Autistic children from across North America are expected at Canisius College for summerMAX, the 12th time the college has hosted the program.
The five-week program is designed for children aged seven through 12 to help them navigate the world around them, especially those tough middle school years.
"We work on social skills, which are a core deficit for of kids with autism," said Marcus Thomeer, co-director at the Canisius Institute for Autism Research.
"In terms of having a conversation, reading non-verbal cues, cooperating, sharing, dealing with another's emotion, requesting information, complimenting, so the whole gamut of classic social skills are problematic for these kids."
Thomeer said there are also programs in schools, two-afternoons a week to help them constantly refresh what they have learned.
For summer programs, Canisius students who plan careers in autism are the teachers and camp counselors.