Making a Difference for Children with Disabilities
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ATLANTA, GA
PERMIT NO. 1507
Lekotek of Georgia
Lekotalk
Technology Corner
During their play session, Hannah and her mom,
Hayley, are using the iPad with a bluetooth connection. This bluetooth interface was created by
Dr. Ayanna Howard and her team at Georgia Tech.
With this interface, Hannah is able to use the iPad
by using her hand to press the red button. Although the iPad is touch sensitive, some children
still need this adaptation in order to use the iPad
to benefit from educational applications.
Hannah is enjoying the app, E-I-E-I-O created by
Pati King DeBaun, a speech pathologist who was
a Lekotek leader. Today, Pati lives in UT and her
company, Creative Communicating develops software and iPad applications to help children with
special needs develop language and early literacy
within a fun, engaging and motivating environment.
E-I-E-I-O allows children to read the story about
the farmer and his animals. The child can choose
the cow, pig, horse, duck, rooster or farmer to hear
what each says. Pati’s apps also include an auditory scanning mode. The child waits for the animal
they’d like to select and then pushes the button
(also known as a switch). We appreciate our partnership with Georgia Tech and Creative Communicating as we make play and technology accessible
for every child.
Lekotalk
Summer 2014
My World Was Changed by a Boy With No Words
(senior essay by Ethan Erlandson)
I was born with amazing gifts. I walked at eight months old, talked before I was a year old, could skate by
two, and had noticeable mathematical aptitude before I started school. I have always had phenomenal
athletic ability. I instantly excelled on the baseball field, basketball court, golf course, and hockey arena.
My family cheered me on to victories and championships. I have always made friends easily, and would
be considered one of the more popular kids in school. I was gifted with a remarkable musical ability. I was
first chair in band, play several instruments by ear and sing impressively. I gleamed on the stage in lead
roles in musicals. These were the things that were important to me; my abilities. This is what I thrived on!
When Austin entered my life, my entire outlook on life changed. I have been volunteering with kids with
special needs for several years at school, in Special Olympics and camp, but I hadn’t had exposure to anyone with as significant disabilities as Austin. The kids that I had paired with before as a big buddy and
mentor were mostly youngsters with Down syndrome and other limiting challenges, but all had the ability
to express themselves and be mobile. Austin, however, is different. He uses a wheelchair, is unable to
speak, and thought powerless to connect with others because he is nearly void of emotion and interaction
capability. I began visiting with him several times a day at school and bringing my lunch to eat with him.
To his teacher’s surprise, Austin began to recognize and respond to me. Within days he was smiling and
excited when I walked in.
I began spending time with his family, taking him out to lunch with his father and even going bowling.
Eventually his dad agreed to bring him to a football game despite his fear that Austin would be unable
to cope with the noise. To his amazement Austin sat through the entire game happy and smiling. Austin
had never had a friend to hang out with. He had never been to lunch or to a football game. Not only had I
become his friend; I was his first friend. I don’t know why I was gifted with all of the ability and talent that
I have. I don’t know why Austin was handed the challenges he has. I do know that this connection with
Austin has entirely replaced the importance I placed on my own abilities. It has become apparent to me
now that even with all the ability, wealth, belongings, and status that life can offer a person, the best possession one could hope for is true human connection.
Because of Austin, the boy who changed my world without a single word, it has become my passion to
develop a Best Buddies program in college and initiate this program in local schools. I have decided that
while I am in college, I would like not only to spend my time furthering my education to become a special
education teacher, but also creating more human connection by meeting with school administrators and
educators to assist them in establishing Best Buddies in their schools as well. Best Buddies began for me
as a way to enhance the life of another, but in the end, the most amazing thing happened. My life was the
one that was improved. Thank you Austin; you changed my world and it is a better place.
Meet Leslie and Mathieu Evans
My name is Leslie Evans
and my son Mathieu is a
bright, active and creative
4 year old. In November
of 2011, Mathieu was diagnosed with optic atrophy
and nearsightedness. Optic atrophy is an inherited
visual disorder. I and three
family members have the
disorder. Our vision is similar to what one would see
if viewing an undeveloped
picture. When looking at
your face, your features
are unclear and we cannot
determine your expressions. Sometimes the condition
causes color blindness.
We live independently in spite of our visual disorder.
A large part of our ability to live independently is because of wonderful programs like Lekotek. As a preschooler Mathieu benefited from the BEGIN program
at the Center for the Visually Impaired. While receiving
services from Georgia Pines, a statewide program for
children with hearing and/or visual impairments, we
learned about Lekotek and began play sessions a year
and a half ago. Currently, Mathieu attends preschool
at the Columbia Head Start Center. This summer, he
will attend Braille Camp and Lekotek Summer Computer Camp.
