Lutheran Family Services of Virginia
A giant red cone, a weighted “lap” turtle, a yoga ball – these are
not just toys, they are important keys to learning and behavior.
These brightly colored items are part of the sensory toolkit
that teachers at LFSVA Minnick Schools use to help their
students with sensory processing challenges.
For some children, especially those on the autism spectrum,
the input from one, two or even all of their five senses gets
tangled up, explains Mary Wilson, autism coordinator for
LFSVA. “Neurologists liken it to a nervous system traffic
jam that makes it hard for the brain to interpret what is
going on and figure out the right response,” she says. The
result can be an overwhelmed child who can have difficulty
with motor skills, communication, learning, or behavior.
“Sensory equipment helps kids tamp down their anxiety,”
says Wilson. “When kids feel better, they can refocus and
be more successful in the classroom.”
What makes figuring out
how to help children with
sensory processing issues
so challenging, she says, is
that every child’s needs are
different, and some may not
be able to express what it is
they need. “A lot of the time
it is trial and error,” she
adds. “We have to be very
creative.”
For students in Amy Lane’s class at the LFSVA Wytheville
Minnick School, sensory tools are incredibly important. Her
students, aged nine and older, often need a sensory experience
when they are overstimulated or stressed out.
continued inside...
Making sense of the worldwith toys that clear the way for learning
Shaun takes a spin in the sensory cone
“Every day these children do something that amazes me. From small triumphs can come great things.”
—Amy Lane, LFSVA Wytheville Minnick School Teacher
FALL 2014
Lane uses PECs or Picture Exchange
Communication System cards so that her
students can point to or show her the card that
indicates what they need. For many students
“deep pressure”—a hard back rub, hard high
fives, or time with a weighted vest or blankets
is calming. Lane says that her students love
large bean bags and the sensation of being
covered up. Squishy balls in different sizes
with lots of texture are also a favorite.
But a sensory tool can be as low-tech as a hair
brush.
Last year the only word 10-year-old Henry
could say was “yes.” Lane says, “We felt that his
frustration with his school work and at mealtime
was hampering his ability to make progress.”
Learning from his mother that Henry liked
the sensation of bring brushed on his arm,
Lane got a brush and set up a system of
communication with the PEC cards so he
could “ask” for the brush when he needed it.
The result was nothing short of astonishing,
says Lane. “Henry calmed down to the point
that he was able to participate fully in the
class with almost no meltdowns.”
And best of all, Henry’s breakthrough has led
to increased use of language. “We had no idea
he didn’t like muffins for breakfast. One day
he just looked up at us and said, ‘waffles,.’”
says Lane. “When he didn’t like what we were
having for lunch he said clear as day ‘peanut
butter sandwich.’”
This year Henry continues to make progress
because his sensory needs are being met, says
Lane. “Every day these children do something
that amazes me,” says Lane. “From small
triumphs can come great things.”
Cozy new homes in BedfordFour new side-by-side cottages in Bedford will be home for a dozen adults with disabilities in the LFSVA group home program. The open, one-floor, specially modified spaces with backyards and patios will make living and socializing easier and more enjoyable, says Elizabeth Maghsoodi, LFSVA group home manager. One resident’s favorite feature? An in-the-door ice dispenser. “Now Marquita doesn’t have to ask anyone to get ice,” says Maghsoodi. “Such a small thing really means independence and abundance for her.”
• Would you like to help? If you would like to
designate your donation for these valuable
sensory items, please do so on the enclosed
remittance form. We give heartfelt thanks
for your gifts, which help us create lives of
abundance for the people we serve.
•Wouldyouliketohelp?Pleaseseethewishlistonthebackpage.
Making sense of the world... continued
Making a difference is easy with workplace givingWorkplace giving campaigns are in full swing through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), and the United Way. You can designate LFSVA in all of these campaigns. Use these numbers to designate us: CVC #3706; CFC #75391, and for the United Way, just enter Lutheran Family Services of VA on the form.
Another giving opportunity is the Thrivent Choice® program, which lets eligible members direct Choice Dollars® from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ charitable outreach funds to selected charities.
•For more info on workplace giving, planned giving or Thrivent Choice,
contact Ellen Bushman at [email protected] or call 757.722.4707,
ext. 1302. Be sure to ask if your employer matches donations!
LFS foster parents Casey and Annie Gasway share their story at militarynews.com.
