Two Lil' Aggies having a fun time.

It is not surprising that he was impressed with the quality of the teaching and the behavior of the children in the Lil’ Aggies classroom.  Jennifer Lovell, the Lil’ Aggie head teacher, loves working with children with special needs. Her enthusiasm for what she is doing is evident in the colorful learning environment she has created and the well-planned curriculum that she organizes for the three transition classes that are offered twice a week.

In these transition classrooms, the two-year old children are preparing to move on into the district community preschool classrooms when they turn three. The children work on many skills, such as following directions, following a routine, sitting quietly, and improving language and fine motor skills.

Another of the important skills that they are learning is how to socialize with their peers.  They learn how to play together and get along, but they also learn new skills from watching other children who may be more verbal or physically active. Often, typically developing children from the community become part of the classroom for a short time.  This is a great benefit to the Up to 3 children, as they provide a model for the transitioning children to follow as they begin to talk more, follow directions, and learn new concepts.

Enrollment for each class is limited to eight so that each child is provided the attention and learning experiences that they need.  When the Up to 3 enrollment numbers are low, typically developing children from the community are welcomed into the class for a minimal fee.

“This is a huge plus for the children,” Jennifer said.  She has seen the many benefits that come from having children who have stronger developmental skills than the Up to 3 children.  One little girl completely opened up after a community child joined the group.  They became best friends and her verbal skills increased significantly during the weeks that he was there.

Up to 3 is always looking for typically developing two-year olds in the community who would like to become a part of this exceptional transition classroom when there is room.  If you are interested in enrolling your two-year old in the LiL’ Aggies classroom, you can contact Jennifer Lovell

.

Deciding which toys to buy for a child can be difficult for parents.   There are so many to choose from, how can you know which ones are developmentally appropriate for a child? Especially for a child who faces developmental challenges, it is important to choose toys that will help the child master important skills.

The Families website has an article titled “Santa’s Developmental Toy List” that suggests certain kinds of toys that would be developmentally appropriate for children to learn specific skills.  This article covers toy suggestions from 0-3 month olds up through 5-7 year olds. 

For example: For babies 0-3 months old, you want to encourage:  visual tracking, listening, grasping, and body awareness.  Toys that will help teach those skills include: mobiles, mirrors, rattles, classical CDs, and muscial toys.

To read the entire “Santa’s Developmental Toy List” you can go to the Families website.

The December 2009 issue of the Champions for Inclusive Communities Newsletter highlights a resource that trains service programs- local, state, and national- how to create an inclusive atmosphere  and environment that will encourage the employment of  persons with disabilities.

The Handbook for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in National and Community Service Programs is published by The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), an organization that  was created in 1993 and engages more than 2 million Americans annually in improving communities through service.  The Handbook provides information on how to make national and community service programs more inclusive for persons with disabilities. 

Inclusive services start with program managers who exhibit positive attitudes that ensure the respect and dignity of individuals with disabilities by using appropriate language and behavior.  Inclusive services look at the physical environment for accessibility, as well as accommodations that will facilitate employing persons with disabilities. 

This Handbook includes references on how to create inclusive environments, disability-related laws, and recruitment and outreach tactics.  It will assist providers to fully and meaningfully include individuals with disabilities in  national and community service programs.

Upon request, this material can be made available in alternate formats for people with disabilities.

By Connie Pehrson

On Thanksgiving night, CNN’s Anderson Cooper announced the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year, Efren Peñaflorida, who started a “pushcart classroom” in the Philippines to bring education to poor children as an alternative to gang membership.  He was chosen out of the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2009 — remarkable individuals nominated by viewers for their sacrifices and accomplishments.

Efren Peñaflorida is a “remarkable individual” whose extraordinary accomplishments are making a difference in the world.

Peñaflorida said upon accepting the honor. “Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry…Each person has a hidden hero within, you just have to look inside you and search it in your heart, and be the hero to the next one in need.

I am surrounded by everyday heroes, such as the people Peñaflorida has described. People who have looked inside themselves, searched their hearts, and decided to live life to the fullest and make a difference in the world.

My heroes are people like one man I know who advocates everyday for people who have disabilities through his job.  But more than that, he shows them what it means to be independent, to persevere through great obstacles.  He is a man who has, through an accident, lost the movement of his legs and hands and is confined to a wheelchair.  He is a man who must ask someone to help him with the simplest tasks, such as eating or opening a door, and yet, he embodies independence and confidence in his demeanor.  He is a man who is not bitter because of his circumstances, but who uplifts others and works hard to improve the lives of others like himself.  He is making a difference in the world.

Another hero of mine has let no barriers stop him from living a full and productive life, though he has lost his sight.  He, too, works hard to improve the lives of those around him who have disabilities.  And, although he cannot look into the eyes of his wife and child, he can provide for them and create a full and satisfying life for his family.  He is making a difference in the world.

One more hero of mine is an elderly woman who remains stoutly independent and refuses to give up in the face of recent widowhood and chronic health problems. She refuses to be a burden to anyone, and, though she asks for help with the things she cannot do, she remains firm in her desire to be independent and to help others in need.  She has chosen not to wallow in grief and self-pity.  She uplifts those around her through her kind deeds and encouraging words.  She is making a difference in the world.

I believe that heroes who are making a difference in the world surround us all.  They are our co-workers, our family members, our friends.  Perhaps we will be heroes to someone in our lifetime.

In the words of Efren Peñaflorida,  “… the hero in you is waiting to be unleashed. Serve, serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve…. you are the change that you dream, as I am the change that I dream, and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be.”