LOCALLY OWNED: KINDTREE – AUTISM ROCKS

LOCALLY OWNED: KINDTREE – AUTISM ROCKS

BY ELIZABETH YOST Folding tables were arranged in a half circle in the Hilyard Community Center’s main hall as participants trickled into David Helfand’s Music Writing and Performance class. Five keyboards sat atop the tables. Brightly colored paper was stuck to the keys, peeling at the edges from use. The colors, according to Helfand, represent the key’s corresponding note. He designed the class for individuals with developmental disabilities. Keys have the note name written on them in black marker, but the color system allows students who struggle with reading to make music with everyone else. Helfand’s class is just one of the programs offered through KindTree – Autism Rocks, a nonprofit based in Eugene which provides support for people with autism and other disabilities. One in 44 children is diagnosed with autism, according to the CDC. From its inception, KindTree’s goal was to give these individuals a place to gather. “KindTree is based on celebrating those differences that bring us all together,” said Loretta McNally, KindTree’s executive director. KindTree originated in 1997 with a country retreat of six guests plus about 10 volunteers, brought together by two community case workers and their housemate. Fed up with the lack of opportunities for their clients, they decided to plan an overnight camp. 26 years later, families still gather for the “Friends & Family Camp” each summer, said McNally. Born from that weekend getaway, KindTree grew into a grassroots nonprofit, supported by volunteers. Along with the camp, KindTree now offers an art program, “Intro to Adulting” classes, weekly socials and more. In Helfand’s class, he worked with each participant to find a playstyle that best suited them. As class neared an end, one participant beamed when Helfand handed her a tambourine. He called out chords and clapped out the beat for the others. A woman dressed in purple from head to toe, added the melody. The group pulled together to play Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” In the last year, KindTree also built on its existing programs when it debuted their adulting class, aimed at supporting teens. Amy Metzger, a mother of two children with disabilities, teaches the eight-week class. The course seeks to give individuals the tools they’ll need to be independent. Many people with developmental disabilities struggle “to generalize their learning” from one environment to another, said Metzger. The class allows them to practice skills in an array of different situations. “You’re learning skills you don’t even realize you’re getting when you’re doing it with friends,” McNally said. Metzger also helps break down topics like budgeting, safety and transportation. One student, she said, hoped to live on their own in a big city and drive a car. But driving requires more than a license – there’s insurance, car maintenance, and external costs to consider. “They may not obtain their goal because they maybe aren’t as ready as they think they are… It can be really demoralizing,” said Metzger. By explaining the steps required for independent living, individuals can keep moving forward and take control of their futures. In Metzger’s personal experience, organizations like KindTree give people with disabilities and their families essential support. When faced with unexpected challenges, she said, they provide a place to meet people with similar questions. KindTree is a space to build relationships, said McNally. “Challenging times are made easier when you have people to support you,” she said.