Camp for austistic kids wraps up Friday downtown

YOUNGSTOWN

In less than a week, 13-year-olds Christopher Gajski and A.J. Walters went from not knowing each other to becoming friends.

Most people likely would celebrate such an accomplishment, though in A.J. and Christopher’s case, the achievement was made sweeter because both boys are on the autism spectrum.

Learning, processing and incorporating social skills is perhaps one of the most daunting challenges for many who have been diagnosed with autism, though a five-day summer camp has made the task easier for some youngsters and adults on the spectrum.

“It’s a lot of games and learning flexible thinking,” said Jen Gonda, camp director, referring to one of the themes of the inaugural Camp FRIEND program in and near the YMCA, 17 N. Champion St., downtown.

An estimated 30 children and adults from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties with autism spectrum disorders took part in the five-day Camp FRIEND (Finding Rewards in Every New Day) summer camp, which began Monday and wraps up Friday.

Read more about the camp and its participants in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.