Our Mission
Askate Foundation is an organization that allows children with autism to be a part of our social world through skateboarding. We hold clinics for children with autism at no cost to the families, give grants to children with autism for skateboard gear, as well as promote awareness and educate families about the skateboard industry. In 2021, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to 2018 data.
1 in 27 boys identified with autism
1 in 116 girls identified with autism
Common benefits:
Accessing the 4 self-regulation strategies: Co-regulation, resilience, self regulation, and exploration
Social engagement system triggered which shifts physiological state
Vestibular stimulation, often resulting in calmness
Windows of time of spontaneous social engagement
Profound neural exercise via Reciprocal Interactive Play
Child leading in social interaction
Trust building exercising
Vulnerability and interest in a context of safety
Important movement - movement becomes a structured way of functionality releasing energy and triggering a neural circuit through social interaction to co-regulate
If the system can be triggered, many of the attributes that are the most disruptive features of the autistic, or other mental disability can be reduced.
Child’s physiological state is changing and going into a neural platform in which spontaneous social behavior becomes an emergent property of that state. To deconstruct more, the child is happy. Child is looking at the other person, utilizing facial muscles where we see happiness. This is a memorable realization for parents of the child. Movement with engagement stimulating the brain opens up a channel for the child to experience windows of learning in multiple facets.
-Dr. Stephen Porges
Professor of Psychiatry, University North
Carolina at Chapel Hill; Director of the
Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress
research Consortium at Indiana University
Bloomington
Here are a few of the things that we do:
hold clinics nationwide for children with autism at no cost to the families
hold fundraisers and events to promote our cause
connect families with resources for private skate lessons
award grants for skateboards, safety gear, and private lessons
mentor and educate volunteers and youth programs to work with special needs individuals
create support groups
Autism, like skateboarding, can be unpredictable and often times unruly. We embrace the parts of autism that are hard to understand and give these kids an outlet that is free of rules or judgment and allows them to be social, without being “social”.
What to expect
Askate provides one on one skate lessons for persons with autism in an environment that is appropriate to their sensory needs to learn. We provide this service at no cost to the families who participate. We also provide the skateboard gear and safety equipment (helmets, skateboards, and pads) for the participants to use during their skate session. We strive to make the experience as incredibly successful for the participant as possible! We work with children ages 3 to adulthood. Please be sure to make a note of age and weight if your child is over 100lbs so that we can make sure to have 2 volunteers on hand to work with them!
Anti-Bully Oath
Everyone is Different not Less
Anti-bullying is promoted and educated throughout our program in several forms. For persons with Autism and Asperger’s, bullying may be difficult for them to identify, detect, and understand leaving them vulnerable targets for bullying. The impact of bullying can be significant for persons with high functioning Autism and Asperger’s and can include lowered self-esteem, heightened anxiety, depression, fear, refusal to attend school, isolation, suicidal ideation, and suicide. Askate offers a "safe environment" for persons with autism on all ends of the spectrum to not only learn a therapeutic skill but to learn it in a place where persons are accepting.
Common challenges for persons diagnosed with autism
Autism can affect one, several, or all areas of the whole body. Some common challenges for persons diagnosed with autism are:
Anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, chronic sleep deprivation, epilepsy, obesity, chronic gastrointestinal disorders, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, auto-immune disorders, sensory disorders, and other mental, neurological, and physical diseases and disorders.