeutic treatments in the Sargent clinical setting in order to advance them to their maximum independence in community living.

“Mr. Dave” and attending staff of the Center also provide instruction during the activities. Working together as a team, sharing, practicing safety for yourself and others and good sportsmanship are taught as both requirements for each student to participate in the program as well as use for life long skills.

During this summer the recreation program will be expanded to include theatre arts. Trinity Square Repertory Company will be working with the students on campus weekly introducing them to the performing arts. Emphasis will be placed on the similarities in preparing an acting role with the therapies students have preparing them for functional living. The experience based art activity will give students the opportunity to perform as well as to appreciate performance.

Students are encouraged to have fun. If you’re on a sailboat in Newport Harbor or golfing on the greens of Valley Country Club this summer, greet the Sargent teams. They enjoy the inclusion in community camaraderie.

For more information and/or to arrange an on-site visit contact Michele DiTraglia in the Development Office at 886-6613.

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