HORIZONS
A Newsletter for Families and Friends of Crotched Mountain
February 2001
Volume 1, Number 1

FROM THE PRESIDENT
Every day, my colleagues here at Crotched Mountain consider the possibilities for each of our 
students and clients in compassionate and extraordinary ways.
This is not a boastful or exaggerated statement.
It is simple fact.
My fondest wish is that you could witness firsthand the love and caring and challenges that all 
Crotched Mountain employees - more than 700 and growing - offer to the people we serve throughout
New Hampshire and the Northeast.
It is, therefore, with this inaugural issue of Horizons that we embark on a communication 
challenge to bring you news, information, and, on occasion, issues we believe to be important.
We believe the name of this publication, Horizons, evokes excitement for what is ahead and 
beyond, "a new dawn," as it were, for the hope and aspirations of all the people Crotched 
Mountain serves.
We want to create greater awareness, interest, and understanding to encourage more support in a 
variety of different ways - financial, legislative, and moral.
We enlist your support and invite your participation in considering the possibilities. 
Write your comments to us.
We strive every day to find new and innovative ways to offer our services to the people we serve.
We cannot report on every day's excitement - for, believe me, in this challenging work, there is 
a new development each and every day.
But we will give you an overview and perhaps some insights about our wonderful students, clients,
alumni, employees, and friends.
Please enjoy this first issue of Horizons in which we share with you some recent news of 
interest: "re-dedication" of three facilities; the unveiling of our new graphic identity; and a 
new community program providing respite services for parents.
Thank you for your continuing interest and support of Crotched Mountain.
Major Wheelock
President

Crotched Mountain Offering a Lifelong Alliance to People with Disabilities
We want to let families know that we will stand by them over a lifetime and that our services 
are targeted to people with disabilities of all ages.
A year ago, Crotched Mountain embarked on a project that grew out of a desire to express in a 
new symbol the essence of Crotched Mountain.
In recent years, Crotched Mountain has grown tremendously with many new programs and affiliated 
corporations in Greenfield, across New Hampshire, and in neighboring states.
However, no single name or corporate logo identified all of these programs and services as part 
of the same organization.
This sometimes led to confusion.
"Some human services organizations are simple to understand and describe," points our Michael 
Redmond, vice president for Advancement.
"They do one thing for one population at one location.
Crotched Mountain is a complex organization.
We have more than 700 employees, provide services across the age spectrum to infants, children, 
adults and seniors, provide a wide range of services including education, rehabilitation, 
housing, assisted living and health.
We operate at many locations in several states.
Simple we are not."
The firm of Gamble Design of Portsmouth, N.H., was enlisted.
After lengthy discussions, studies, surveys, and focus groups with members of the staff, Board of
Trustees, parents, and visitors, a new logo design and descriptive line were adopted last month.
"The prominent spiral in the foreground," explained Boyd Morrison, director of Gamble Design, 
"symbolizes the spirited movement of people and energy onto and off the mountain."
Mr. Morrison was referring to Crotched Mountain's programs that spans New Hampshire, with 
locations also in Massachusetts, Maine and western New York.
The symbolism of the spiral also reflects the services of Crotched Mountain's many programs and 
the cycle of growth, of change, and the return to their families or communities.
Mr. Morrison explained that a warm, engaging color with a rich, energetic accent color behind was
selected to reinforce depth and dimension.
"The eroded edges of the contrasting rectangular background reflect the rustic history of 
Crotched Mountain and its friendly informality.
The blue color symbolizes stability and tradition.
The background also creates a figure/ground relationship with the stylized 'Crotched' crest of 
the mountain itself."
As important as the development of a symbol was the selection of a descriptive line that captures
the essence of all that is Crotched Mountain.
Mr. Redmond explains:
"Among other things, we want to make sure no one any more confuses us with the neighboring 
defunct ski area.
For that reason the descriptive line - Offering a lifelong alliance to people with disabilities 
- is reflective of discussions and decisions that have occurred in management and Board retreats 
over the past few years."
"It states clearly that Crotched Mountain's focus is on people with disabilities.
We want to let families know that we will stand by them over a lifetime and that our services are
targeted to people with disabilities of all ages.
We also are in alliance with families and individuals, suggesting that they are not merely 
passive recipients of services, but equal partners.