Mathieu’s favorite toys are vehicles – especially trucks
and trains. Our Lekotek leader, Miss Helene, always
has a toy vehicle as well as cars and trucks on the computer and/or iPad to facilitate eye hand coordination,
and to help Mathieu learn concepts, letters and numbers. At Lekotek, Mathieu has learned to use the computer with the touch screen and also loves the iPad.
We have an iPad at home and during play sessions, I
learn about apps that Mathieu will learn from and enjoy. We love Lekotek field trips – especially Zoo Day.
Thanks to Miss Helene and the activities at Lekotek,
Mathieu is developing self esteem and confidence. He
is more adventurous and will try new things.
Mathieu gets so excited when it’s our Lekotek day that
he tells everyone he meets, he is going to Lekotek. The
train set in the waiting room is one of the highlights
of his visit, second only to being able to bring toys
home from the lending library. We thank Helene and
Lekotek’s dedicated staff for all they do for our family
and so many others.
Gannett Foundation and
Chicken of the Sea Grants
Executive Director, Helene Prokesch has had two opportunities to visit 11 Alive this year. In the photograph
above, Karen Valentino, one of our first Lekotek “kids”
was at the studio in February to receive a grant from
the Gannett Foundation. Today, Karen is working in
the community. When she has a day off, you will find
her volunteering at Lekotek – cataloguing toys, helping with play sessions or measuring putts at the annual
Lekotek golf tournament.
Lekotalk is a regular publication of Lekotek of Georgia, Inc. | 1955 Cliff Valley Way, Suite 102, At
Executive Director:
Helene Prokesch
Assistant Director:
Ellen Lindemann
Director of Technology
Services:
Peggy McWilliams
Gainseville Satellite
Catherine Hagaman
Valerie Cloud
South
Jack
Jenn
In 1984, Lekotek received the first Gannett Foundation
Award given in Atlanta. This grant provided seed money
for Lekotek to begin play sessions in the basement of
Easter Seals. Additional grants throughout Lekotek’s 30
what, Sheryl Riley Gripper, 11 Alive’s Director of Community Affairs, believed in our unique mission. Today,
we operate six centers and this grant will be used to
expand services at both the Gainesville and Duluth
satellite offices. We’d like to thank all our “friends”
who voted for Lekotek to make this award possible.
Why Moms of Kids with Special Needs Rock
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Because we’ve discovered patience we never
knew we had
Because we have bad days and meltdowns and
pick ourselves up and keep going
Because we never stop pushing or hoping for
our kids
Because we are willing to do something 10
times, 100 times or 1,000 times if that’s what it
takes for our kids to learn something new
Because we have cried more tears than we ever
thought humanly possible, but never let our kids
see the sadness
Because we never thought that “doing it all”
would mean doing this much. But we do it all,
and then some
Because when we look at our kids we just see
kids. Not kids with cerebral palsy/autism/Down
syndrome/developmental delays/whatever label
Because we gracefully handle the stares, the
comments and rude remarks. Well, mostly
gracefully
•
year history have made it possible for Lekotek to launch
satellites and expand the neonatal program, technology
services and summer computer camp. Most recently,
Chicken of the Sea, partnered with 11 Alive. Celebrating
its 100th anniversary Chicken of the Sea will be paying it
forward by awarding $1 million to local nonprofits and
individuals making a difference in their local communities. Chicken of the Sea and 11 Alive selected 11 nonprofits, eligible to win $10,000. Over a ten day period,
Facebook friends voted for their favorite charity on the
11 Alive Facebook page. The charity receiving the most
votes was the winner of the $10,000 award.
On 11 Alive’s morning show, the winner was announced
and Chicken of the Sea’s famous Mermaid presented a
$10,000 check to Helene Prokesch. Helene thanked
Chicken of the Sea and 11 Alive for believing in our mission. Years ago when folks were saying Leko-who, Leko-
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(To read more visit, http://www.lovethatmax.com)
tlanta, GA 30329 | 404.633.3430 | www.lekotekga.org | [email protected]
hside Satellite:
kelyn Lamb
nifer Austin
Cobb Satellite:
Lisa Nevitt
Michelle Cast
Duluth
at Children’s Healthcare:
Jennifer Johnston
Cumming Satellite:
Kristen Popham
Published
courtesy of
The Boxer
Foundation