Grant Proposal

Purpose:  Starting First Lego League Asperger's Team that will aide in teaching  youth with Asperger's social skills, creative thinking abilities,  problem-solving methods, and emotional regulation through guided interventions.  


Goal: Enhance social skill development and to reduce anxieties or communicative disabilities which stand in the way of positive interaction through FLL.


Background Information:  Wikipedia defines Asperger Syndrome as an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development.  


How we plan to do this with FLL:  


1.  Direct teaching of social rules or conventions which guide interactions with qualified therapist and applying them to the core values of the FLL program.
2.  Modeling of social skills for the youth to observe through video programs, visiting other teams and going to a competition to observe what to expect.  Afterwards, discussing interactions and team dynamics.  
3.  Providing specific and structured activities that include learning about robotics, programming, researching, and working together as a team for one common purpose.
4.  Identifying particular skills in youth and inviting them to help other children who are less advanced.  
5.  Encouraging participation and encourage youth to invite friend.  
6.  Provide a place where the youth can be themselves and have fun while they are learning about robotics and social skills.
7.  Small group of no more than 6-8 kids.  
8. Take field trips to research and learn about all that is involved with FLL.


Robotics can be a way of reaching children who otherwise struggle in the classroom.  It seems to be particularly appealing to youngsters with learning difficulties.  Children with dyslexia and Asperger’s Syndrome often excel in robotics competitions; the hands-on engagement gives them an opportunity to demonstrate creativity in ways that standard classroom activities do not.  Even children with severe disabilities (including blindness) have successfully and enthusiastically participated in robotics activities.

(Source: http://www.roberta-home.de/sites/default/file/Roberta%20article%20D&T%20Practice%205.2009_0.pdf)


*Note: This Robot was one of the first ones my son made and programmed.  "I believe I can fly" is one of his favorite songs by R. Kelly.  Here are the lyrics:

"I Believe I Can Fly"

I used to think that I could not go on
And life was nothing but an awful song
But now I know the meaning of true love
I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus:]
I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly
I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down
Sometimes silence can seem so loud
There are miracles in life I must achieve
But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, cause I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it
If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, if I just spread my wings
I can fly
I can fly
I can fly, hey
If I just spread my wings
I can fly
Fly-eye-eye

(Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rkelly/ibelieveicanfly.html) 

Whooooo Hoooooo!!!!

Our Grant was Approved!!!!  Thank you AUSVI Pathfinder Organization.  I also want to thank Sci-Quest, the ARF (Autism Resource Foundation), Coach Wallace Willard of the Montessori School of Huntsville (for his generous donation and believing in us) and  I want to give a special thanks to Jane Veverke for her input into our Social Skills curriculum and volunteering her time.


We are now called Rocket City RoboSkills.  Our new blog spot is at http://roboskills.blogspot.com/

See you there for our continued programming......