By Peter Schworm, Globe Staff, 1/4/2004

Sitting cross-legged in a circle of bouncy young boys, Ian Pham remains still as he gazes up at a glittering magician. Ian is 10 years old but speaks very little, even to his parents.

He has autism, which makes it hard for him to communicate and process information, says his father, Chau Pham. Usually, the sights and sounds of a children's magic show would overwhelm him. But today he smiles at the magician's sleight of hand.

Ian feels at home among his fellow Cub Scouts of Pack 222 -- the only pack in the state exclusively for boys with developmental problems and other special needs, say state Scout leaders.

Pack 222 draws 30 boys ages 6 to 11 from the western suburbs to the Weston Scout House. Before he heard about it, Pham said, he "never thought about scouting" for his son. He had tried enrolling Ian in swimming and gymnastics, but the classes went badly.

Among other kids who sometimes strain to find the right words or to make friends, kids whose own disabilities largely blind them to others' issues, Ian finds an unspoken kinship. His father sees it reflected in the way Ian responds to Scout leaders and the other boys.

"I didn't think it would be possible, just as full inclusion at school isn't possible," said Pham, who lives in Natick. "He can't always talk to his peers, but he loves belonging to a group, and they take him as he is." Added Sean Richardson, whose 9-year-old son has developmental disabilities: "Outside, they get looks, whispers, and comments. That never happens in here. They are so good with one another. There's an incredible bond."

Pack 222 largely runs along the same lines as a typical Cub Scout pack, parents say. Outdoor activities include scavenger hunts, relay races, nature hikes, and jamborees. As a community project, the Cubs collect and sort cans for recycling. Members wear the same uniforms and earn the same awards as other Cub Scouts.

Leaders seek to instill the same core values such as citizenship, cooperation, and responsibility.

But there are differences, too. Autism, a developmental disability that typically appears before age 3, impairs social interaction and communication. Scout leaders emphasize order and routine, which autistic children tend to thrive on. And because many of the Scouts have delayed motor and sensory abilities, pack leaders choose activities, overseen by students trained in special education, that help strengthen these skills.

Not that everything is geared toward skill-building: activities such as arts and crafts, building birdhouses, and nature walks are also designed to be fun and to promote a sense of belonging.

"It's more about what they get out of it personally," said Richardson "At the same time, they love feeling part of something bigger than themselves."

For Ian Pham and many other Scouts, the uniform reinforces this feeling of fitting in. They look in the mirror and stand up straighter, parents say. And although Ian doesn't often show his emotions, on meeting days, his father can tell he's excited by the way he keeps asking when it's time to leave.

Pack 222 got its start a year and a half ago, with a mother concerned that her 7-year-old son, who has mild special needs, would miss out on "typical Saturday morning activities." Carolyn Lilly approached Scout leaders about creating a pack specifically for such kids. They leaped at the idea, and the pack has steadily expanded as word has spread.

Lilly said that many parents were stunned that their children, some of whom have coordination difficulties related to sensory disabilities, were able to cross a rope bridge seven feet off the ground; scouting has brought out many "hidden talents" as well.

"The lesson it teaches us is that their potential is unlimited and that it's important to have high expectations," said Lilly, of Weston.

The pack is using a $12,000 grant from the Middlesex Savings Charitable Foundation to pay for field trips, teaching assistants, and sending the boys to a Scout summer day camp. For parents, the pack provides a setting to chat with others who know what it's like to raise a disabled child.

"Parents of special-needs children tend to be islands," Richardson said. "Here, people understand what they are going through."

Instead of dropping their children off, as at many Cub Scout meetings, parents all come inside to help out and stay afterward to tidy up.

There is a particular poignance to Pack 222, parents say. While it's sad that personal breakthroughs and connections can be elusive, it makes the triumphs more precious.

"Each of the milestones takes twice as long," Richardson said. "But that just makes them doubly sweet."

Those interested in Pack 222 may contact the Knox Trail Council at 508-872-6551.