Arson leaves recreation center for autistic children scrambling to regroup

Last weekend, 9-year-old Cole Coronel was ready to go to Sport-Social.

Instead, he went to the park.

It just wasn’t the same.

Cole couldn’t go to the recreation center for children with autism because it temporarily was shut down after someone set fire to the facility on April 15, causing $50,000 in damages.

“Did he understand?” Jack Coronel, Cole’s father, said of the arson. “No. But when it was time to go, he was ready to go.”

Cole has been going to the recreation center for a while now and, despite not speaking, has learned to skateboard, ride a bike and ride a scooter, all while interacting with his peers.

“The great thing about this facility is that they are accepted from the moment that they walk in,” Jack Coronel said. “We push him a little more each time to expand his universe.”

The fire, and the subsequent flood damage from the sprinkler system, shut down the lobby and classroom areas, as well as two other business that share the space, Families for Effective Autism Treatment (FEAT) and Autism Building Blocks.

A week later, Sport-Social opened on a limited basis, using the warehouse that has the skateboard area and a basketball court.

“We’re back open by making do with what we have,” said the owner of Sport-Social, Andrew Devitt. “We’ve definitely made the best of the situation.”

Devitt, 24, said he opened Sport-Social because he saw a need for autistic children to have a space to learn skills and interact.

He spent five years working as a tutor in home programs using applied behavior analysis, which focuses on principles that explain how learning takes place, such as positive reinforcement .

In September 2012, Devitt moved Sport-Social to the current facility at 7055 Windy St. in the south valley because he had outgrown space he was renting.

Sport-Social has 20 employees and has about 225 children who attend.

“Everyone here is a current ABA tutor, or used to be,” Devitt said. “It helps to make sure that they are good quality people — good, reliable and safe. Some of the original people were my friends.”

Sport-Social also offers classes in art and social skills, with groups arranged by age and ability. In the summer, those classes are combined into a summer camp, and that is what has been affected the most by the fire, Devitt said.

“We’re just trying to get past it and refocus on all of our projects,” Devitt said. “All of our projects that are backed up are even more behind, especially in regards to our summer programs.”

The fire has not just affected a building, or a business. It has impacted a community.

“It’s affecting the kids. It’s the only place where these kids can interact,” Devitt said “We’re the only facility of its kind in Las Vegas.”

For children such as Cole, Sport-Social is a one-of-a-kind facility that has changed lives.

“Summer is coming, so camp is a big deal,” Jack Coronel said. “I think that each (special needs facility) has an approach. Not every approach works for every child. You need to find the right chemistry. For Cole, the physical aspect has translated well.”

The Coronels found Sport-Social through Cole’s applied behavior analysis tutors.

“If something affects your child ... you’re willing to try things,” Jack Coronel said. “In this case, it worked.”

The warehouse has become the central space for the children until Devitt can rebuild. Artwork on the walls includes a large Sport-Social logo the children painted, skateboard ramps, a moon bounce castle, bicycles and a makeshift office.

A table is set up with prizes as part of the “Cool Friends” reward program for good social behavior, though it is a fraction of what was on a display that was destroyed by the fire, Devitt said.

“We are waiting on insurance to hopefully cover the physical damages to our facility,” Devitt said. “We think that it’s going to be a month to two months to be fully back open.”

Insurance covers only part of what is needed to reopen Sport-Social fully, Devitt said.

He will be receiving $25,000 from the insurance company, and it will cost at least twice that to restore the facility to its former condition.

So far, Devitt’s fundraising efforts have generated $17,000, including a generous donation from the Lovaas Center for Behavioral Intervention.

Samuel Powers, who faces first-degree arson and burglary charges in connection with the fire, told Las Vegas police he worked there.

“I’m really disappointed that one person affected all of these people,” Devitt said. “Because of him, I’ve realized how much support we’ve had. In general, I think the fire has brought all of us together. We tried to make it a positive experience for everyone.”

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.