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Contents:
by Nick Kostopoulos I cannot remember the circumstances surrounding the situation, nor can I remember exactly how the quote was phrased, but I do remember my father trying to explain to my nine year-old self that “life is not all about movies;” and this is a concept I have been grappling with for the past nine years. I know this statement to be true, but if not for movies, I am fairly certain my life would be much less interesting; my love of film defines my personality and my personality begat my love of film. Stricken with polio, Francis Ford Coppola created puppet shows to amuse himself. Suffering from severe asthma, Martin Scorsese drew storyboards for imaginary films. I have cerebral palsy, a condition that, while it does not cease physical activity altogether, I am unable to walk. In this similar way, film became my source of amusement. My father can also be pinpointed (or blamed, if you prefer) as the catalyst for my obsessive love of film. He instilled in me a love for both film and literature, when he would read “The Wizard of Oz” or “To Kill a Mockingbird” to me, and then show me their respective film adaptations. When, at the age of eight, I decided that I would become a filmmaker, there were not any noble artistic intentions involved in the decision. Repeated viewings of the “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” trilogies had simply convinced me that being a movie director was the coolest job on the face of the earth. I did not realize until the age of thirteen that films could be more than entertainment, that they could be works of art. In my mind a movie was a movie, it was supposed to be frivolous entertainment. Movies like David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” and Stanley Kubrick’s “2001” made me truly understand why they are called movies; they are moving pictures, extensions of paintings. Film shows us an approximation of life in all its beauty and sorrow. Film shows us our hopes, our fears and our wildest fantasies. I believe so fervently in the power of movies that I created The Lakeside High School Film Society, a club at my school that discusses movies selected by the club’s members. It is my obsessive love of movies, and my desire to attend film school as a screenwriter, that has driven me to do well in high school. Now, one of twenty four incoming freshman accepted into the University of Southern California film program, my once ludicrous dream is not far off.
My lifelong dream has been to make films and my acceptance into the Division of Writing for Screen and Television at USC could make it possible. My original intention of course was to create fantastic dream worlds, to be an escapist filmmaker. Now, however, I do not feel that is the only reason. Film is such a titanic medium, more than a novel, a symphony, an opera, or a painting, people from all walks of life watch movies and absorb the messages sent through the screen. I want to be able to show audiences their unspoken thoughts, their dreams, their fears, and themselves; sometimes the world never seems quite real until you hold a mirror up to it. No, perhaps life is not all about movies, life is the movies. As a preschooler, our son Nick enjoyed monthly play sessions with Helene, his brother Pete and his cousins Despina & John. As he graduates from Lakeside High School, we would like to thank Helene for her support and commitment to inclusion. Andy & Anna Kostopoulos Lekotek Celebrates Twenty Five Years of Making a Difference Twice a year, parents are asked to complete satisfaction surveys to provide feedback on Lekotek services. “I came to Lekotek for toys but stayed for so much more”, is a comment shared by many. I’d like to share with you why I came to Lekotek and stayed. I learned about the National Lekotek Center in Evanston, IL as my nephew, Jeremy, benefited from services. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law raved about Lekotek, citing what made it unique and special. I was told ‘it’s a chance for siblings, parents and grandparents to focus on abilities while facilitating opportunities for participation and inclusion.” And so I visited the National Lekotek in 1983 and returned to Atlanta to search for space and funds determined to establish Lekotek of Georgia. Fourteen months later, I began play sessions in the basement of Easter Seals. Today my job requires that I wear many hats but none is more rewarding than conducting a play session and helping a child gain self-esteem, independence and new skills. Seeing a child activate a toy or computer for the first time, seeing a parent light up when their child accomplishes a task thought impossible and seeing a child believe in himself are more rewarding than words can express. I went to graduate school to become a special education teacher; it made perfect sense that I would come to Lekotek. But just like the parents we survey, I too have stayed for so much more. I am constantly learning about nonprofit management, board development, finance and ways to promote continued growth and vision. Beginning in the Easter Seals basement, the one and only Lekotek
service was the monthly play session. Today Lekotek operates four
satellites in addition to the main Atlanta location. In addition,
program services include neonatal play sessions, the loan of software
and computers, computer evaluations, music classes, Happy Tails pet
therapy, summer computer camp, Compuplay, Play Days, support groups for
moms, dads, siblings and grandparents and the annual Pumpkin Patch and
Holiday Party. But the more Lekotek has changed the more it has remained
the same – committed to a unique mission of inclusion where Software of the Month: E-Blocks This winter, the Lekotek staff attended the 2008 ATIA (Assistive
Technology Industry Association) Conference held in Orlando, FL. The
