December 27, 2006
Finger Chewing: Neat Device to Help with Finger Chewing
Here is a neat little “toy” for kids with high chewing needs. It is called a “Jiggler”
From their website: Now, here are some fun facial and oral massagers that children can’t help but love! The low intensity vibration has a calming effect. Plus, the elephant’s ears are also great as a spoon for orally defensive children. Easy to clean with 10 parts water to 1 part bleach. AA Batteries included! Each Jiggler is 8 1/4˝ tall and latex free.
I know several moms who SWEAR by these!
For more information on Jigglers visit : http://www.superduperinc.com/O_Pages/om988.htm
Conductive Education Center Locations in USA and Canada
Conductive education or CE, is an educational system that has been specifically developed for children and adults who have motor disorders of neurological origin such as cerebral palsy. Conductive Education is a holistic, educational approach to helping idividuals learn to achieve their own personal goals, experiencing greater independence and exercising choice. Improvements are seen, not only in physical independence, but also in social competence, self-esteem and for gaining a greater sense of personal achievement.
Conductive Education Therapy Center Locations in North America: USA and Canada
Note: If we have left off a center that offers Conductive Education therapy or if information below is incorrect or out of date, please let me know by posting in comments section. I will update promptly. Thanks!
INTER-AMERICAN CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (IACEA)
c/o Pat Riley, CEO
P.O. Box 3169, Toms River, NJ 08756-3169 USA
United States Only Toll-Free (800) 824-2232
or (732) 797-2566 or Fax (732) 797-2599
Email: info@iacea.org
Web Site: http://www.iacea.org
NATIONWIDE
Cerebral Palsy Solutions, Coaching & Consulting, Inc.
c/o Judit Roth
Address: 4445-B Breton SE Box 176
Kentwood, Michigan 49508
Tel: (616) 656-3646
Toll-Free Nationwide (800) 611-0096
E-mail: info@conductiveedconsulting.com
Website: www.conductiveedconsulting.com
ALABAMA
Making Strides of Alabama, Inc.
c/o Phyillis Templeton
5184 Caldwell Mill Road, Suite 204-309
Birmingham, AL 35244
Tel: (205) 980-0447
Fax: (205) 980-8848
Email: Info@making-strides.org
Website: www.making-strides.org
ARIZONA
Individual Achievements Association
C/O Mary Hare
2702 N. Golden W. Ave
Tucson, Arizona 85749
Mary Hare: Tel: 520-749-1065
Email: Mhare63@cox.net
Beckie Gibson Tel: 520-327-0488
Email: QHT@ULTRASW.com
www.aziaa.org
ARKANSAS
Conductive Education of Northwest Arkansas, Inc.
c/o Leslie Porter
1200 North 40th Street
Springdale, AR 72762
Tel: (479) 725-1015
Email: arkansasce@ucpcark.org
The Next Step, Inc.
C/O Ryan Bailey, Director
1527 South Boulevard
Conway, AR 72034
Tel: 501-238-5463
Email: thenextstepinc@yahoo.com
www.thenextstepinc.org
CALIFORNIA
Beginning Steps to Independence, Inc.
Conductive Education Center
c/o Craig Roberts
14969 Los Gatos Alamaden Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Post Office Box 54125
San Jose, CA 95154
Tel: (408) 371-5620 (year around program)
Fax: (408) 371-5621
Email: begsteps@conductiveed.org
www.ConductiveEd.org
Peninsula Outreach Programs, Inc.
Pops/CECC & Popskids
c/o Ursula Miller
2995 Woodside Rd., Suite 400-439
Woodside, CA 94062
Tel: (650) 454-0207 Fax: (650) 851-1197
Email: Ursala@popskids.org
Website: http://www.popskids.org
Kids for Conductive Education
c/o Peggy Tinder
15 Muir
Irvine, CA 92620
Tel/Fax: (949) 552-8748 (year around program)
Email: kidsforce@sbsglobal.net
Website: http://www.kidsforce.org
Santa Barbara, Can-Do-Camp for Conductive Education
c/o Eric & Stacy Baron
536 Calle Aparejo
Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Tel: (805) 964-8189
Email: Seebaron@AOL.com
The Avalon Academy
C/O Kinga Czegeni, Director
818 Mahler Road
Burlingame, CA 94010
Tel: 650-777-9130
Fax: 650-777-9129
Email:info@theavalonacademy.org
www.theavalonacademy.org
Conductability, Inc.
