Autism Cook Islands have moved into their new premises and created an inclusive space where students thrive, gain confidence and develop skills to prepare for future employment opportunities.

Studio Blue, autism’s new centre and soon to be ‘Summer Sling Pancake Café’ offers transition students training in hospitality as they start their journey towards independence.

Kat Jensen, autism’s programme manager, said there are plans to open the café side of the centre on Saturdays from the end of this month for the summer season.

“We want to offer our kids something, they are highly intelligent,” said Jensen.

Jayme Tangatapoto has been employed to run the café which will provide simple pancake breakfasts where students can learn about food service, customer interaction, and teamwork.

Jensen recently secured a paid internship for one of their transition students with Te Tu’anga Apii/Ministry of Education.

Two kids have completed work placement at CITC, and two at Education.

“We are really growing, we started as an office which we’ve outgrown and our families have grown, everyone knows about us now,” said Jensen.

Studio Blue is located in along the back road of Nikao near the driveway to Apii Nikao.

“This is a great location for us, we have repainted the building and revamped the steps,” said Jensen.

She acknowledged Tina Iro and wonderful community volunteers for painting the building, building the fences, and the deck to keep the kids safe, and Laurie Stem for painting the vibrant murals with the help of the students.

Autism’s usual programmes are run at Studio Blue.

Last month the students participated in creative and cool cookie fun baking homemade gifts to share led by Mary Kay, and volunteers Penny Murray, Trish and Lorna Jensen.

The Vex Robotics sessions have started again for term three.

Students work in pairs with a volunteer to build robot competition cars from scratch, practice drive them and do tasks with set missions, then race against each other on the brand new ‘battlefield’ deck.

Jensen said the students have had an amazing time with Nanny Kath Allen’s ‘Nanny Kath’s Brush and Beyond 6 week Art programme’.

Twelve children attended these classes and made fabulous creations to take home with them.

Autism spectrum disorder usually called autism impacts the nervous system and is something you are born with. You think and experience the world differently to others, you behave differently to most people and have different strengths and difficulties.

The range and severity of symptoms can vary widely. Common symptoms include difficulty with communication, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests and repetitive behaviours.