ATIA meeting features
Rahul and his Lekotek leader, Jennifer Johnston, are learning and having fun with E-Blocks. Lekotek is delighted to welcome Jennifer to the staff as a Lekotek leader at both the Gwinnett and Cliff Valley sites. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Play Therapy and a master’s degree from John’s Hopkins University in Early Childhood Special Education/Early Intervention. She brings a wealth of experience and energy to her families. Jennifer’s husband, Michael, is the director of the inpatient rehabilitation unit (CIRU) at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She and Michael have two children, Chase and Zoe; after work the entire family enjoys tennis and athletics. Lekotek Graduate, Matthew Roush's Speech Presented at the Career and Technical Public Speaking Competition held at Jekyll Island My name is Matthew
Roush. I am a senior at North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, Georgia. I
am here today to share with you how I have worked to turn my vision into
reality. During my lifetime, I have had to face challenges that many
young people will probably never have to face. I was born with a cleft
palate, vision and hearing problems. Despite these challenges, I
continued to have a vision for my life. I knew that much would be
required of me if I was going to From an early age, I was taught about my hearing aids. I have always worked to improve my listening skills and my speech. Throughout my school career, I have practiced many skills which would help me such as meal preparation, housekeeping skills, job application and interviewing skills. I attended the Bobby Dodd Institute and I am presently learning new job skills as an intern in a program called Project Search at SunTrust Bank in downtown Atlanta. I have learned to use the public transportation system so that I can go to and from the bank myself. At the bank I am learning skills such as filing, scanning documents and looking up account numbers in the computer. In our classroom, we are learning independent living skills, self advocacy and work attitudes. By practicing all of the skills daily, I know my vision of independence will become a reality. I am happy to say that as of March 24th, I am a fulltime employee of SunTrust Bank! Matthew was one of Lekotek’s first “kids” and continues to participate in LekoPal activities for older teens and young adults. Congratulations to Matthew on turning his vision into reality. LekoPals is a unique social program for teens (ages 15 and above) and young adults with disabilities. Modeled after Northwestern University’s Best Buddies, LekoPals creates opportunities for teens and young adults with and without disabilities to enjoy activities together. Typical peers receive training on disabilities and become mentors and friends during activities that include bowling, movies, and other fun and age appropriate activities. Lekotek appreciates the partnership of Atlanta area high school students in helping to make LekoPals unique and successful. Lekotek’s philosophy is that everyone is a “player” and able to participate in the community. Mark Your Calendar for Lekotek's Family Fun Festival
The Lekotek Fun
Run/Walk Can You Pass the Lekotek Quiz? (Answers appear at the end of the quiz.) 1.
Lekotek receives funding from United Way. 2.
Lekotek leaders have had undergraduate and graduate degrees in special
education, speech therapy, occupational therapy and recreation therapy. 3.
Lekotek celebrates its 25th anniversary this summer. 4. More
than 4,000 children and families have benefited from Lekotek services. 5.
Lekotek’s budget is more than $500,000. 6. The
word Lekotek is Swedish and literally translated means play library. 7.
There have been two executive directors in Lekotek’s history. 8.
Lekotek began loaning computers as part of its initial inventory. 9.
Twenty five percent of Lekotek families receive scholarship assistance. 10.
Lekotek of Georgia operates five sites. 11. Two
Lekotek satellites are housed with Children’s Healthcare. 12.
Lekotek of Georgia sites are in Atlanta, Kennesaw, Duluth, Alpharetta
and Fayetteville. 13. The
entire staff numbers more than eight.
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| En Español Lekotek of
Georgia, Inc.
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My
success in an academic setting is most likely what inspired me to study
screenwriting. I have been a staff member of both my high school and my
middle school newspaper. One of my pieces was published in my school’s
literary magazine and another received first place in a school-wide
contest. I have also written for my church, creating speeches for both
the annual St. John Chrysostom Oratorical Festival, advancing three
times to the district level, and for the National St. Photios Shrine
Essay contest, in which I placed second. I have written and delivered a
speech to parents of children with disabilities at a FOCUS conference. I
received the ‘Danforth I Dare You’ award my junior year, and this year I
was the recipient of the Lion’s Club award for English and I was named
one of twenty Outstanding Seniors.
Each year, funds are allocated for “state of the art” technology
purchases and following the conference new adapted input devices and
software were purchased for all five sites. At the meeting, we were
introduced to Positivo Corporation, a Brazilian company that developed
E-Blocks. E-Blocks is a software program with an accompanying sensory
input panel. The concept was developed to help Spanish speaking students
learn the English alphabet, phonics, reading and math. It has been
embraced by the special education community due to the well-known
premise that children learn by doing and the E-Blocks method provides
hands-on interaction. The input device or panel is connected to the
computer. In response to questions presented on the computer screen, the
child places the