IN THE NEWS
Dr. von Hahn joins medical staff
Dr. Ludwig von Hahn, a native of Vancouver, Canada, is the new director of Outpatient Medical 
Services.
"Dr. von Hahn's arrival," said Dr. Carl Cooley, medical director, "allowed us immediately to 
expand both our developmental pediatric clinic and outreach service while providing leadership 
for future development in these areas."
Dr. von Hahn is a developmental pediatrician with two additional years' training in child and 
adolescent psychiatry.
His responsibilities include leadership of the School Partnership Program and working with Dr. 
Cooley in the Developmental Pediatrics Clinic, and other outpatient clinics involving physician 
services.
He has a particular interest in the development of effective and responsive outreach programs to 
public schools centered on the needs of children with disabilities.
Dr. von Hahn earned his bachelor of arts degree at the University of British Columbia in 
Vancouver and his doctor of medicine degree from McGill University in Montreal, where he also 
completed his pediatric residency.
Starting in 1995, Dr. von Hahn undertook fellowships in developmental and behavioral pediatrics 
at Children's Hospital, Boston, and at the Center for Children with Special Needs at New England 
Medical Center.
He also completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Children's Hospital, Boston.
Dr. von Hahn has conducted research on how medical assessment of children with learning problems 
are received by school personnel and other consumers.
He plans to use this knowledge and expertise to help create reports and systems of care that are 
more responsive to the needs of children in community settings.

'Saturday Night Out" debuts in Keene and Peterborough
Crotched Mountain and Cedarcrest of Keene, N.H., have embarked on a new program to provide a 
break from daily responsibilities for families who care for children with disabilities and/or 
chronic health conditions.
Thanks to grants totaling $13,000, the two organizations are providing a Community Respite and 
Recreation Program on alternating Saturday evenings at the LifeArt Community Center in Keene and 
Monadnock Worksource in Peterborough.
The new program is designed specifically for children ages 4 to 15 who have developmental 
disabilities and/or chronic health conditions and their siblings.
"We all appreciate how difficult it is for care givers to have an opportunity to take a break for
themselves," said Lisa Davenport, family alliance coordinator.
"With that in mind, we proposed this program to provide such an opportunity, allowing care givers
a few hours per month for the respite they certainly need."
To accommodate children with a range of medical and developmental needs, program staff includes a
nurse and certified nursing assistant.
In addition, an activity coordinator leads the children in a variety of fun and creative 
recreational activities that foster positive social interactions, Ms. Davenport explained.
Grants of $8,000 from Monadnock Community Foundation, $4,000 from the New Hampshire Knights of 
Columbus State Council, and $1,000 from the Friends of James Mandeville (administered by New 
Hampshire Charitable Foundation) are providing the initial support for the program.
To learn more about the program, its eligibility requirements, or to join the program's Parent 
Advisory Board, contact Lisa Davenport, Family Alliance Project Coordinator, at 603-547-3311.

President Wheelock presented Mental Health honor, award
The president of Crotched Mountain, Major Wheelock, was the co-recipient of the first 
Wheelock-Nardi Advocacy Award to be presented annually by the Mental Health Center of Greater 
Manchester, N.H.
The award was presented on Oct. 30 to President Wheelock and Theodora Nardi marking the 40th 
anniversary of the Mental Health Center.
The award was established to recognize leaders who display the leadership qualities of the two 
people for who the award is named.
Mr. Wheelock and Ms. Nardi, a former state representative, spearheaded an exhaustive strategic 
planning effort on mental health and developmental disabilities.
Their report was a pioneering effort that resulted in a major shift from an institutional to a 
community-based model of care and was instrumental in the development of Manchester's widely 
recognized system of care.
"The Wheelock-Nardi Report was an innovative blueprint for a course of action that is still in 
motion," said Peter Janelle, president and chief executive officer of the Mental Health Center 
of Greater Manchester.
The advocacy of Major and Teddy continues to serve the interests of all the citizens of New 
Hampshire, especially those affected by mental illness," said Mr. Janelle.

Four new members named to Board of Trustees
Names to the Board of Trustees this fall were Roger C. Ball, Robert Brunelle, Bruce Keough, and 
Carol Michael.
Mr. Ball is a retired executive of FleetBoston Financial Corp.; former president, Dartmouth 
National Bank, Hanover, N.H.; and former chair of Dartmouth Medical Center/Mary Hitchcock 
Hospital Board of Trustees, Hanover.
He lives in New Castle, N.H. 
Mr. Ball was also named to the Board of Directors.
Mr. Brunelle has been a member of the Programs and Services Committee since 1998. 
He is a former commissioner of education for New Hampshire.
He lives in Concord, N.H.
Mr. Keough, a self-employed investor, is chair of the University System of New Hampshire Board of
Trustees; director and chair of the executive committee of Unitil Corporation; and a director of 
Northway Financial.
He lives in Dublin, N.H.
Ms. Michael is a special education teacher; a member of the Family Faculty of Children's Hospital, 
Boston; and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association.
She is a resident of Brookline, Mass., and the mother of a student at Crotched Mountain School.

