KINGSTON, Ont. (November 17, 2017) Earlier this month, the Queen's Athletics and Recreation Centre was host to Super Saturday. On November 4^th, the Queen's Gaels men's and women's volleyball and basketball teams were featured in four back-to-back games on home court.
 
An extra special Super Saturday, the day was not only highlighted by the work that the Gaels were doing on the hardwood that day, but also by the work they have been doing in the community.

The Queen's Gaels varsity athletes teamed up with Kingston's Autism Mentorship Program (A.M.P) for the first ever Amped UP Super Saturday.  

Coordinated and founded by Gaels Football player Emilio Frometa and supported by the Autism Ontario Kingston Chapter and Community Living Kingston, A.M.P. is a one-on-one mentorship program that pairs student-athletes with local youth that have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
 
Through weekly meetings, these pairings foster friendship and assist in the development of motor and social skills. The program has grown significantly over the past few months with a total of 42 pairings. In addition to the pairings, the A.M.P program also offers inclusive monthly events for all families involved with the program.

This month's event was AMPed Up Super Saturday, which made the November 4th Gaels game day accessible to all those involved with A.M.P. By creating a sensory safe room and a sports zone, A.M.P. participants were able to enjoy the Gaels games in a fun, safe and comfortable environment.
 
 Collaboration with the Queen's Varsity Leadership Council (VLC) made these positive family experiences possible, providing tickets for families and facilitating a meet-and-greet with the women's basketball team following their game.
 
All the players involved in the home games sported Light Blue Autism Mentorship Program warm-up shirts which matched the A.M.P. participants and mentors.
 
"It was amazing to see not only the children and their mentors having fun but also the families enjoying themselves and having a good time," said Emilio Frometa, Queen's Football player and A.M.P founder.
 
"The pressure associated with having a child on the spectrum can weigh a lot on a family, and making something like a Gaels game day accessible to these families can alleviate some of those pressures even if only for an hour or two. It was great to see the kids feel connected to the players on the court and their mentors, simply through wearing matching A.M.P. warm up shirts", said Frometa. "That got a lot of smiles."
 
AMP page: https://www.facebook.com/AMPKingston/
 
Autism Ontario page: http://www.autismontario.com/Client/ASO/AO.nsf/Kingston/KingstonHome
 
Community Living Kingston page: http://www.communitylivingkingston.org/