There are many different manifestations of autism spectrum disorder, but therapists at Lakeside Center for Autism in Issaquah have found jumping on a trampoline is an activity all of the kids at the facility enjoy and benefit from.

About three years ago, Springfree Trampoline donated a trampoline to the center. It is completely spring-free with no holes to fall into on the sides, and it’s completely enclosed with a strong tension net.

“From a physical therapy standpoint, for motor delay, if they’re motivated by something – jumping – they’ll do it,” said Carrie Hoyt, a physical therapist at the center. “They love it, and it makes them stronger and helps with balance and motor skills.”

Roman Allen, 7, is motivated to get his work done because his reward is to jump on the trampoline.

“It’s currency for him,” said his mom, Amy Allen.

Roman was diagnosed with pervasive development disorder – not otherwise specified, or PDD-NOS at age 4. Amy and her husband, Zach, knew something was wrong at 19-months, because Roman wasn’t walking and his ankles turned inward. Roman also had large motor skills delay, called hypotonia, which means his muscles don’t rest in the same position as everyone else.

“He’s hyper-flexible,” Amy said. “He didn’t walk until he was 23-months old, and potty training took longer.”

Lacking the endurance of most children, Roman’s condition also delays learning. Roman needed occupational therapy for fine motor skills, as well as speech therapy. By age 3 he was in all three types of therapy – physical, occupational and speech.

“He likes things a certain way,” Amy said. “When they focus on things being a certain way and it’s not, the world falls apart.”

Roman is just one example of autism spectrum disorder. There are non-verbal children, savants and children who don’t potty train until they are 5-years-old.

But the trampoline provides benefits for all of them.

Occupational therapist Erica Bigler uses the trampoline for sensory input.

“A lot of times children on the spectrum are under-responsive to knowing where their body is in space,” Bigler said. “This sends more intense input – deep pressure input which increases their body awareness.”

The trampoline also sends input to the child’s brain to help them understand where they are in space, and increases alertness, Bigler said.

Hoyt said one of her students has frequent seizures, so he has to wear a helmet at all times to avoid head injury, but on the trampoline he doesn’t have to wear it.

No more than two children can be on it at a time, or one therapist and a child. Bigler said that helps with social interaction because two children on it together are engaging in play, often difficult for kids on the spectrum, since some are not motivated or cannot engage in social interaction.

“Roman is a social butterfly,” Amy said. “And he loves to talk – he keeps talking and talking.”

Lakeside Center for Autism has an integrated pre-school for kids ages 3 to 6, speech-language pathology, applied behavior analysis and clinical psychology for any child who needs services.

Roman Allen, 7, demonstrates his trampoline skills at Lakeside Center for Autism.