LABBB Students at the Celtics Game |
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Sharing best practices and promoting inclusive opportunities for students with special needs
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Executive Director's
Message
Dear LABBB Colleagues and Families,
Did you know that this year, March not only celebrates St Patrick;s Day on the 17th but Absolutely Incredible Kid Day on the 16th? It is, in fact (according to my sources), a national holiday celebrated on the third Thursday in March, this year falling on the 16th. The intent of this day of celebration is to encourage an adult to write a younger person a note sharing how amazing they are (verbal messages work too!). A sincere shoutout to all of the L (lively, lovely, lovable) A
(amazing/artistic/awesome), BBB (brilliant, best, beautiful, brimming with ideas and kindness, bedazzling) students. Your energy, excitement to learn, smiles, and laughter are why LABBB is LABBB. We see you everyday learning to read and write, working towards independence and self-advocacy; we see the bumps, maybe a few tears, and we see your resilience, grit to achieve, and your accomplishments. There is no exaggeration, when I share that LABBB staff say things like “our kids are awesome” or “they are why I am here”. LABBB is LABBB because of our unbelievable students! Thank you! The families, parents, and siblings of LABBB students deserve a shout out too! LABBB students are the best - there is no doubt about it.
“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” C.S. Lewis
I think this C.S. Lewis' quote captures it. LABBB understands that it is an honor to work with your children; our most important work. Our students aka “kids” deserve to be celebrated everyday … They are Absolutely Incredible every day of the week! Happy Absolutely Incredible Kid Day to all:)
A reminder that Parent meetings/dances for the 2022-2023 school year will take place from 7:00 to 8:15 pm on the following dates:
March 9, 2023 - Understanding Age of Majority - What does it mean for your child, your family, and the IEP process?
April 27, 2023 - Transition Fair Speaker Series (topics may include DDS eligibility, housing, and guardianship). Transition Fair starts at 6:45 sharp and staff will be at the parking lot of the Community Center to usher students up to the dance while parents head to the Scottish Rite Museum for the Transition Fair
May 18, 2023
We hope that our parents will be able to attend; all are welcome. These meetings are held at the Lexington Community Center.
Respectfully,
Pam
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Eggers Class Happenings
By: Kathy Eggers
It has been a busy year in Mrs. Eggers class at LABBB Lexington High. Students have been working on academic skills from across the curriculum areas, as well as some new classes that we have added this year.
Literature Class was added in the summer of 2022. Each quarter the students work on a classic literature book by reading graphic novels presented digitally to the entire class. This year we have covered the classics of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Little Women, White Fang, and Alice in Wonderland. As students learn about each classic, they explore setting and characters. This quarter we have added focusing on Fiction vs Nonfiction in ELA, connecting to what we have learned in literature class. Students have covered the difference between real and fantasy and we are currently transitioning into realistic fiction by the end of the quarter.
In Writing Class we have begun to incorporate email and texting. Focus is on the use of accessibility features of their personal devices such as text to speech and speech to text, word prediction, and the use of emojis and GIFs to convey information. These features and the ability to use them will assist students in becoming more independent communicators as well as help to provide them independence.
In Science, students are currently focusing on Earth and Space Science. They have been exploring our solar system, learning about the sun's role, features of each planet, and other objects in the solar system. As we work our way through the solar system, we are taking a trip to the Museum of Science to visit the planetarium to take a virtual trip through the Solar System. Students are recording information they learn into a digital book on Book Creator that they will share with their families at the conclusion of the unit. This will tie into our unit on writing emails as we share our digital books with families.
In Mathematics, we have completed units on Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Graphing, and most recently Measurement. In measurement, students are spending several weeks on different measurement tools, learning their function, how to use them and how they impact their lives.
In Social Studies this year, we have studied the formative years of the U.S. government and its three branches. Traveled with Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea into the west and Walked with the indigenous peoples down The Trail of Tears. Currently, we are learning about The Civil War, the causes behind it, slavery, and control of state. We are learning about women such as Harriet Beecher Stow, who inspired change with her Novel “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, and Harriet Tubman, who was front and center from the underground railroad, to nursing and spying on behalf of the union. Also, the students have watched films set in the time including The Harriet Tubman Story, and Gone With the Wind to give visuals and deeper connection to the trials and tribulations that were brought on by the American Civil War.
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Collaborative Science Experience
By: Crystal Kaloostian, Chenery Middle School
This year we are trying something new at Chenery. We have started a collaborative science experiment set where roughly every other week students will be grouped and join one of the three Chenery LABBB classrooms to perform experiments with other students in the program. Everyone is going to get a chance to work with each teacher and do 3 different experiments in 3 different classes. This shows the students that we are all ONE LABBB and helps them to get to know and get comfortable with every teacher and every classroom. It is a great skill building exercise for dealing with transition and change and helps everyone be comfortable with all students in our little community program. It also offers some movement for students.
