No Longer Alone
Helping a boy on the autism spectrum to make friends and thrive
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It is a typical afternoon at a Dorchester middle school and the cafeteria is bustling with students. Kids are anxiously waiting for their food, chatting and laughing. For most, lunch is a social time, a break in their day when they can talk to their friends and release some energy. But unfortunately for kids like Sebastián*, lunch period is discomforting and the bell that signals the end is a welcome invitation back to the security of the classroom. Sebastián sits at the far end of the table, as he does every day. From a distance, he eats while he observes his classmates, perplexed why he is not included, why he is never included.
At a glance Sebastián seemed like any other 5th grade boy. But back then his teacher would have told you differently. “He has no real friends. And when he tries to play with the others or work in a group, it usually doesn’t end well.” His teacher is referring to the angry tantrums that Sebastián often had when he didn’t get his way. “He comes across as annoying and immature so the other kids leave him out."
It was on a day when Sebastián had his computer lab privilege taken away for talking during class that his behavior began to escalate, unable to accept the “unfairness” of the situation. After a conference with Sebastián’s mother, he was referred for school-based counseling.
Marina, a counselor from The Home for Little Wanderers, met with Sebastián’s mother. Because of her difficulty with the English language, The Home was able to provide a bilingual counselor who spoke her native Spanish.
“I have always known that he is different,” Sebastián’s mother told Marina during the intake interview. But as a single mother of three, she was overwhelmed and her limited English made it difficult to access any resources.
After completing an assessment, Marina created a treatment plan that included individual counseling and participation in a peer lunch group to work on social skills. She ordered neuropsychological testing at The Home’s Child and Family Counseling Center to determine Sebastián’s level of functioning and help establish an intervention strategy. When Marina shared the test results with Sebastián’s mother, she was devastated, her fears realized. Sebastián had Autism Spectrum Disorder, a neurological condition that can cause significant difficulties in social and emotional functioning. And even though he was academically capable, Sebastián’s mother worried that he would have to change schools.
But with a clear diagnosis, Marina was able to work with Sebastián’s mother and the school to establish an accommodation plan that met his style of learning and special needs. Today, Sebastián continues his weekly individual counseling sessions with Marina where he is developing insight into his behaviors and learning to regulate his emotions. And his favorite time of the week is when he meets with his peer lunch group — the kids he now calls his friends. Through a collaborative effort, The Home was able to help a child who was at risk for failure and transform his school experience into one where he could succeed.
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The Home is the largest provider of behavioral health services in the Boston school system with clinicians on site in 42 locations at the elementary, middle and high school levels. We work with students, teachers and families to intervene at the onset of emotional, behavioral and learning problems and address systemic issues that affect student learning, such as bullying, alienation, trauma and violence. |
*All names and photos have been changed to protect the identities and privacy of our clients.
Dear Friends,
With the start of the New Year, as I was taking a look at one of the final remaining initiatives in our current strategic plan — that of Succession Planning — I was struck by the makeup of today’s American workplace. For the first time, certainly in my lifetime, there are likely to be four generations of workers on the job together. With people continuing well past the typical retirement age, we see those in their 70s working alongside folks who are just starting out.
Grandparents, parents and “the kids” can now sometimes be colleagues in the same workplace! It creates an interesting dynamic and presents some challenges. But, it’s also an opportunity — if we’re smart — to take stock of the talent we have and create opportunities for professional growth through defined career paths.
Everyone in management — and everyone being managed — will play a role in implementing our succession plan. To help everyone better understand the new workplace dynamics created by this generational reality, we initiated the conversation at our recent winter Town Hall meeting. Dr. Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and a noted researcher and author, including her new book “Generation Me,” was our guest speaker. Her research has focused on generational differences in work attitudes, personality traits, attitudes, and behaviors. Dr. Twenge’s presentation was very informative and gave us much food for thought as we begin the process of understanding and planning for the workplace of the future.
Sincerely,
Joan Wallace-Benjamin
An Inspirational Journey to Cape Verde
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The Academic Support for College & Life (ASCL) program at The Home is a partnership with Bridgewater State University and supports youth transitioning from state systems of care into higher education and independence. As part of the program, during the winter break, youth travel internationally to engage in a community service learning project to increase awareness of different cultures and encourage involvement in volunteering. This winter, students traveled to Cape Verde, where staff and students alike enjoyed the activities, the beautiful countryside, great food, and of course the perpetual eighty degrees and sunny Cape Verde weather!
The highlight of the trip was a hands-on project where students helped reconstruct a depleted basketball court in a local town. “There was a lot of interaction with the people in the town. Everybody worked together,” ASCL staff member Leslie reported. “Everyone helped out, and then everyone played when it was done.”
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| ASCL staff and students with the Camp Verdean Olympic track and field representitives and the Director of the SOS Children's Village |
In addition, students helped in many activities at the SOS Children’s Village, the local children and family services center. ASCL youth participated in a mini-marathon, and proudly presented a new laptop computer with all of the accessories to the host family.
When asked for his perspective on the trip as a whole, one student, Joseph, commented, “It made me feel good that I was able to help people. It was a really good experience.” All of the students returned to the U.S. with a much broader worldview, and a strong interest in keeping ties with the host site that provided them such inspiring experiences.
New School Building Opens at Southeast Campus
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On January 3, 2014, the new school building opened at our Southeast Campus in Plymouth, bringing together all the students and staff in one facility. In addition to up-to-date learning tools, such as SMART boards, white boards and new computers, the school features separate spaces in the common areas for students who need to take time.
There has been a noticeable improvement in the students’ attitude toward learning as they see the investment that has been made in their education: “I see students coming into the classroom with an excitement that this is a place to learn,” said a member of the teaching staff.
Digital printing program starts kids on a path to success
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This past October, The Home launched a Xerox Digital Production Printing School-to-Career (STC) Program at Longview Farm. The program includes state-of-the-art equipment and a Xerox instructor who trains students in the growing field of digital printing. STC features a hands-on learning curriculum that includes print-job preparation, completion and fulfillment, as well as lab exercises. Students participate in class four hours a week and can spend additional time working on the production of print jobs and/or one-on-one with the instructor for extra help with curriculum concepts.
The program runs for the entire school year and students receive a monthly stipend for classroom and print production time. Digital printing was selected to be included in The Home’s vocational programming because: 1) it requires skills such as software, computer, and machinery that appeal to a wide range of the students we serve; 2) the demand for qualified workers is strong and 3) it can be a practical career path that does not require a four-year degree to make a good living.
Over the last couple of months STC students have produced real print jobs for The Home including brochures, bookmarks, and manuals at a significant cost savings. In the near future, STC will start accepting external business and will offer photo greeting cards and calendars. The long-term goal is to generate enough revenue to offset the costs of running the program.
With a Little Help From Our Friends
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Employees from Natixis Global Asset Management generously donated their time to a “Thank-a-thon.” Along with staff members of The Home, they spent several hours dedicated to calling donors of The Home and thanking them for their support of children and families living in at-risk circumstances. |
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The Home’s “ArtWorks” project engages students at area schools to create original artwork that is then showcased in reception areas and therapy rooms across the organization. ArtWorks allows us to expand our reach in the community and share the story of The Home, plus we get wonderful artwork to brighten up the workspace and at times to act as a springboard for positive conversations between clients and therapists. |
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A handful of The Home’s youth were full of energy and smiles when New England Revolution stars Scott Caldwell and Brad Knighton showed up to the Longview Farm Campus to spend quality time with the kids in celebration of National Mentoring Month. The Revolution players spent the afternoon participating in a light-hearted “match” of FIFA Soccer14 on Xbox360. |
