Success Stories in the Central Southwest Region
Parents, Teachers, and Service Providers Assisting Anxious Kids
“Are there any snakes in this room?” A parent cautiously stops near the door to the Science room at Hinsdale Elementary School. “No” replies a teacher confidently. “If there were, I would not be here!”
They discussed the phobia they shared while they set up the room for an evening workshop organized by Hinsdale Parent Partnerships. The group hold regular workshops and events, and tonight they brought together parents and educators, to learn collaboratively how they could help children cope with anxiety at school and at home, to help children be ready to learn.
Anxiety can result from many and various experiences, as more than 30 participants learned at this workshop presented by Dr. Celia Oliver of LifeStrands Counseling Services of Peterborough NH.
Dr. Oliver shared the physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. She described several different phobias commonly responsible for creating increasing anxiety. She also shared strategies to support children who have elevated levels of anxiety. The group looked at scripts they could use during a child’s most anxious moments. They could validate that the individual has concerns without reinforcing their fears, or behaviors. The group practiced calming exercises and visualizing strategies to reduce anxiety levels and increase a child’s availability to learn. Dr. Oliver also introduced some treatments for Anxiety Disorders, and described the principals of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), an intervention especially effective when working with children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who often have higher levels of anxiety, and anxiety related disorders.
To find out more about Cognitive Behavior Therapy go online to http://www.nacbt.org/whatiscbt.htm the National Association of Cognitive Behavior Therapists.
To contact Celia Oliver, PhD, PsyD, LifeStrands Counseling Services PLLC “Together, Weaving the Strands of Life” 45 Main Street, Suite 201, Peterborough NH 03458 Call 603-924-6400
For more information about Hinsdale Parent Partnerships contact Michele Calderwood at 603-336-7078 or via email at: tcalderwoodh@myfairpoint.net
Hinsdale Parent Partnerships would like to thank the staff of Hinsdale Elementary school for providing the space for the workshop, and various members for making it a welcoming environment. NH Connections supports Hinsdale Parent Partnerships using the Partnership for Student Success in Special Education (P4SSinSE) model.
HINSDALE’S DREAM TEAM – for Kids who just want to play ball!
A Sunday evening in Hinsdale, and children from 3 to 13 gather in a ball field wearing their new team shirts and hats. A familiar scene, but for many of these children this was their first experience of baseball. All too often team sports are not accessible to children with disabilities. It can be difficult for them to compete. Exceptional Children, such as those with Asperger’s may not fully understand team’s interpretations of the game rules; they may not make the play, and may never feel part of a team.
The Hinsdale Dream Team was the vision of Michele and Todd Calderwood. For the last two years, their son joined Jason’s Dream Team of Keene. Jason’s Dream Team welcomes children of all abilities to play, with the help of their buddies, to bat and field. There is no practice, no selections, they just play!
Michele shared her joy at seeing her son show the pride that playing in a team can offer with other parents and educators at a Hinsdale Parent Partnership meeting. Members voiced their concerns about their child being the last one picked for regular competitive team sports. They were all motivated to begin the Hinsdale Dream Team.
The hard work and determination of Michele Calderwood and members of Hinsdale Parent Partnerships brought Michele’s vision to life. Kids played ball weekly, and mentors or “Buddies” were glad to support each of the players. The group celebrated their first season with trophies and team certificates. Buddies, and all who helped out received keychain mementoes of the event. Hinsdale Parent Partnership members plan to repeat in the spring of 2010.
The Council on Developmental Disabilities awarded the group grant funds that allowed them to continue the season, and the Hinsdale parent partnership continue with a winter program of events and workshops supporting their mission: To Encourage Positive Communication between School and Family and provide equal opportunities for all our children.
Find out more about Hinsdale Parents Partnerships…
The Hinsdale Parents Partnerships group gives thanks the Family Council and the Macdonald family for ensuring uniforms would be available for the team. A great cheer must go out to Steve Gassett and Todd Calderwood, for giving their time to coach, ensuring everyone’s safety, and for securing equipment for the season, and of course, to all the players.
The Fish family began Jason’s Dream team after their son Jason lost his life to cancer. On this sunny evening Jason’s son, Brandon threw out the first pitch of the season. Hinsdale also welcomed many members and friends of the Fish family who came to the opener. Mentors, buddies, and coaches were courtesy of Hinsdale High School who gave their time to come and be a buddy and support the players.
The Hinsdale dream team also received support from the following sponsors: Dicks Sporting Goods of Keene, Radio stations W Y R Y, WKVT, T-Bird of Hinsdale, Wal-Mart and the Hinsdale Recreation Department. Mantis Graphics printed the team shirts and R&J Sports provided hats for all the players, Buddies, and supporters.
Hinsdale parent partnership extends huge thanks to everyone who made this possible!