We started by choosing experiments for everyone to do. I am working with light and teaching them about how color and movement can affect light. The students who gathered in my class got to use colored slides to affect the projector's light and create new shades and levels. We discussed opacity and translucency, and we created colored wheels and saw what happened when we added a spinning movement. The students loved working with the color and creating new patterns and testing theories. It was great to mix everyone together with new peers and have everyone try things out they were curious about.
So far our trial is a success and we hope to continue to work with it and help connect these students to each other and to LABBB to create the ONE LABBB we love.
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Clinical Corner - The Balance Of Teaching Digital Life Skills
By: Trish Costa LMHC
Every parent wants their child to grow as an individual, make healthy choices, and be kind to others. However, we now find ourselves in a world where screen time is more common than actual face time, altering the way we interact with ourselves and everyone around us. For instance, a cell phone has an infinite amount of knowledge available instantaneously which can be very helpful to us everyday, however, we are also aware of a cell phone's negative effects. For example, researchers found that the average age for children receiving a cell phone is ten years old. We know that even in adulthood, balancing screen time and cell phone use can be hard at times, therefore highlighting the importance of positive habits for children to model.
Teaching positive and healthy boundaries with technology, especially cell phone usage, requires consistent teaching and communication. We try to encourage and discuss positive aspects of technology including:
● Connection to family and friends (close by and long distance)
● Learn anywhere at any time. Technology is an abundance of productive information!
● Provision of safety and security
● Social media provides the opportunity to uniquely present yourself or interests
● Innovation that drives apps and networks can benefit people across the world
● Social networking provides civic engagement
● Free and low cost digital tools
● Instant entertainment
However, we know that positive online experiences like these don’t automatically happen when you hand a child a device. When children stray away from these positive aspects, their screen time increases which is linked to:
● Obesity
● Inadequate sleep schedules and insufficient sleep
● Behavior problems
● Delays in language and social skills development
● Violence
● Attention problems
● Decreased classroom focus
● Limited family/in-person social time
● Mental health issues
While examining the negative impacts of technology, parents should take into account the unique attributes of their child. Some kids will become obsessive with different forms of technology and other kids will not bother with certain aspects of technology. Ultimately, technology is a tool, not just a form of entertainment or learning outcomes. It is what we choose to make of it and what we continue to model for our children.
“The point is not how we use a tool but how it uses us.”-Nick Joaguin
Openly discussing, teaching, and modeling positive technology behaviors can help children continue good practices as more technology is introduced in their future. Building these habits with your child or adolescent allows for valuable connection during the process.
Is Your Child Ready for Technology?
Here are some helpful questions to ask and contemplate as a parent when evaluating if your child is ready for technology or needs more guidance. Some of these questions can be found in “Parenting in a Tech World” by Matt McKee and Titania Jordan:
● Has your child developed the social and emotional skills necessary to use their gadget’s wisely? Can they show empathy, kindness, respect and civility?
● Does your child know how to manage their online reputations?
● Does your child know how to unplug? Are they addicted? Do you need to teach strategies to help them?
● Does your child know how to make and maintain safe and healthy relationships?
● Can they keep themselves safe from unhealthy online relationships and harmful content they might encounter? Do they know what to do?
● Does your child know how to think critically about the information they find online?
If your answer to any of these questions is no, then your child might need more support around these digital life skill issues before handing them over the massive responsibility of owning a connected device. However, you can teach them all of these life skills no matter how much, or how little, you personally know about technology. Remember these skills can’t be taught overnight, they will take time and patience!
Tips For Raising Young Children and Teens in a World of Screens
● Set boundaries
● Monitor use, behavior and content
● Be clear about what is acceptable
● Engage and lead by example
● Use parental controls to block or filter internet content
● Ask your child regularly what programs, games and apps he or she has played with during the day/evening
● Regularly watch, engage in their digital world to educate your child around content
● Develop household rules/contracts
● Also, set a good example
Consider that your child is watching you for cues on when it is ok to use screens and how to use them. You will likely need to continuously guide, manage and monitor your child’s screens and media as they grow. It takes a village!
Helpful Books:
The Tech-Wise Family By: Andy Crouch
Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World. By: Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane.
Managing Screen Time: Raising Balanced Children in the Digital Age By: Edmond Schoorel
Screen Time Sanity: The Crazy Easy Guide to Doing Technology with Your Kids. By: Kira Lewis and Michelle Myers.
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AHS Best Buddies - LABBB at Arlington High School
Erika Lyons, Mike Harrington, Heather Mulliner
LABBB AHS students and their Best Buddies got together to show some love for friendships at their annual Valentine’s Day themed party! Students were able to socialize, play small games, and enjoy a few special treats with one another. In preparation for the party, students came up with a list of items they would like and then went out shopping in the community to gather these items. Part of the planning included setting up the space and decorating.