c/o Sheila James
373 Cucamonga Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711 (year around program)
Tel: (909) 621-1125 (older children)
Cellular: (909) 266-4462
Email: SMJhere@AOL.com
CONNECTICUT
Feroleto Children Development Center
C/O Donna Kennedy, Director
95 Merit Boulevard
Trumbull, CT 06611
Tel: (203) 375-6400
www.stvincentsspecialneeds.org
FLORIDA
Conductive Education Centers of Orlando
A Non-Profit 501c.3 Charitable Organization
C/O Krista Krupinski, Director
4800 Howell Branch Road
Winter Park, Florida 32792
Tel: (407) 671-4687
Fax: (407) 647-3833
Email: Krista@cecffl.org
www.cecfl.org
Conductive Education Center of South Florida
C/O Tom McCormick
5990 NE 6th Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33334
Tel: 954-491-0057
Email: Krista@cecfl.org
The Achievers Program, Inc.
C/o Tegdra Samuel
6001 SW County Rd 141
Jasper, Fl 32052
Tel: 386-792-4048
Email: ebsmoov@alltel.net
GEORGIA
A Step to Independence, Inc.
C/0 Karen Fowler
P.O.Box 1166
279 Hebron Church Road
Dacula, GA 30019
Tel:678-687-2207
Email: Dknfowler@AOL.com
ILLINOIS
The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education
c/o Patti Herbst, Director
100 West Plainfield Road
Countryside, IL 60525
Tel: (708) 588-0833
Email: pcherbst_1@MSN.com
www.center-for-independence.org
INDIANA
Jackson Center for C.E.,Inc.
C/O Dale F. Depoy
9928 N. Woodland Drive
Mooresville, In 46158
Email: depoy@uwci.org or depoyl@AOL.com
Tel: (317) 921-1245
P.O.Box414
Mooresville, In 46158
Louisiana
A New Ray of Hope
C/O Yvetti Pierre-Ancar
P.O. Box 5670
Slidell, LA 70469
Tel: 985-643-6504
Email: anewrayofhope@bellsouth.net
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Area Conductive Education
c/o Faye Ginsberg
304 Waban Avenue
Newton, MA 02468
Tel: (617) 332-1632 (year around program)
Email: FSG20002@AOL.com
New England Center for Conductive Education
c/o Hilory Paster
28 Bessom Street
Marblehead, MA 01945
Tel: (781) 913-1000 or
Tel: (781) 595-6629
Year ’round and summer programs
Email: hpaster@comcast.net or
Email: denley@prodigy.net
MICHIGAN
Acquinas College - Conductive Learning Center
C/O Denny Williams-Dean of Education
C/O David Dvorak-Director
2428 Burton Road, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Tele: 616-459-8281 Ext 5150
Tele: 616-632-2429
Email: admissions@aquinas.edu
Email dvordav@aquinas.edu
www.aquinas.edu/pohi
Children Academy of Achievement
C/O Carrie Smith, Director
1382 Potomac
Rochester Hills, MI 48306
Tel: 248-528-0988
Tel: 248-321-8677
Email: admin@conductive-education-academy.com
Web: www.conductive-education-academy.com
Conductive Education Center of Metro-Detroit
c/o David Sunderlink
153 Pleasant St
Romero, MI 48065
Tel: (586) 752-7476
Email: dsunderlik@kroff.com
Website: www.cecmd.com
MINNESOTA
Partners In Excellence, Inc. PL+US Program;
Formerly Minnesota Center For Conductive Education
c/o Sandy Schrom, Director
1947 W. Burnsville Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337
Tel: (952) 736-1490 (year around program)
Fax: (952) 736-1491
Email: info@mncce.com
Website: www.mncce.com
NEW JERSEY
INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
INTER-AMERICAN CONDUCTIVE EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (IACEA)
c/o Pat Riley, CEO
P.O. Box 3169, Toms River, NJ 08756-3169
United States Only Toll-Free (800) 824-2232
Tel: (732) 797-2566
Tel: (732) 797-2599
Email: info@iacea.org
www.iacea.org
Association for Conductive Education & Related Services
P O Box 217
Middletown, NJ 07748
Tel: (908) 272-9675 or (609) 426-0491
Email: acersi@AOL.com or info@acersi.org
Web Site: http://www.acersi.org
One Little Step, Inc.