Putting the pieces together to help a little girl thrive Meet Anna – “a giggly, loveable, running-around-all-the-time
ham,” according to her adoring mother, Melinda LeVan.
In many ways, Anna is a typical 6-year-old. She loves
Dora the Explorer, dressing up, and her newly acquired
skill—swimming. She has a best friend and is in first grade
at the elementary school where her mother is the reading
specialist. Anna’s father, Kevin, an army veteran, works as a
federal sales manager for CommScope.
But the future wasn’t as bright last fall, before LeVan first
discovered Essential Pieces (EP), a free educational program
in Winchester sponsored by Lutheran Family Services of
Virginia for families with children who are diagnosed on the
autism spectrum.
After Anna’s diagnosis at age 2 1/2, the couple struggled to
find and pay for the broad range of services Anna needed.
Sometimes the simplest things were the most challenging,
like finding a dentist or hairstylist who would be patient
enough to work with their active daughter, says LeVan.
“With autism, families are in completely new territory,”
says Cassie Phipps Purtlebaugh, the director of Community-
Based Services at LFSVA. “Essential Pieces helps parents
better understand their options.”
At Essential Pieces families can share resources and talk to
the many speakers who donate their time to the program.
Programs are held weekly for eight weeks three to four times
a year. Topics range from the financial stress of having a child
with special needs to working with the public school system,
setting up a trust for your child, or trying out the latest autism
iPhone app. There is also a social group for children on the
spectrum and their siblings held concurrently with EP sessions.
During the first session, LeVan learned about something
that would change everything: the Medicaid Elderly and/
or Disabled Consumer Directed (EDCD) waiver, which
makes needed services affordable. “We didn’t know about
the waiver. We thought because we had jobs we wouldn’t
be eligible for any assistance,” says LeVan.
“Applying for the waiver isn’t
about the parents’ ability
to pay,” says Purtlebaugh.
“It’s about getting necessary
services to make their child’s
life better.”
The waiver came through,
and with it Anna is getting
the intensive services she
needs, including home-based
Behavioral Therapy Services
(BTS) provided by Lutheran
Family Services. BTS uses
the principles of Applied
Behavioral Analysis to help
children communicate and
to increase their day-to-day
functional skills. “It has been a
godsend,” says LeVan.
“I tell everyone about EP,” says LeVan, “because I don’t want
anyone to go for years not knowing what is available as we did.”
Life in the LeVan household continues full tilt. LeVan laughs as she
says, “It becomes your normal. With children you take joy in the
simple things,” says LeVan. “Every positive thing is such a victory.”
•Would you like more info? Visit lfsva.org or call 1-800-359-3834.
New vocational lab is up and running.
Thanks to funding from the Richard and Carolyn T. Gwathmey
Memorial Trust and matching funds from LFSVA and the Wythe
County Public Schools, the new Practical Assessment Exploration
System (PAES) Lab at the Wythe County Technology Center is
ready for students. The Lab is a mini-work environment that helps
students learn basic career, vocational and life skills and is shared
by Wytheville Minnick and Wythe County students.
The irrepressible Anna
PAESLab
promise, restored2609 McVitty Road, Roanoke, VA 24018
Specialized counseling for adoptive families. When adoptive families run into difficulties, they need knowledgeable
professionals who understand the unique nature and challenges of building a family through adoption. LFSVA is offering
“adoption competent” mental health services in Southwestern Virginia to help adoptive families cope with the trauma and
loss that can be part of adoption. This service is available at no
charge through a grant to LFSVA from the Center for Adoption
Support and Education. Email Emily Webb at [email protected]
or call her at (540) 774-7100, ext. 1015, for more information.
In-school program expands. Lutheran Family Services
of Virginia has expanded an already successful Therapeutic
Day Treatment (TDT) program into seven Frederick County
elementary schools. TDT is a blend of services that helps
children manage their behavior so they can take full
advantage of classroom learning. “For teachers, it means
another set of hands and ears to help children succeed,
and for students it means immediate feedback about the
problem behavior,” says Christina Coleman, the agency’s
TDT program manager. “Everybody benefits.”
y mission moments
Our MissionWorks is published by LFSVA, 1.800.359.3834, lfsva.org. Editor: Carole Todd, 434.981.9952, [email protected].
Bedford Cottages for Adults with Disabilities:
y Patio furniturey Front porch furniturey Floor lampsy Kitchen towelsy Potholders
y Washcloths
For more information about donating items to our group homes, please contact [email protected] or call 1.800.359.3834.
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