This is one of many fun and meaningful activities that the Arlington High Best Buddies host throughout the year.
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There’s Snow Place Like LABBB! LABBB at Ottoson Middle School
By: Peggy Sheehan
There wasn't very much snow for us outside this February, but Ottoson students had some fun with a few winter activities indoors this month! We've done some winter art projects and for a special activity the Friday before vacation we had a chance to do some indoor sledding (on shaving cream) to help us slide into the break!
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Transition Dept.: The Working Lunch February 2023; Information on MRC’s NextGen Careers Program
By: Skip Avery
The Working Lunch Show highlights workforce development in Central Massachusetts, the Commonwealth, and the U.S. Hosted by Executive Director, Jeff Turgeon. This lively monthly show features interviews with special guests, on-site tours of area businesses, expert commentary on workforce news and trends, and valuable job search tips. TWL is produced by the City of Worcester’s Cable Services Division.
discusses NextGen Careers, a new initiative from MRC that helps young adults fast-track their career journey. Toni Wolf, the Commissioner of Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC), and Michelle Banks, NextGen Career Strategic Director for MRC, are interviewed about the NextGen Careers initiative.
Please see below for more information on Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and their NextGen Careers program.
The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) provides services that break down barriers and empower people with disabilities to live life on their own terms. Our programs focus on training and employment, community living, and disability determination for federal benefit programs. We are change agents and community builders, and we put the people we serve at the heart of everything they do.
What is NextGen Careers?
NextGen Careers is a new initiative that helps young adults fast-track their career journeys. NextGen-ers are young adults with disabilities, 18-30, who want to make a change in their life. NextGen-ers will learn to advocate for themselves, gain self-confidence, and become self-sufficient on their career path. Whether they're interested in a certificate program, on-the-job training, apprenticeship, or an internship in STEM, NextGen will pair them with a team of dedicated experts in counseling, benefits, and peer support that will be behind them every step of the way.
NextGen-ers, pursue careers on their terms, understanding that it is their choice, their career, and their life. The possibilities are endless.
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PRIDE at Marshall Simonds Middle School
By: Emily Hurd
Each month at Marshall Simonds Middle School, grade level teams give out PRIDE awards to students who demonstrate the MSMS values of perseverance, respect, integrity, diversity, and empathy. Josh was one of two students from Team 6 Red who received a PRIDE award for January. 6 Red teachers said they nominated Josh because he always shows up to class with a smile and positive attitude. Congratulations, Josh!
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LABBB Adapted Physical Education, Recreation and Social Opportunities
In mid-February, 40 LABBB students and Best Buddies from Bedford and Lexington went on our annual trip to the Celtics game. We missed a few years of this tradition, but we are back in full swing. Most ate dinner at Hub Hall, which is new to TD Garden. The group had a blast watching the Celts take home the win.
See photos below.
Save the Date for upcoming events:
● March 9, 2023 LABBB St. Patrick’s Day Dance
● April 11-15, 2023 LABBB 2023 Disney Trip
● April 27, 2023 LABBB Spring Dance
● May 10, 2023 Special Olympics all day at Lexington High Track
● May 18, 2023 LABBB Last Dance of the School year
● June 8, 2023 LABBB Graduation, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum
Remember to follow @LABBBREC on Twitter
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LABBB Parent Resources
The DDS Central Middlesex Area Office is working with Riverside Community Care Family Support Center to celebrate Spring. They will be having a baseball themed event at the Riverside Family Support Center in Burlington on Opening Day as the Boston Red Sox start their 2023 season. Click the link to see the flyer.
DESE/DDS Residential Placement Prevention Program: The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) have collaborated to develop a statewide program specifically for DDS eligible students who are at risk of a future residential placement. This program serves students who are DDS Child Eligible, 6-21 years old, served by an IEP, and living in their family or caregiver’s home. The program provides wraparound supports for students and their families, including in-home supports, community integration activities and skill building, funding for approved goods and services, a single point of contact for the program through a Family Navigator Agency, and a family-centered plan with individualized goals for the student to work on.
The Open Interest Period has begun and is accepting forms through March 31, 2023. For more information and to find an interest form, please visit the following website. Family materials and open interest submission forms are available in alternate languages at bit.ly/DESE-DDS
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Families with MassHealth Need to Renew Coverage:
Families with MassHealth need to renew their coverage this year in order to maintain coverage. Coverage protections put in place during the pandemic will end soon, and MassHealth will return to standard annual eligibility renewal processes. Please help inform MassHealth families that they need to take the following steps:
- Update contact information – make sure MassHealth has their most up-to-date address, phone number, and email so that they do not miss important information and notices about what else is needed.
- Report household changes to make sure MassHealth knows about any changes in their household, like a new job, address, changes to income, disability status, or pregnancy.
