LABBB Students Learn while Giving Back at Cradle to Crayons |
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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,
February is here (where is the time going…) and spring should be here soon! Somewhere along the way, I heard that rather than a January thaw, the entire month was the thaw….except for the days that weren’t. We are working on refining our procedures related to school closings, delays and early releases. Please make sure to visit our website should you have any questions- all information that we know of will be posted and shared there in real time.
There is more to February than snow ~ Thinking about Valentine’s Day, hearts and sweet thoughts. I enjoyed this quick read about praise. Who doesn’t like to feel good about something that they have done?
February's Parent meeting will start at 6:45. We are pleased to welcome Work Without Limits as they share a presentation about SSI/SSDI and what you need to know as your child turns 18. See below for more details. We hope you can join us and find the presentation helpful.
February 9, 2023 - Understanding SSI/SSDI as you Approach Transition Age
March 9, 2023 - Understanding Age of Majority - What does it mean for your child, your family and the IEP process?
April 27, 2023 - Annual Transition Fair - more information coming soon
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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LABBB Parent Night
February 9, 2023
6:45 PM – 8:15 PM
Lexington Community Center
LABBB is pleased to bring a presentation by Work Without Limits to our parent night. The presentation is called “Disability Benefits and Transition Age Youth”.
The training provides information related to the significant benefit changes that young adults with disabilities need to understand as they approach adulthood, including the mandatory SSI Age -18 redetermination process, how adult benefits differ from childhood-related benefits under both Social Security programs (SSI and SSDI), and how changes to public health insurance can occur. There is a special emphasis on young-adult-related programs and work incentives such as Section 301 (Continued payment under a Vocational Rehabilitation Program or Similar Program), the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) for individuals 21 and younger on SSI, and how a PASS Plan can help young adults leverage financial resources to fund education that may give them a head start on their career goals.
The presentation will be provided by Brian Forsythe, CPWIC
Work Incentives Counselor, Employment Network
Brian is certified by the U.S. Social Security Administration as a Community Partner Work Incentive Coordinator (CPWIC). Under Work Without Limits Employment Network program, Brian assists individuals in Massachusetts and across the country to make a smooth transition from receiving public benefits to self-sufficiency from work. Additionally, Brian develops and conducts training for employment specialists and case managers on how income from work affects eligibility for public benefits. Brian has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Lowell, over thirty years of experience in special education and vocational rehabilitation, and over twenty years’ experience as a full-time benefits and work incentives counselor.
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Our Visit to the Riverside Family Support Center
By: Krissy Shannon, Occupational Therapist
This school year, the Bedford High School 18-22 year old classroom has been exploring different surrounding towns for our Friday community outings. Last month, we had the opportunity to visit the Riverside Family Support Center in Burlington. We got to explore the center, have lunch, and learn about the staff and all of the activities they have to offer. We enjoyed the sensory room, played video games and corn hole. We learned that the center has after school and evening activities such as social groups, karaoke, fitness groups, and video game tournaments. The students enjoyed visiting the center so much that many asked to go back there. The director of the center generously invited us to do some cooking there once a month! We have returned one time so far and the students made homemade mac and cheese. The Riverside staff is also planning a transition group in the near future. All activities are free! There are a lot of great resources for families as well. Please check out the website below.
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Transition Dept. - Burlington Chamber President visits Burlington HS LABBB Students
By: Brian Walsh
Mr. Rick Parker, President of The Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce (BACC), joined students at LABBB Burlington High School during Mr. Brian Walsh’s Occupational Education Class as a guest speaker prior to the winter break. He discussed his personal high school experience at Burlington High School and his post-secondary journey. Rick talked about the importance of soft skills and how they helped him become a leader in the local business community.
Rick talked about the importance of developing soft skills. As a class we constantly discuss the importance of the 5 essential soft skills: following directions; attention to details; information gathering; critical-thinking, and communication. Rick provided examples of how important soft skills are and the imperative role they have played in his career.
The BACC mission and goals are to promote and advocate on behalf of organizations doing business in the greater Burlington area. For further information about the BACC please visit their website;
During a lively question and answer session the students enthusiastically asked great questions. Rick was impressed with the quality of questions and the students' energy.
Rick encouraged students to develop their soft skills during their supported internship placements and their time in the classroom. He also stressed the importance of developing advocacy skills and learning how to network.
