Special needs troop

A parent group recently contacted my council expressing interest in starting a special needs troop. As area commissioner I'll oversee this troop, if it forms. It's even being advertised by the local autism support organization.

http://www.autismedmonton.org/events/sc ... eeds-troop

I'm specifically interested in some of the pros and cons of creating a separate troop as opposed to integrating the youth into existing groups. If you have experience either as a parent or leader of special needs youth I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Garth

I'm a parent of two children with an autism spectrum challenge (both have Asperger's Syndrome) who are involved in Venturers. One of whom has come up through the Scouting ranks and was a Chief Scout Award recipient. Both have also been involved with a teen group sponsored by a local autism resource organization.

I'm also a leader with experience at the Colony, Troop and Company levels.

Pros
- less disruptive for other Troops
- exposure of Scouting youth to special needs youth

Cons
- less exposure to Scouting youth to special needs youth
- less exposure of special needs youth to other Scouting youth
- need for more leaders in special needs Troop depending on needs
- depending on where youth are on the autism spectrum youth needing more attention may distract leaders from youth needing less attention in both a Special Needs Troop and a "regular" Troop

Just based on my experience, I believe my son, who came up through the Scouting ranks, being integrated into a group (who's leaders were made aware of his special need) benefited him more than if he was in a special needs group.

Thanks verys much. I must admit to be leaning towards a separate troop, the primary reason being that's what the parents already want and I want to support them as much as I can. I just want to have informed opinions from as many people as possible so I have some basic background knowledge. I don't even know what I don't know!

Garth

I figured that since I began the topic that I'd provide an update. My area's special needs group (88th Polaris) is nearing the completion of its first year. The group, with huge support from the parents, will run all year long. Yesterday the group held an open house with flyers posted on various community events web sites as well as being sent to appropriate agencies and support groups. The turnout was great with visiting parents unanimous in their thanks for having such a group. It appears that many youth will be joining the group. There are currently 11 youth but after yesterday it appears almost certain they'll reach at least 20 or more this fall. They began the year meeting in the basement of the local scout shop and later started meeting in the gym of a local rehabilitation hospital for no rent. (An aside...as you walk down the hallway towards the gym there's a display of historical pictures of the hospital, one of them a photo of the hospital scout troop from 1965...it feels good to have a group at the hospital again!) The gym has a large divider that can roll down from the ceiling splitting the room into Beavers/Cubs on one side and Scouts on the other.

The troop and pack share a garden plot on the front lawn of the hospital and they're growing vegetables which will be donated to the local food bank this fall. The group has been active in attending the mega-kub kar rally, Law Day, cuboree, scout camp and have been on a number of outings throughout the year. Meeting on Saturday mornings has given the youth something they really look forward to without them being tired out after a day of school/programming. Today the scouts are volunteering at a local running event supporting the military. They're hosting a water booth handing out drinks to the runners. In fact...they've been more active than some of the groups for so-called normal kids!

The leadership team is fantastic and are doing incredible work. The sections operate on a 1:4 leader/youth ratio with additional parents staying as needed to help their own children. The main focus of the group is for youth with neurological impairments (ADD, ADHD, Aspergers, Tourettes, etc.). The gym itself is fairly noisy so it is not suitable for many autistic kids, a fact pointed out by one of the visitors to the open house yesterday. The visitor was a staff member from an autistic services agency in Edmonton with whom I was able to have a long chat. The end result is that they want to sponsor a group at their facility (specially built to provide proper sensory protection) and they have hundreds of kids who might benefit. Some of their older, higher functioning youth will be able to meet with the 88th troop at the gym. An organizational planning meeting is now being scheduled so this fall it appears that another new group will be formed. I'm particularly excited about this at it will bring scouting to a huge number of youth who would most definitely not been a part of the program.

Garth

Go Garth! Go man...this is fabulous news...thanks for sharing.