By Arlene Remz, Gateways Executive Director

Arlene

It was that rare commodity: a stress-free Purim carnival. Gateways' Purim carnival last Sunday attracted more than 50 families from its Jewish Education Programs, several preschoolers with special needs, and a few families checking out if Gateways might be the right fit for their child.

Organizers planned the event to offer enough activity to create a happy buzz, but without the crowds, long lines and most importantly, chaos. 
  

Student building her schedule

The activities were designed to provide both challenge and success for children with a variety of special needs. Visual supports and a color-coded map of activities helped them select the games and learn the rules ahead of time. The activities were also spread out into different rooms for gross motor and sensory activities, and a quiet room for children needing a break. There were also plenty of sure-fire crowd-pleasers including cotton candy, popcorn and - naturally -- hamentashen.

For Anna, the highlight of her first-ever Gateways Purim carnival was the Moon Bounce where, unlike many other carnivals, there was no line, no time limit -- and no pushing. "It's even better than the popcorn, and she loves popcorn," said her mother Vivian.  

A ramp allows Jamie to try Bowl Over Haman

As Jamie enjoyed the carnival from her wheelchair, stopping to try her hand at adaptive bowling, big brother Tom was impressed. "You can see by the way the teen volunteers are interacting with all of them that the kids really feel comfortable here."

The second session carnival ended with a grand finale, a magic show by Gateways Sunday program alumnus Noah Bittner. It was a jubilant performance where objects disappeared and reappeared, ropes stiffened and went limp, balls changed color and shape, all before the amazed eyes of the children. Noah also made magic happen with his fellow students, many of whom he invited up as volunteer magician's assistants.  
 

Noah's Ventriloquist & Magic Act

 This connection between the students and the community they and their families have built over the years is part of the larger Gateways magic. "This is a place where it's guaranteed my daughter will be truly successful and feel like a leader," said Rachel who brought her daughter, Genevieve, and little sister Sydra. "It's something that doesn't always happen in other venues." 

The carnival's lead staff, Gateways Jewish Education Programs Coordinator Nancy Mager knows why the students had such a wonderful time. "First of all, they were prepared," she says - the week before they'd worked with a social story all about Purim carnivals. "We also wanted them to start their day like they always do - in the classroom, only this time planning their carnival experience," Mager adds. "And the teen volunteers understood the goals of the day included each child feeling feel like a winner. They were able to adapt a game - often on the fly -- as needed, cheering on the children, whether they won or not."

Matt delighted at Ahasuerus' Moat

As an educator, Mager's favorite games included "Ahasuerus' Moat," featuring a floating fleet of pirate-garbed plastic ducks, and "Dig for Mishloach Manot" where carnival-goers sift through sand for plastic gems which, when added to a crown, made them a winner.

As Gateways music therapist Miriam Greenbaum played the children's regular Good-bye Song on her guitar as the carnival's first session drew to a close, many of them sang along, and several jumped up to dance.
  

"These are all kids who are on the fringe in many ways, but at this moment," said Rachel's dad Frank, "they are all in sync. Gateways really is Rachel's way of being part of the community."

Each month, we introduce you to another "Voice at the Gates," someone whose life has been changed by Gateways' innovative programs and services. These include children with special needs in multiple Jewish learning settings across the community, their families and their educators.

Lauri Cohen

"She's been a great resource for me over the last three years," says Lauri Cohen, who teaches 3- and 4-year-olds at Temple Beth Shalom Children's Center in Needham.

The "she" in question is none other than Gateways' Community Special Education Services Coordinator Sherry Grossman, a familiar face in Jewish preschools and congregational religious schools around town, where she regularly collaborates with their staffs around creating more welcoming classrooms to a wide range of learners.

"In preschools, the success of each child is directly related to the environment. The routines and physical set-up are critical," says Cohen. "Sherry always has great ideas about how to set up the classroom for everyone's success ... from snack time to conversations with children. She's also helped me and my co-teacher work better as a team."

Another area where Grossman helped out was strategies for seating arrangements for circle time, a system where different learning styles are now accommodated, adds Cohen. "She pointed out that it's unreasonable to expect non-auditory learners to sit and focus for the entire time, so we offered them ways to move around when they need to."

Gateways OT Shana Krell has also played a part in the classroom helping the teachers focus on children's muscle use positioning. "We now make sure our chairs work so all the kids' feet touch the floor. We were surprised at how something that seemed so minor affected the kids' behavior and improved their learning!"  

Arlene detailed Gateways' innovative multi-disciplinary team approach, with its speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, learning and reading specialists, and other supports for students, educators and parents alike.

She also demonstrated how Gateways' team-based system is able to provide much-needed support for day schools which typically lack the capacity or resources to hire all of the necessary learning specialists, therapists and consultants to address the needs of an increasingly diverse student body.

"Since Gateways is a central agency, we're able to partner with day schools across the community, working in teams with teachers and parents, supporting individual and small groups of students," Arlene says. "We also provide the professional development teachers need to develop the tools to successfully welcome and work with a wide range of learners in their classes."

Mazel-Tov to Gateways Parent Amy Weinstock!

Each year the Doug Flutie, Jr. Award is given to someone in the autism community who has gone above and beyond in making a difference and improving the lives of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This year at their conference, Laurie Flutie will present this award to Amy Weinstock for her tireless work on the passage of ARICA - the autism insurance coverage bill in Massachusetts.  Amy is also an appointee to the State's Special Commission Relative to Autism, Chair of AFAM's Insurance Committee and a past president of The Friends Of LADDERS.   

Gateways: Access to Jewish Education

333 Nahanton Street

Newton, MA 02459

Phone: 617-630-9010    Fax: 617-517-9160

www.jgateways.org    [email protected]