WorkWithoutLimits Career Fair - For Individuals with Disabilities
The Work Without Limits virtual Career Fair connects job seekers with disabilities with inclusive employers.
This event is happening on March 7, 2023 from 1:30-3:30 PM EST.
MassHealth Eligibility Redeterminations Information
Special Needs Art Programs Inc.
Riverside Family Support
Join Autism Eats for Brunch With Santa!
All behaviors and ages are welcome.
Check out Autism Eats on 7 News Boston WHDH Special Report HERE
Extra Steps Launches Innovative Programs
Wilderness skill building can be a thrilling and empowering adventure for school age kids. A new program called Kids in the Wild is being offered through Extra Steps Pediatric Therapies. The first session will take place on December 10th in Sudbury for children ages 7-12.
Additionally, Extra Steps is offering Caregiver Workshops to help families build connections with one another and promote skill development in their loved one. An example is a workshop held on Nov. 2nd that focused on holiday stress.
For more information, contact Director Sherry Kenin.
Asperger/Autism Network (AANE) provides individuals, families and professionals with information, education. Community, support and advocacy is offering free community connection sessions .Our.Free Online Community Connection Sessions are single-session discussion groups and a great way to meet our staff and connect with the community for the first time. All times listed are in the Eastern Time Zone. Please click the date for more info and to register.
Housing Navigator Massachusetts
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Discovery Museum Announces 2023 Series of Free Events for Families of Children with Disabilities
ACTON - Discovery Museum announced today the full 2023 schedule for the Especially for Me series of free events for families with children on the autism spectrum or who have vision or hearing loss or sensory issues. The first event of the year, an Autism-Friendly Evening, will be held this Saturday, January 7, 5:00 to 8:00pm. Space is limited and advance registration is required at https://26033.blackbaudhosting.com/26033/Especially-for-Me-Free-Autism-Friendly-Evening-07Jan2023. Space is still available.
This is the 13th year of the popular program series that offers families an opportunity to play together when the Museum is closed to the public and capacity is limited in order to improve access. Because admission is free, families may come and go based on their child’s needs without concern for cost. Parents also have the chance to meet other families in similar circumstances, thereby reducing feelings of isolation often described by families dealing with special needs. A medical diagnosis is not required to attend.
Discovery Museum is ADA-compliant and all exhibits are accessible, designed according to Universal Design principles to be both aesthetically pleasing and useable by the widest possible range of people, without regard to age or ability.
Special resources are available to families including noise-reducing headphones, a sensory guide to the Museum, sensory-based programming, and American Sign Language (ASL) language facilitators at some events. Additionally, dinner, including a gluten-free option, is provided at all evening events.
All Especially for Me events are free to attend for all family members, but preregistration is required. Dates and registration links can be found online at http://bit.ly/EspeciallyforMe.
2023 Event Schedule
Mornings for Families of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & KODA Infants and Toddlers (closed to the public):
Mondays 9:30am to 12:30pm | February 13, September 11
Sensory-Friendly Afternoons (open to the public, but no group visits are scheduled):
Tuesdays 1:30 to 4:30pm | February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, June 6, August 1, October 3, November 7, December 5
Evenings for Families with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, & KODA Children (closed to the public):
Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm | March 11, May 6, December 2.
Evenings for Families with a Visual Impairment (closed to the public):
Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm | February 4, October 7.
Autism-Friendly Evenings (closed to the public):
Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm | January 7, March 18, April 1, June 3, September 16, October 21, December 16
All-Access Evenings (closed to the public):
Saturdays 5:00 to 8:00pm | January 21, May 20, June 17, November 18
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A LABBB PODCAST
Patric Barbieri, Hosts a Podcast talking about special needs planning and resources related to our community
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In episode #22 we talk about our journey in building a mindful culture in LABBB. It is one of our core values that is posted throughout our collaborative. There is a significant difference between just talking about these practices and actually doing them. We made a commitment to offering mindful practices for all students in all our classrooms every single day. We also believe for us to be successful we need to offer and teach this to our staff as well. We are a community practicing together and this is the only way to get the true benefits. We have been fortunate to have many staff persons who have a myriad of unique mind-body skills to bring into our environments for both students and staff.
This initiative started organically back in the early '90s. We realized that these practices have a significant impact on managing the pervasive anxiety symptoms that people are feeling. Our mission was to bring these practices directly into our schools and for staff and students to know they have permission to practice at any time. When one individual is practicing it is benefiting their entire community!
Rayne Pratt and Lisa Poirier, LABBB Occupational therapists, join me in this podcast. They are members of our LABBB Mind/Body team and they are also the creators and facilitators of our all-day staff retreat that we offer.
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LABBB Collaborative
123 Cambridge Street, Burlington MA. 01803| LABBB.com
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