In closing, Rick added that students should consider him a resource and a connection to the community, and encouraged them to continue to practice the skills that they are learning from the LABBB staff.
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LABBB Chenery Best Buddies- Winter Fun
By: Leanne Aiello
Chenery Best Buddies has been a blast this year! In December, we had our big Gingerbread house making day. We have missed out on this fun tradition for a few years due to the pandemic. It was SO much fun to get back to the celebration this year! This is a big day for us at Chenery and while the planning is tough, the students were so happy and thankful for the fun we had!
While I try my best to find cool crafts and projects that all the students can gather and work together on, it can be challenging to plan for over 100 students to say the least. This past month, we had a day of board and card games and skipped the big crafts we usually do. It was probably the most fun that all the students have had this year (of course aside from our gingerbread house day!). It went to show me that simple really can be better sometimes! The board games were the familiarity and fun that everyone was craving! I also forgot how naturally board games can create conversations between peers. Needless to say, we will be doing many more board game days while we wait for the weather to get better enough to play outside!
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Farley’s Fantastic Features
By: Jessica Sherwood
Kathy Farley’s class has been keeping busy this school year! Some of the things we have been doing include making flower arrangements, collecting recyclables, making salt dough ornaments, swimming, stretching, and getting out into the community. The students especially enjoyed making salt dough ornaments before the holiday break in December! They got to measure, pour, and mix the ingredients. Then they had to pat the dough flat, choose a shape, and press the cookie cutter into the dough. After they had dried, the students picked out colors and painted their ornaments to make them unique and beautiful! The tactile input of the dough was soothing to most and everyone agreed they enjoyed the activity! We also have been going to the Beede Center every week for swimming. The students enjoy the warm pool and get to stretch out and work their muscles in the pool! This is what we have been doing! We hope you have been as busy and productive as we have!
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Clinical Corner: Talking With Your Child About Relationships
By: Meredith Lupini, MSW, LCSW
Relationships are an important part of our lives and can provide us with comfort, security, and support- all things that are essential to our overall well being. However, in order to successfully navigate relationships, we first have to understand the various types. It’s important to hold conversations with, and educate, children about the differences between relationships so that they’re able to build the skills necessary to develop and maintain healthy relationships throughout life.
The five main types of relationships include: friendships, family relationships, acquaintances, romantic relationships, and strangers. Below is a kid-friendly breakdown of each type of relationship. In addition, there are many helpful resources available on the internet, including visuals (i.e social stories), conversational aids, and activities, that can further support the understanding of each type of relationship and build skills necessary to safely navigate them.
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Friendship: A friend is someone you know well, enjoy spending time with and choose to have as a part of your life. For a relationship to be a friendship, both people must think of each other as friends. Friends are not related to us like family, but can provide support and help similar to the way families do. Some people have many friends while others may only have a few. Friendships vary, usually depending on how long you’ve known the person or how you met them. Some examples of types of friendships are best friends, family friends, childhood friends or work friends. While friends sometimes hug each other or shake hands, most friendships don’t involve a lot of physical contact.
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Family Relationships: There are many different types of families and different types of family relationships. People usually have ‘close’ relationships with their immediate family, which usually refers to their parents and siblings. Sometimes, people also have close relationships with their extended family, which usually refers to grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. People in family relationships usually feel love and closeness to each other. You can talk to people you have a family relationship with about different things, including things that are personal. Older people in family relationships like parents and grandparents, usually offer support and help to younger people within the family relationship.
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Acquaintances: Acquaintances are people that you see often but don’t know very well. People usually have a lot of acquaintances in their lives and can include people like neighbors, co-workers, teachers or your parents' friends. These are people you may talk to often, but usually not about private or personal topics. You might talk about the weather, a work or school project you’re working on, or general things happening in your life. There is usually no physical contact between acquaintances, unless it is a handshake. Sometimes an acquaintance can become a friend if you get to know them and choose to spend more time together.
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Romantic Relationships: Romantic relationships are between two people who love each other, and are not family. People who are in romantic relationships share personal information and support each other. Both people must agree to be part of a romantic relationship. Being in a romantic relationship with someone can sometimes be called ‘dating’. People who are in romantic relationships will sometimes have physical contact including hugging, holding hands, and kissing.