C/O Mimi Rosa
31 Eton Drive
Sewell, N.J. 08080
Tel: 856-264-4246
Fax: 856-740-5173
Email:info@onelittlestep.org
WebSite:www.onelittlestep.org
NEW MEXICO
Conductive Education of New Mexico
c/o Kim Buckle, Director
2433 Metzgar Southwest
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Tel: (505) 873-0333
Tel: (505) 821-2057
Email: kathyhedemann@comcast.net
NEW YORK
Standing Tall, Inc.
c/o Eszter Friedman, Director
200 Riverside Boulevard, Unit # 2, (located on West 69th Street) (ages 1-12)
New York, NY 10069 (year around program)
Saturday Program available for 2004-2005 school year
Tel: (212) 787-8315
Email: info@standingtall.org
Website: www.standingtall.org
NORTH CAROLINA
Sandhills Conductive Education Foundation
c/o Barbara Levin
P.O. Box 305
Pinehurst, NC 28370 (year round)
Tel: (910) 528-1851
Fax: (910) 295-3996
Email: barbaralevin@excite.com
Website: www.scef.net
OHIO
Rising Star Elementary School
C/O Ben Chmielewski
3281 Avalon Road
Shaker Heights, OH 44120
Tel: 216-577-0114
Email: info@risingstarelementary.org
Web: www.risingstarelementary.org
Miracles Unlimited, Inc.
c/o Tracey Tatar
9892 Deltona Drive
New Middletown, OH 44442
Tel: (330) 542-2854
email: tatartracey@AOL.com
Northwestern Ohio for Conductive Education
C/O Julie Spirikaitis
Schaaf Community Center
5983 W. 54th St., Rm 103
Parma, Ohio 44129
Tel: (216) 509-7041
Fax:(330) 405-6525
Email: IamStandingTall@AOL.com
Web: WWW.NCOCE.org
Sara’s Garden
C/O Judith Burkeholder
16701 AC
Wauseon, OH 43567
Tel: 419-267-5134
Email: Judith_burkeholder@hotmail.com
PENNSYLVANIA
ACHIEVA
c/o Linda J. Wright. PhD
711 Bingham Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203 (year around program / birth to 21 years old)
Tel: (412) 995-5000 extension 420
Fax: (412) 995-5001
Email: lwright@achieva.info
Website: http://www.achieva.org
The Jenny Rose Specialized Therapy Center, LLC
c/o Elaine R. Parker
The Pocono Mountain Region, Pennsylvania
296 East Brown Street, Suite B
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Tel: (570) 421-3415
Toll free 888-233-5540
This location offers HBO (Hyperbaric Oxygen) Therapy
Conductive Education of Pittsburgh
c/o Tina Calabro
7010 Thomas Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15208 (summer camp only)
(412) 361-3997
Email: tccalabro@AOL.com
Website: http://www.ce-pgh.org
South Carolina
The GRACE Center
C/O Stephanie Reed
3 Cardinal Court, Suite 285
Hilton Head Island, SC 29926
Tel: 843-341-2726
Email: info@thegracecenter.org
Web: www.thegracecenter.org
TEXAS
A Child Can Do All Things,Inc
C/O Patty Simmons, Director
7000 Independence Pkwy, Suite160
Plano, TX 75025
Tel: 214-227-7594
Cell: 214-212-0068
Email: cbutler@accdats.com
Tennessee
Miracle Milestones, Inc
C/O Jennifer Patton
P.O. Box 681178
Franklin, TN 37068
Tel: 615-794-4833
Email: miraclemilestones@comcast.net
VIRGINIA
Cerebral Palsy Ability Center
C/O Katalin Vizy, Director
5622G Ox Road, Suite 130
Fair Fax Station
Fairfax, VA 22039
Tel: (703) 920-0600 (year-round program)
Email: CPAC@cpabilitycenter.org
Website:www.cpabilitycenter.org
Cerebral Palsy Ability Center - Satellite Baltimore Office
c/o Katalin Vizy
Tel: (410) 666-2017
Email: katharos@comcast.net
Website:www.cpabilitycenter.org
Conductive Education of Galax
c/o Jean Felts
338 Coleman Lane
Galax, VA 24333 (summer prog.)
