Karen and John Krejcha head up Autism Empowerment and  Autism and Scouting  to promote Acceptance, Enrichment, Inspiration and Empowerment within the Autism and Asperger communities. They serve all ages and all abilities and seek to improve and enhance the lives of individuals and families impacted by autism. John volunteers as a Tiger Cub Den Leader in…continue reading

Things that stand the test of time. like Scouting, begin with instinctive inspirations before they are explained scientifically. A growing field of psychotherapy recognizes the benefits derived from direct contact with the natural world. Traditional therapies look inward for answers while ecopsychotherapy allows answers to be derived from contact with the natural environment. Scoutmasters have…continue reading

Dr. Steven Parker at Web Md writes about childhood memories of two schoolmates: In my defense, I wasn’t overtly mean to Billie or to Fred. But – to my eternal shame – neither was I at all friendly. Never did I tell my friends to cool it with the cruel taunts. Never did I attempt…continue reading

I have had my share of ‘difficult’ Scouts. Behavior, attitude and physical barriers are not all that uncommon. Scout aged boys may have any number of difficulties that call for understanding, tolerant and compassionate leadership. Scoutmasters must educate themselves to meet the challenge of working with boys who are challenged in one way or another.…continue reading

A terrifically rewarding fringe benefit for the time I spend as a Scoutmaster is the relationships I have had with boys who look at the world differently than I do. Here is a very thoughtful essay about the challenges of autism especially as they relate to social situations like school or Scouts from the perspective…continue reading

I may have earned the equivalent of a few college credits related to the study of developmental, or cognitive, differences during my tenure as a Scoutmaster. What are cognitive differences? Autism, attention deficit, hyperactivity, Downs syndrome and learning disabilities of all stripes. Before we go any further a quick distinction between disability and difference. Disabilities…continue reading

I would like to say that I had no reservations when, three or four years ago, I read an email from a family relocating to our town; their two boys were in Scouting and would be looking for a new troop; the older one had Downs Syndrome. I remembered how cruel my peers had been…continue reading