ᴹᶦⁿ맛ᵀᵃⁿᵍ⊙⊝⊜

News: Severance Hospital Marks 1st Anniversary of Min Yoongi Treatment Center with "Camp on the Spectrum"! Severance Children's Hospital's Min Yoongi Treatment Center announced on the 10th that it held a family camp for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and their families in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi Province, for two days and one night starting on the 7th. A total of 104 people participated in the event, "Camp On the Spectrum," including children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities, their families, medical staff, therapists, volunteers, and instructors. This was the second event held following last year's. In particular, this year, coinciding with the first anniversary of the center's opening (September 30), the scope of participants and programs were expanded. Activities included special physical education programs such as music performance and basketball, as well as emotional regulation programs for adolescents and parent education. Last year, the program targeted only seven children and adolescents and their families participating in the music-based social skills therapy program, 'Mind Program.' Children and adolescents participating in 'Mind Play,' a basketball-based special physical education program, engaged in physical activities such as basketball and floor curling. Programs for guardians were also prepared. French Papa, who appeared in the Netflix variety show 'Chef's Secret 2,' served as a special lecturer, sharing his experiences with a child on the autism spectrum and stories of family growth. In addition, parent education on child-rearing and separate programs for siblings were operated. This camp focused on allowing children and adolescents to experience social relationships by living with diverse people, including family, peers, and volunteers. The 'Mind Band,' an ensemble group of children and adolescents who completed the Mind Program, also participated. The Mind Band, a group that practices and performs together with the goal of an actual concert, presented a performance in front of participants and their families on the evening of the first day of the camp. The second concert will be held at the 1,500-seat Yonsei University Grand Auditorium on the 12th of next month at 5 p.m. Cheon Geun-ah, Director of Min Yoongi Treatment Center (and President of Severance Children's Hospital), stated, "Following last year, we have prepared an event where children and families can be together with an expanded program to mark the first anniversary of the center's opening this year." She added, "We will continue to support children so that they can naturally connect with society through various activities such as music and physical education, and broaden their experiences of social participation and independence." The Min Yoongi Treatment Center opened last year based on a 5 billion won donation from BTS's Suga (Min Yoongi). It operates one-on-one music therapy, the Mind Program, Mind Play, and behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. In March of this year, the Mind Program manual was published, and following a pilot operation, the Mind Play program is currently running its second session. The Smaller Foundation, a non-profit foundation supporting youth culture and arts, sponsored this camp.