Tel: (540) 236-7897
Tel: (540) 728-3121
Email: beef388@yahoo.com
OUTSIDE THE USA
CANADA
Renfrew Education Services
c/o Wendy Woynillowicz, Director
2050 21st Street NE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2E6S5
Tel: (403) 291-5038
Fax: (403) 291-2499
Email: renfrew@renfreweducation.org
Website: www.renfreweducation.org
James Forliti
Purpose Conductive Education
40 Begbie Street
New Westminister, British Columbia, Canada V3M3L9
Cell: 778.885.9776
Tel: 604-526-2522
Fax: 604-526-6546
Email: james.forliti@purposesociety.org
Web-Site: www.purposesociety.org
Conductive Education ®
Ontario March of Dimes
10 Overlea Blvd.
Toronto, Ontario.
(Also offering services in London, ON and Nova Scotia)
M4H 1A4
Tel: 416-425-3463 ext 7259
Fax: 416-425-1920
Toll Free: 1-800-263-3463
Email: ce@dimes.on.ca
Website: www.dimes.on.ca
Ability Camp, Inc.
c/o Kevin Hickling, Director
R.R. #8, Picton
Ontario, Canada
KOK 2T0 (year around prog)
Tel: (800) 442-6992 or (613) 476-7332
Fax: (613) 476-1379
Email: Sandy@abilitycamp.com
Website: http://www.abilitycamp.com
The Movement Center of Manitoba, Inc.
c/o Margy Nelson, Executive Director
1646 Henderson Highway
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R2G 1N7
Tel: (204) 489-2679
Email: mcmi@mts.net
Website: www.movementcentre.ca
Boundless Playgrounds- Barrier Free Playgrounds for children with special needs
These playgrounds are designed for ALL children, regardless of abilities. They are barrier free and allow children of all abilities to enjoy outdoor play. The group works with volunteers and city officials to create a barrier free playground from standard playground equipment. The process begins with a group of committed individuals who get together and form a committee, with the building of a barrier free playground in their neighbourhood as their mission. Boundless Playground can help you get started and work with you to get the project accomplished.
There are many barrier-free and accessible playgrounds in the United States- for a complete list of playground or to find one in your neighbourhood, you can visit http://boundlessplaygrounds.org/findplaygrounds/.
December 21, 2006
Share Your Cerebral Palsy Experiences
Sometimes knowing others are going through similar struggles and triumphs can make a difference when things get challenging. Maybe you and your child have overcome a struggle and can share your success with other moms and dads. We would love to hear your stories. You can visit our cerebral palsy discussion forum or post here in comments section.
December 20, 2006
Solutions for Finger Chewing in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Many children living with cerebral palsy with have different types of sensory issues. One behavior that often pops up in children is chewing their fingers, often as a form of self-soothing, and they will do it while bored or anxious.
There are several products you can buy, often referred to as “chewies,” a number of different products your children can safely chew can be found at Sensory Tools.
A cheap and easy solution many moms use is to cut sections (1-2 feet) of suction tubing or rubber tubing.
Older children, if they can manage, like chewing gum (sugarless will much easier on the teeth)!
December 19, 2006
Cerebral Palsy and Special Needs: Free New and Used Equipment Classifieds
Are you looking for either new or used equipment for your special needs child? Do you have equipment your child has outgrown and another family could use? Post in our free classifieds to buy, sell or trade new and used special needs equipment.
Special Needs Equipment Classifieds
December 18, 2006
Woman Refuses to let Health Issues Derail Plans
Woman refuses to let health issues derail plans
By Julie Sevrens Lyons
Mercury News
Carol Picchi doesn’t ask “Why me?” even though it would be easy to.
Born with cerebral palsy, she didn’t walk until she was 2. The neurological disorder so crippled her right hand she had to learn to write with her left.
She went through years of physical therapy and attended a school for special-needs children until she was a teen. Then, at age 14, a hip surgery changed her world for good.
It left her unable to walk. Dependent on a wheelchair.
But it didn’t hinder her resolve to succeed.