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Strangers: A stranger is a person that you have never met before. People walking down the street or shopping in a store are examples of strangers. Sometimes strangers will smile or say ‘hello’ if you walk past them and it’s okay to smile and say ‘hello’ back. You shouldn’t tell strangers personal things about yourself. If a stranger tries to talk to you, asks you to go somewhere with them, or makes you feel uncomfortable, walk away and find a trusted adult.
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Coordination and Academic Performance
By: Larry Sanchez, PT, DPT
Coordination is the ability to select the appropriate muscle(s) at the appropriate time with proper intensity to achieve proper action. Components include body awareness, left versus right, and crossing midline. Body awareness is the ability to recognize where one is in space. Left vs right refers to the ability to recognize what side of the body is in use. Crossing midline refers to the ability to reach across the body.
A study titled Motor coordination and academic performance in primary school students assessed 163 Spanish school children aged 6-9 years old in 2020.1 The results illustrated that children with a better motor coordination index had higher marks in language, mathematics, natural science and English.1 They concluded there is a positive relationship between motor coordination and academic performance. Additionally, a study conducted in Serbia titled Relationship between Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Academic Achievement in Young School-Aged Children was published in 2021.2 This study looked at 130 elementary school aged children’s academics and motor competence. Similarly, they concluded that academic achievement is “generally associated with physical fitness and motor competence in children.”2
So what can you do to help improve your child’s coordination? Some examples of exercises include cross crawls, jumping jacks, bear crawls, crab walk, skipping, marching, and jump rope. Some examples of activities that can be completed with your child include playing an instrument, riding a bike, volleyball with balloon, “patty cake,” Simon says, arts and crafts such as cutting paper with scissors, playing with playdough, climbing at the playground, and swimming.
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Guillamón, A.R., Cantó, E.G., & García, H.M. (2021). Motor coordination and academic performance in primary school students. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise, 16(2), 247-260. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.162.02
2.Maja Batez, Živan Milošević, Ivan Mikulić, Goran Sporiš, Draženka Mačak, Nebojša Trajković, "Relationship between Motor Competence, Physical Fitness, and Academic Achievement in Young School-Aged Children", BioMed Research International, vol. 2021, Article ID 6631365, 7 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6631365
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"Marauder of the Week"
By: LABBB Belmont Staff
Every morning, Tommy exits his bus and immediately makes his way to the cafeteria to pick up his breakfast. He walks over to where his classmates wait and places his bag and breakfast down. Without hesitation, he races over to the main entrance as a huge smile grows on his face. He securely wraps both of his hands around the main door handle and holds it open for every single high school student. For the next fifteen minutes, Tommy keeps that door open while greeting everyone with a smile and a hello. Tommy's unwavering commitment gained the attention of the Belmont High School administration and they were not about to let this great commitment go overlooked. A little while later, Tommy was made the Belmont High School Marauder of the Week. A picture was taken, questions of interest were asked, and he was highlighted on the many tv screens that line the halls of Belmont High School. With one simple act of kindness, Tommy became a local celebrity.
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LABBB Adapted Physical Education, Recreation and Social Opportunities
January brought the LABBB monthly Recreation trips to Omar’s & Pixel Paradise for a gaming trip. This was a first for LABBB and it was a hit with the students. Some know about Omar’s because they have the opportunity to work there as part of LABBB’s transition program, others had been there on their own but not with friends or without parents/family. A highlight of this trip was the food. The choices, taste and quality of the food was outstanding. The homemade ketchup, bread & pickles were incredible. This is a great place for students to meet with buddies, friends or family to enjoy the gaming and the delicious food. LABBB will definitely do this trip again. It was a bit too dark inside for a quality photo and a bit too cold to stand outside to take a group photo.
February ideas to do on your own for recreation:
Find a song you like and make up a dance that lasts the length of the song. Keep practicing that same song and dance 3-4 times a week.
Take a walk/snowshoe. (when we have snow to be able to snowshoe in)
Do 4 to 5 exercises for 30 seconds. Repeat each exercise 5 times. Suggestions: plank, running in place, sit ups, hoping in place, jumping jacks. Great for something to do in the house, in front of a computer, tv or just hanging out.
Save the Date for upcoming events:
February 9, 2022 LABBB Valentines Dance
March 9, 2022 LABBB St. Patrick’s Day Dance
Remember to follow @LABBBREC on Twitter
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LABBB Parent Resources
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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