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by Darren R. Cecil The man stood outside a five-and-dime store grasping a cup of pencils in his only hand. The pencils were his livelihood. A modern peddler, he humbly displayed his wares. The mother vowed that this would not be the life of her son. She was fiercely determined to make her son self-sufficient. She taught him to dress himself and to do everything kids his age could do with the exception of one thing – she could never teach her child how to tie his shoes. If only the mother knew back then that her son would own his own business and hold a master’s degree. The boy began to realize he looked different than the other kids; he was born with one arm missing below the elbow. He hoped and prayed for a hand to grow. His mom told him “You were born this way. People will laugh at you. They will stare and even fear you. Your hook is just as good as a hand. Live your life the very best you can.” If she only knew how her child’s hurt taught him compassion for all people. She would marvel how his own discomforts taught him to comfort others. If she’d only known how her strong words, positive attitude and honesty would shape the boy’s determination. If she only knew…. From the time the boy was three months old and all through college, the boy was a patient at a renowned teaching hospital. Doctors took notes, interrogated, examined and prodded the boy. Physicians discussed his disability as if he were not present. The mother tried to normalize the grueling experience with breakfast out, shopping at Filene’s and a visit to the drugstore to buy his favorite candy. The mother made the day an adventure so the boy didn’t feel like a guinea pig. Over time, the child became comfortable with the doctors. He began to make jokes and challenge the doctor’s comments. If the mother only knew that being poked, prodded and studied would prepare her son to address large audiences with ease. If she only knew… When he was six or seven years old, the physicians asked the boy to share his adjustment to a lifelong disability with adults who had recently become disabled – Vietnam veterans. The boy never hesitated to share how much fun he had and how he could do almost everything anyone else could do. The boy learned at an early age how to educate and motivate. The boy loved to play and he gained early acceptance by succeeding in sports. As a sophomore in high school, he tried out for the junior varsity basketball team. The coach cut him. The boy worked hard on his game throughout the year. In the winter he shoveled snow off the basketball courts so he could practice. The tryouts came again and he played extremely well. The day the roster was posted, he excitedly walked toward the coach’s office to see his name. A classmate said, “Sorry, I can’t believe you didn’t make it.” Dumbfounded, the boy saw that his name was omitted from the roster. The boy sprinted to find the varsity coach. Unable to maintain his composure, the boy told the coach that in previous conversations the coach had told him how to improve his game. The player had done all that was asked. The coach acknowledged the boy’s improvement. But he explained that the boy was cut because he could not dribble with his left hand. The boy’s mouth dropped. The coach must be joking. When the boy realized the coach was serious, the boy began to laugh. It did not matter to the coach that he was considered the second best player who tried out. The boy became extremely focused and polite. He asked the coach to evaluate his performance on what he could do on the court. He told the coach that he wanted to be reinstated on the team for a two-week probationary period. After the two week “tryout” the coach could evaluate his skills. If the skills were not acceptable, he could make a decision to cut the boy and he would never try out again. The coach acquiesced. The boy not only passed the probationary period but became the second best scorer on the team. At the end of the year banquet, the coach shared the story. He said he had been taught a lesson in determination and prejudice by a player who couldn’t dribble with his left hand but who could more than make up for it with everything else he could do on the basketball court. Today, the boy is a man, dedicated to sticking up for people with disabilities. He owns his own business, lives in a nice home, is happily married and has three beautiful children. Perhaps if the mother had known then of her son’s life purpose and success, she would have felt a deeper peace. The ties that bind and being able to tie one’s life together are far more important than shoe ties that keep a child from falling. Her boy may have fallen, but he usually landed on his feet and on occasion when he did not he always got back up. If his mother had only known …. This short story is reproduced from an excellent book, What Adults with Disabilities Wish All Parents Knew – Reflections from a Different Journey, edited by Stanley D. Klein, Ph.D. and John D. Kemp. Research and Computer Assisted Instruction This month’s Closing the Gap newsletter sites research
by Debbie Grant and George Sinter studying the use of computer assisted
instruction with infants and toddlers with disabilities. The three year
study with children ages 1.5 to 3 years was funded by the Office of
Special Education Programs in the US Dept. of Education with a grant to
the Santa Barbara County Special Education Program in CA and to
researchers at the University of
California at Santa Barbara. During the course of the study, many
software programs were used. The touch screen was found to be the most
effective input device. Qualitative and quantitative research methods
led the researchers to conclude that assistive technology is an
effective means to teach cause and effect and to improve language
skills. Data showed that computer assisted teaching helped young
children develop choice making abilities and matching skills. Software
programs used in the study included many Lekotek favorites - BabyTime,
Sights & Sounds, SwitchKids, Old MacDonald’s Farm, Switch Basics and
Teach Me to Talk. With a grant from The Charter Autism Foundation,
Lekotek staff members are writing software programs to work on the above
mentioned skills. We are proud of an expert staff who remain on the
“cutting edge” of Lekotek Welcomes Meredith Field Lekotek welcomes Meredith Field as a part time Leader at the Cliff Valley and Duluth sites. Meredith is an Atlanta native and graduate from the University of Georgia. Meredith is currently an early intervention consultant for the BEGIN program at the Center for the Visually Impaired. Meredith is fluent in Spanish and looks forward to working with Spanish speaking families. Meredith will provide services to 24 families currently on waiting lists at both sites.