“You take it with a grain of salt,” she says. “You have to go forward with life.”
Picchi has always insisted on going forward — even though life has had a habit of pushing her backward.
When she was a teen, she finally got the chance to attend a mainstream school, San Mateo’s Aragon High, and relished every minute of it.
“It opened the world to me being around regular kids,” she says. “It was a fun experience. I didn’t want to go back.”
Despite having to adjust to her sudden inability to walk, Picchi graduated from high school on time — making the honor roll. She learned to live independently and was pursuing an accounting degree at San Jose State University. She had a job at Stanford. She was close to graduating.
to read complete article visit: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/16255080.htm
December 13, 2006
Preparing for IFSP meeting (Individualized Family Service Plan)
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is the foundation of services that are family-centered. Your IFSP is based on your child’s strengths and your family’s concerns and priorities for your child. You can participate actively in the process of assessment and planning by getting together information your child’s medical and developmental history. Take note of their strengths, talents, preferences, and challenges. Identifying current needs for needs for transportation, child care, or interpreters.
When getting prepared for your IFSP meeting with service coordinator collect information about your child- such as medical records, their a baby book, growth chart, or any other other evaluations or reports.
The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) is a process of looking at the strengths of the Part C eligible child and family, and developing a written plan to identify individualized supports and services that will enhance the child’s development. The IFSP is an ever changing planning tool - reassessed at six month intervals - or more often if necessary.
If you need help understanding the IFSP process or have question- speak with one of our live CareCenter Specialists now.
A service coordinator will facilitate the family’s participation throughout the planning and development of the IFSP. The IFSP should be created within 45 days of the family’s first request for a plan.
The IFSP process will include the following information:
-An assessment of child’s current level of development, including strengths, interests and areas of concern.
-The family’s concerns, priorities and existing resources .
- A statement of the major outcomes (or goals) expected to be achieved for the child and family. It should include the criteria for determining the progress.
- Supports and services to achieve the stated outcomes - using resources available to child and family.
- The date the services will begin and their anticipated duration. A variety of funding resources may be used to pay for these services including state and federal government resources, private insurance, family resources and/or local agencies.
-The name of the service coordinator.
-The identification of the service coordinator. The service coordinator must initiate this plan at least six months before the child’s third birthday.
Preparing for your first meeting can be overwhelming, we are happy to help. Contact one of our live CareCenter Specialists now for help and support.
December 8, 2006
Racing to Inclusion: Team Hoyt
This family is often written about, with good reason. They are a father and son team who regularly compete in triathlons in spite of the fact that Rick Hoyt lives with a severe form of cerebral palsy. Their aim to is bring light to those living with cerebral palsy and including them in everyday laspects of ife.
From Team Hoyt Website
Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America.
It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can’t walk or talk.
For the past twenty five years or more Dick, who is 65, has pushed and pulled his son across the country and over hundreds of finish lines. When Dick runs, Rick is in a wheelchair that Dick is pushing. When Dick cycles, Rick is in the seat-pod from his wheelchair, attached to the front of the bike. When Dick swims, Rick is in a small but heavy, firmly stabilized boat being pulled by Dick.
At Rick’s birth in 1962 the umbilical cord coiled around his neck and cut off oxygen to his brain. Dick and his wife, Judy, were told that there would be no hope for their child’s development.
“It’s been a story of exclusion ever since he was born,” Dick told me. “When he was eight months old the doctors told us we should just put him away — he’d be a vegetable all his life, that sort of thing. Well those doctors are not alive any more, but I would like them to be able to see Rick now.”
To read full article visit: http://www.teamhoyt.com/history.shtml. Read more inspirational and uplifting stories about cerebral palsy.
December 4, 2006
Children’s Fiction and Cerebral Palsy: Kids Books with Cerebral Palsy in Storyline
Books are always great choice for any kid, and now there more and more books to choose from that are fun, and interesting, to read and feature children living with cerebral palsy. You can pick up most of these books at your local library, if they are not available make a request, most libraries are happy to fulfill requests for books from their patrons. These books can also be found in big online bookstores like Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Below find a list of books that any can enjoy, living with or without cerebral palsy. If you know of others books you would like to recommend, please feel free to post in the comments sections and share with other families. We would love to here from you.
