64 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018 65 Take a Bow 7th Degree Black Belt, Owner and Chief Mas- ter Instructor at  Richard- son-based Texas Karate In- stitute,  David Mason, has a lifelong passion for the mar- tial arts and its impact on both kids and adults. His Texas Karate Insti- tute  (TKI) has become a landmark in the local martial arts community as an insti- tution for self-improvement, character building and devel- opment of champion athletes. It’s no wonder that Mason earned this reputation. The second generation martial arts enthusiast earned his black belt in 1982 at age 13 (alongside his two sisters) under the tutelage of their fa- ther Walt, who in 1979 took over the Richardson-based TKI. Mason began teaching at age 15 and continued throughout college and after graduation. When his father passed away unexpectedly in 2001, Ma- son left his corporate job and took the helm at TKI. He has never looked back. “It’s a big task to carry on this legacy as a true lifestyle blueprint for a successful life based on discipline, focus and perseverance,” he says. Through martial arts, Mason has seen lives transformed. “Although many people think the martial arts are just about fighting, the truth is that the physical ‘kicking and punching’ are really just the ‘tools’ that I use to teach the much more valu- able lessons about yourself.” His program naturally transitioned into his work with kids with autism, ADD, ADHD, Asperger’s and other special needs. Mason integrates those with learning differences into the same classes as his mainstream students and has witnessed the win-win benefits. When the children are all together, Ma- son says, “it empowers them to express themselves and grow in strength together.” He says that in many cases, these stu- dents with special needs had become discouraged at school, were often bullied and didn’t participate in school activities; through his classes, he sup- ports them as they build their self-esteem and transform into self-confident leaders. Mason shares a recent exam- ple of a female teenage student with a diagnosis on the autism spectrum who was withdrawn at school and at home. This student not only flourished in his class, but also astonished him by taking a leadership role when a new student joined the class and was struggling to stay focused. She helped him through performing, he says “like she’d been teaching kara- te all her life.” Mason, a father of four, ages 5 to 20 (all of whom are in- volved in the martial arts), says that the impact of martial arts training is incredibly powerful for all kids. He and his ten- ured instructors tell students to “dream big no matter what life throws at them because if they stay persistent, they realize that there is a solution to a problem and that creates a ‘light-bulb’ moment that helps them going forward.” Editor’s Note: For more information, contact David Mason at 972.239.5053 or go to www.texaskarate.com. Developing a new interest; taking a break from the school year; creating lasting memories and friendships—for these reasons and so many more, summer camp is a meaningful ex- perience for all kids, including those with special needs. Yet, it can be overwhelming to comb through the plethora of options for camp, so try reaching out to Helene Abrams, a Dallas mom and local advisor for Tips on Trips and Camps, a free advisory service that connects parents and kids with camps and teen programs. Abrams, who has made a career out of helping parents find the perfect camp or trip experience, helps families find overnight programs for kids ages 8-18, and is particularly passionate about helping families who have kids with special needs. Tips on Trips and Camps provides plenty of options, varying from traditional and specialty camps to language and travel im- mersion. There are a multitude of activities for children includ- ing sports, arts programs, sailing, community service, outdoor adventures, cultural explorations and STEM programs, many of which are open to children and teens with special needs. “There are many amazing camps where kids with special needs are in a safe environment where everyone understands them and trained staff are there to support them 24/7,” says Abrams. “They are in a place where they can be themselves and participate in camp activities where there are no physical or emotional barriers. They come alive!” The camps allow the children to build self-con- fidence, foster independence, face challenges, develop social skills and try new things. The special needs programs are equipped to work with sensory integration issues, cognitive disabilities and mild emotional disorders. There is also a high staff to camper ra- tio. Dallas mom, Melanie Sacks, is so grateful for her son’s experi- ence at summer camp. Gal, who is autistic with verbal apraxia, would begin talking about camp in January. He would do things at camp that he wouldn’t try at home. “We couldn’t believe he participated in the camp play! At camp Gal felt the freedom and independence that he wanted, and we felt he was in safe, warm environment where is was cared for,” says Sacks. Abrams says that summer camp is a rewarding experience, es- pecially for those who are differently-abled. She states, “Camp is not just a place to spend your summer—it’s a place where special needs kids can connect with other children their age and make lasting friendships. They are accepted for who they are.” And for any child, that makes all the difference in the world. Editor’s Note: Tips on Trips and Camps is a FREE Advisory Service pro- viding information on over 600 overnight summer camps, trips and pro- grams for students ages 7 to 18+. In addition to traditional and specialty camps, the company represents programs offering student travel, language immersion, cultural exploration, outdoor adventure, community service, internships and academic study on college campuses in the US and abroad. For more information or to reach Helene Abrams, go to Helene@tipsontripsandcamps.com or call 214.484.8141. by Jordan Kiefer - Helene Abrams, camp consultant E M B R A C E ! m'brās/ verb Embrace! was created to provide information and human interest articles to help families with differently- abled children. Whether your child has ADHD, Autism, Down syndrome or any other special need that qualifies him or her for programs in public schools, we will be researching and covering important, educational and inspiring content that addresses a wide variety of issues. How Summer Camps Can Impact Kids with Special Needs All the Difference in the World Meetrepresentativesfromenrichingsummerprogramsacrosstheglobe! hostedbyTipsonTripsandCamps Saturday,January27,2018 TheEpiscopalSchoolofDallas 4100MerrellRoad,Dallas 1pm-3:30pm Gal Sacks with camp consultant Helene Abrams enjoying camp life at Roundlake Camp in Milford, PA. “Campisaplacewherespecialneedskids canconnectwithotherchildrentheirage and...areacceptedforwhotheyare.” Kids, Including Those with Special Needs, Build Self-Confidence through Martial Arts SUMMER CAMPS,TRIPS & INTERNSHIPS FAIR “Although many people think the martial arts are just about ghting, the truth is that the physical‘kicking and punching’are really just the‘tools’that I use to teach the much more valuable lessons about yourself,”saysTKI chief master instructor and school steward, David Mason, left, with son Joshua, 14, (a red belt and junior instructor), andTKI head instructors, Mike Hamilton and James Brown. ByTriciaWhite and Jordan Kiefer