Ben and Tonya learned about Lekotek while attending the annual FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress) Conference to learn more about services for children with special needs. At the conference, Tonya met Helene who was demonstrating adapted computer devices and describing Lekotek services. The Lekotek program sounded like fun and fun was something missing in William’s life. The Mason’s didn’t know what to expect when Helene called to schedule William’s first play session but they did know that William was desperately in need of some FUN. They didn’t realize that Lekotek would become an important part of William’s educational team. According to Tonya, “Lekotek is unique in focusing on William’s strengths and abilities. William is learning to use a track ball and learns something new at every session. And he’s playing and laughing with “Eee” (Helene) the whole time.” Ben, Tonya and
William participate in Lekotek family outings and enjoyed the Lekotek
Run (or in their case, Walk) a few weeks ago in September. Not only do
the Masons support Lekotek by participating in fundraising events like
the run, but Tonya volunteered to help with Lekotek’s annual summer
computer camp. As a teacher she was a great asset to camp. Lekotek is
proud to be a part of William’s accomplishments and appreciates 12th Annual Lekotek Run and Silent Auction With 506 runners, the twelfth annual Lekotek Run and Silent Auction was successful in raising nearly $45,000. Lekotek acknowledges community support from restaurants and businesses who donated silent auction items. A special thank you to all race sponsors: The Marcus Foundation, Piedmont Construction, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Abbott Labs, Wells Fargo Foothill, Cushing & Morris, Ford Motor Company, Roche, Szabo Associates, Children’s Healthcare, Maslia Foundation, Career Sports & Entertainment, Saab, Mark C. Pope, Repro Products, VF Intimates, Victor Realty, Hennessy Lexus, American Elevator, Coram, Grant Thornton, Sotto Design & Development, Pittman Construction, Blazer Homes, Patrick Chiropractic Center, Graphics Central, NE Dekalb Tucker Optimist Club and Handicapped Driver Services. Compuplay - October
and November Each year in Georgia, more than 2,500 children are born with disabilities. Nearly 10,000 more will have a disabling condition by age five. Early intervention is essential to help each child reach his or her fullest potential. Effective early intervention substantially reduces the need for specialized services later in life. Studies document that for every dollar spent on early intervention, seven are saved on special education and related support services. The Erikson Institute, a program for graduate education studies, affiliated with Loyola University in Chicago, conducted an evaluation to determine if the Lekotek concept makes a significant difference to families whose children have disabilities. The answer was strongly affirmative. Findings were as follows:
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Fifteen
years ago Ben and Tonya met at Georgia Tech. After ten years of
marriage, Ben and Tonya became the proud parents of William Thomas Mason
born January 17, 2003. Ten months later William was diagnosed with SMA,
spinal muscular atrophy. Like new parents thrust into the world of
disabilities, they tirelessly learned all they could, meeting with
doctors and therapists and implementing a comprehensive plan for
William. Tonya stopped teaching so she could help William on a full-time
basis. Ben continued his career in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and
air-conditioning). 