The Barn at Gun Lake
by Johnnie Tuitel, Eduardo Pilande (Illustrator), Eduardo Pilande (Illustrator), Dan Sharp (Illustrator), Sharon Lamson
Gr 4-6 - Johnnie was born with cerebral palsy and is confined to a wheelchair. He does not find his disability to be a handicap, just a challenge to overcome in order to be accepted by the kids in his new town. To join the Gun Lake Gang, he needs to complete an initiation. He must go to the old barn by the lake and bring back something to prove he was there. He stumbles onto a CD-pirating ring while in the barn and the gang decides to find out who is running it. In the second book, Johnnie and his friends solve the mysterious explosion of a race car. Many clues point to the mechanic, and the Gun Lake Gang takes the case on to clear his name. The kids in the gang are realistic. Some of them accept Johnnie, some question his disability, and one boy is uncomfortable with the situation but tries, with reluctance, to accept what Johnnie has to offer. The characters are well defined and the mysteries are puzzling enough to keep readers involved.
Small Steps
by Louis Sachar
Two years after being released from Camp Green Lake, Armpit is home in Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life around. But it’s hard when you have a record, and everyone expects the worst from you. The only person who believes in him is Ginny, his 10-year old disabled neighbor. Together, they are learning to take small steps. And he seems to be on the right path, until X-Ray, a buddy from Camp Green Lake, comes up with a get-rich-quick scheme. This leads to a chance encounter with teen POP sensation, Kaira DeLeon, and suddenly his life spins out of control, with only one thing for certain. He’ll never be the same again.
Rolling along: The Story of Taylor and His Wheelchair
by Jamee Riggio Heelan, Nicola Simmonds (Illustrator)
Taylor and Tyler are twins. Though alike in many ways, Taylor was born with cerebral palsy and Tyler was not. When Taylor learned how to use a wheelchair it changed his life. Now he can keep up with his friends at school and even play basketball. His mobility allows him to be more independent, which he likes. This story can be beneficial for youngsters who are adjusting to a wheelchair so they can develop a sense of pride and accomplishment in their mobility. It’s also useful for siblings, friends, relatives, and classmates of a child who uses a wheelchair.
Imagine Me on a Sit-Ski!
by George Moran
Billy, who uses a wheelchair, never imagined himself able to ski, so he’s very excited when he discovers that he and his disabled classmates are going to have a chance to learn. He describes his experiences at Snow Valley, where disabled people are able to use adaptive equipment and are helped by specially trained instructors. Some of Billy’s classmates use such devices as crutches on skis; Billy uses a sit-ski. His detailed narrative describes how the equipment works as well as his adventures on the slopes. The accompanying watercolor illustrations are lively and colorful and will be helpful for introducing readers to specialized ski equipment. A book that will inspire as well as promote understanding and awareness.
On Being Sarah
by Elizabeth Helfman
Gr 5-8 - Sarah, 12, is confined to a wheelchair, with limited movement and no speech, the result of cerebral palsy. Her story involves her struggle and growth in regard to self-image; her relationships with family, peers, and neighbors; her adjustment at school; and the beginnings of a romance. Her thoughts are set in italics, reminding readers that she is nonverbal. Charles Bliss’s system of pictoral/symbol communication is worked in throughout the story, as Sarah uses this system. Helfman supplies keen realism and compassionate descriptions of the girl’s response to physical and emotional frustration, and her heroine is both introspective and outwardly determined.
Be Quiet Marina!
by Kirsten de Bear, Kirsten DeBear
Moira and Marina are special children. They’re students at the Bank Street Family Center preschool. Using black and white photos, the story follows Moria and Marina at preschool and the ups and downs of their relationship as friends. Marina is a very outgoing child who enjoys lots of activity and noise. Moira is a quiet child who enjoys playing alone. Even though they are friends, their different personalities and needs cause conflict at preschool. The photos and text relate how Moira and Marina solve their differences by communicating with one another, a task for all preschoolers. Through the use of language, each is able to confront her problems and solve them. This story is a gentle reminder that everyone has special needs, but we must all communicate effectively to understand and relate to one another. The fact that the girls seem to solve their own problem will inspire other youngsters to do the same. Viewing special needs children as just children in everyday situations, in their own words, should inspire understanding.
