NIU hosted a free, faculty-supervised camp tailored specifically for autistic children, pairing therapeutic fun with hands-on training for graduate students in speech-language pathology (SLP) and physical therapy (DPT).
“Camps like these are necessary because they provide a free opportunity for autistic children to get a rich, camp experience and offer opportunities for new friendships, which is often very costly,” said Anna Cannone, professor of speech-language pathology who co-organized the camp along with Catherine Cheung, professor of physical therapy.
The camp welcomed about 15 children and was powered by a team of 16 dedicated graduate students—11 from the Doctor of Physical Therapy program and five from the Speech-Language Pathology program. Under faculty guidance, students collaborated across disciplines to lead engaging activities focused on developing campers’ gross motor skills and social communication, all while ensuring a neuroaffirming and supportive environment.
For the campers, the days were filled with carefully planned, research-informed sessions that felt more like fun than therapy. Whether navigating obstacle courses, participating in group storytelling, or engaging in sensory-friendly crafts, each moment was designed to build confidence and connection.
For the grad students, the camp was equally transformative.
They weren’t just leading games—they were learning to think on their feet, communicate across clinical disciplines, and practice empathy in real time.
“The students gained valuable, real-life clinical experience,” Cannone noted. “They learned how to work in an interprofessional team, support both their own scope of practice and that of their peers, and integrate research into hands-on, therapeutic planning.”
As future clinicians, many of the students will go on to work with neurodiverse individuals in a variety of settings. This camp gave them a glimpse into how collaboration—and creativity—can make a real impact.
The summer camp proved to be more than just a week of activities—it’s a powerful model for inclusive programming and interprofessional education, with benefits that ripple far beyond campus.
Learn more about speech-language pathology at NIU.
