Wisconsin karate school develops programs for kids with autism, ADD, ADHD

From The Post-Crescent in Wisconsin:

LITTLE CHUTE, Wis. — Tricia Harlow got a glimpse of what autism might feel like when a head injury limited her ability to function in everyday life.

The disturbing experience, from which she has recovered, made her take a business turn that she might not have otherwise taken. She and husband Joe are expanding their Karate America franchise here by leasing 1,500 square feet — 50 percent more space — next door to their existing school at 2040 E. Main St.

It will expand the school in immeasurably compassionate ways.

The new space is being designed to offer karate programs for children with autism, Asperger's (a milder form of autism), ADD and ADHD.

Tricia Harlow has a black belt and is one of two chief instructors at the school. Her injury gave her the empathy she needed to see why this program, which they call Eagles, was important.

"As I met with kids with autism, I could see a lot of similar traits," she said. "It's not about the money. It's knowing it will make a difference. That part (the original school) feeds our family. This part feed our soul. It has that extra meaning."

The Harlows felt they could expand because their six-year-old Karate America branch was on solid financial footing with a roster of 130 students.

The new Eagles classes start Nov. 1, and six students are signed up to date.

From their experience, they knew kids with social and learning challenges could benefit a great deal from the discipline and physical activity of martial arts, but that they were usually turned away because of their limitations. If they were disruptive, they took too much of an instructor's attention away from the larger class.

As in a number of other karate schools in the area, some high-functioning autistic children were allowed into regular classes and the results were impressive.

"With these kids, we made huge leaps." Joe Harlow said. "When their confidence went up, they've been very successful."

Lisa Jokipii is a Hollandtown mom with a son, Riley (pictured), with Asperger's, ADD and obsessive-compulsive disorder. With his higher-level function, he's been in the regular karate classes for the last year and a half.

"He fell in love with it. He's working well in groups. His confidence became heightened," she said. "He talks about his friends at karate all the time. Before that, he never brought up the word friend.

"If other kids can even get half of the improvement Riley got, it would definitely be worth it," she said.

"We're filling a niche for kids who in normal circumstances are not able to participate in sports because they have limited social skills," Joe Harlow said. "We're looking for the middle-functioning kids who would typically be a disruption, but are still able to participate."

The Harlows are in the process of fixing up the room, paying special attention to noise or light sensitivities and privacy issues.

It's the only Karate America out of five in the immediate Fox Cities area that will offer the program. In her research, Tricia Harlow said the nearest equivalent she found was in New York.

"We meet with parents and student to set up goals that are specific to that child," she said. "We set up a chart system and have stickers. We want them to feel achievement. We reinforce the things that they're good at. It's goal setting for students who need to take smaller bites."