To Become a Sponsor or for more information about Hinsdale Parent Partnership group call Michele Calderwood 603-336-7078, or email Michele @ tcalderwoodh@myfairpoint.net
or call Kimberly Gassett 603-336-7351. or email Kim @ kag4@myfairpoint.net
Camp and Recreation Inclusion Initiative
A group of invested individuals came together to respond to issues raised at a NH Connections forum in 2006. Representatives from Monadnock Developmental Services, Antioch University of New England (ANE), NH Connections, The Family Support Council, Monadnock Family Services, and Parent Volunteers worked to increase recreational opportunities for children and youths with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
October 2006
ANE hosted training to introduce leaders of recreational organizations to ASD. John Moran, Ed.D provided over 60 individuals with an unforgettable insight into the world of Autism. He shared the vast teaching opportunities available to those trained to providing ways to engage individuals with ASD.
June 2007
CRI coordinated a full day training for over 50 local and regional camp directors and personnel. The training that featured Cathy Apfel surrounded the issue of how to increase the opportunities for AS kids in a multitude of recreation environments.
January 2008
The group broadened their scope to serve children and youths with all abilities. They created a new mission: To Increase the recreational opportunities for all children and youths with all abilities.
September 2008
MDS and CRI collaborated in promoting “Gentle Teaching - Supporting People with Challenging Behaviors” by Dann Hobbs, a one-day presentation of the relationship based intervention.
June 2009 The CRI team trains 30 young Counselors in “Building Relationships to Support Positive Behaviors at Camp”. City of Keene Parks and Recreation, MDS, The Family Council, NH Connections, and parent volunteers sponsored the evening, which included role-play to support positive understanding of different behaviors, and learning styles.
The work on camps was initiated by Shelley Viles at Antioch, and John-Michael Dumais - at the time the Regional Facilitator for NH Connections and Elizabeth Macdonald as one of the Collaborative 4 Autism volunteers (C4A a NHC initiative ) MDS, the Family Council and MFS. Later Keene Recreation Department joined the team.
Parent Involvement Forum
Central Southwest Regional Support Network held the forum at Antioch College for the Monadnock Region during Parent Involvement month, October 22, 2009. The NH Connections Issue Brief November 2009 is a two page document with the results of the forum.
Conversations were held to address each question and each participant had the opportunity to speak about each question. Notes were captured of the discussion by the table moderators. The comments for each question were shared and the participants then voted on what they see as priorities for proposed action items.
What have we learned so far?
Central Southwest Regional Support Network held the forum at Antioch College for the Monadnock Region during Parent Involvement month, October 22, 2009. The NH Connections Issue Brief November 2009 is a two page document with the results of the forum.
Conversations were held to address each question and each participant had the opportunity to speak about each question. Notes were captured of the discussion by the table moderators. The comments for each question were shared and the participants then voted on what they see as priorities for proposed action items.
The priorities of the participants for proposed action items include:
What outcomes do we expect from increased parent involvement in Special Education?
- A better understanding of the whole child from the home and school perspective.
- Working together for student achievement.
- Building relationships among partners of parents, school staff, and community members.
What parent involvement happens in our schools today?
- Parent forums
- Wrap arounds – all IEP team members convene weekly to guide direction for student success.
- Newsletter for teachers
- Good home school communication
What challenges prevent us from improving parent involvement in Special Education?
- Time for both parents and teachers due to tight schedule
- lack of chances to meet
- Lack of knowledge of the special education process
- Stress for both teachers and parents.
- “Them and Us”
- How to engage parents and how to find out what they want.
Monadnock forum participants included:
5 parents/students, 3 community service providers, 13 school faculty, and 6 staff for NH Connections.
Represented were 3 SAUs of #s 29, 38 and 60, 7 school districts of Chesterfield, Fall Mountain, Fitzwilliam, Hinsdale, Keene, Monadnock Regional, and Troy. 8 schools were represented of Chesterfield Central School, Fall Mountain, Fitzwilliam, Hinsdale Elementary School, Keene
Middle School, Monadnock Regional High School and Middle school, and Troy Elementary School.
Where do we go from here now that we understand the priorities of the partners of the proposed action items in the Monadnock Region?
Meet soon. Develop Action Plans at the level that you and your community members feel comfortable. Develop Regional Action Plans, SAU Action Plans, District Level Action Plans or School Level Action Plans. We look forward to learning more as the Regional Support Network reports out there work of parent involvement in Special Education.
October: Parent Involvement in New Hampshire
Patricia Shippee receiving the award from Commissioner Barry at the first Parent Involvement Recognition ceremony held in Concord at the State House on October 1st 2009. Parents, educators, and family-school-community partnership projects from around NH were honored as part of events marking Governor John Lynch’s proclamation October as "Parent Involvement in Education Month" in NH. The proclamation celebrates the importance of parent engagement in the academic achievement of children and in the improvement of NH schools. This initiative has come about through collaboration between the Parent Information Center of NH (PIC) and the NH Department of Education. Members of Hinsdale Parent Partnerships nominated Pat for the award. Congratulations Pat!