Teleconferencing part of bold new venture into 'Telehealth'
Soon Crotched Mountain will have the capability to reach virtually all parts of New Hampshire to 
offer medical consultations, workshops, training, and conferences.
Called SupportNet, the pilot project will be a partner with the University of New Hampshire and 
New Hampshire Public Television as a member of the Granite State Distance Learning Network.
"We will be able to deliver interactive workshops and training to many sites as well as receive 
live educational workshops," explained Phil Girard, who is coordinating the development of the 
initiative.
Initially, the pilot project will deliver Crotched Mountain School Partnership Program services 
to the Kearsarge school district.
Eventually, the program will be offered throughout New Hampshire if funding can be identified.
"Soon," said Dr. Cooley," we plan to demonstrate how video-conferencing can be used to deliver 
regular consultations and evaluations of children with special medical needs."
Carter Hall, Crotched Mountain's largest conference area, is undergoing major renovation this 
winter.
When renovations are complete, it will be a state-of-the-art conference and telecommunications 
center.

This fall, the girls in one of our student residences were presented two "doll houses" made by 
Irving Dunckelman of Peterborough.
The units are actually a miniature farm stand and pet store that Mr. Dunckelman spent dozens of 
hours carefully crafting. 
In all, he's made six houses for Crotched Mountain.
"It gives me extraordinary pleasure to see the joy the houses give to the kids," said Mr. 
Dunckleman.

Crotched Mountain gives Lebanese girl surprise gift
When Maysam Badr, who lives in Sidon, Lebanon, came with her mother to the United States this 
fall to visit her brother in Lowell, Mass., Maysam was using a homemade wheelchair.
In the picture, Maysam shows her delight with Lyn Therrien, director of OP/PT, and Peter Leavitt,
assistive technology foreman, following the gift of her new chair from Crotched Mountain.
Her brother, knowing of Crotched Mountain's reputation for service to children with disabilities,
contacted us to see if Crotched Mountain could, in some way, help Maysam.
As expected, Crotched Mountain did not pass up the chance to help a child in need.
"It is a miracle," said Maysam's mother, "Our prayers have been answered by the wonderful people 
of Crotched Mountain."

The Spirit of Giving
The spirit of giving pervades Crotched Mountain, from our volunteers to annual giving to 
corporate donations to bequests to the compassion and dedication of staff.
Every gift provides greater opportunity for people with disabilities to achieve their goal of 
optimal independence.
For more information on how to make a gift to Crotched Mountain, contact Michael Redmond, Vice 
President of Advancement, at 603-547-3311, ext. 404 or email michael.redmond@crotchedmountain.org.

'Re-Dedication' of facilities one of highlights during annual Fall Festival in October
A special part of the annual Fall Festival on Oct. 7 were ceremonies to dedicate the Children's 
Medical Residence, the Brain Injury Center, and the Crotched Mountain School Playground.
Total cost was $6.5 million to complete major renovations to two buildings and the construction 
of the new playground.
The dedication of the two buildings, said Major Wheelock, president of Crotched Mountain, was 
really a "re-dedication."
"Nearly 50 years ago, these buildings were created and dedicated to the same purposes, which was 
to help those who face special challenges grow and achieve maximum independence."
"Time has wrought change," he told the assembled group attending the ceremony.
"Polio is no longer a threat.
We now serve adults as well as children.
Our capacity for student and clients in residence is now 140.
Then we served 40."
President Wheelock also pointed out that Crotched Mountain has added several outreach services, 
including respite services and short-term pediatric rehabilitation for postoperative cases.
The Children's Specialty Hospital and Medical Residence is designed for medically-involved 
children attending the Crotched Mountain School who require skilled nursing care.
The facility is also used for post-acute rehabilitation services, pediatric assessment, and 
respite care for children who have experienced a traumatic injury or who were born with a 
developmental disability.
The residence features 16 semiprivate rooms.
Each room has its own bath and foyer.
Wings have living rooms, dining rooms, recreation areas, kitchens, and indoor porches.
The Brain Injury Center is a 30-bed specialty hospital dedicated to the rehabilitation of adults 
who have experienced a brain injury through head trauma, stroke, or other causes, such as 
automobile or motorcycle accidents, and falls.
The center has four wings, with individual units specializing in intensive needs, active 
rehabilitation, and transition rooms that are semiprivate with bath and foyer.
Each wing has a nursing station, living room, dining room, recreation area, kitchen, and 
solarium.
The Brain Injury Center and the Children's Specialty Hospital and Medical Residence were designed 
by JSA Associates of Portsmouth and constructed by Baybutt Construction of Keene.
JSA has received special recognition for the design of the facilities, particularly the connector
between the hospital and the school.
Major donors were the Abrano Family, the Beveridge Foundation, the Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the
Autin I. Hubbard Trust, James L. Jencks, Jr. and Evelyn M. Jencks, the Rowland Foundation, and 
the Erna V. Fisher Trust.
The Crotched Mountain School Playground was very much a homegrown effort.
A taskforce of staff met to design the special features of the playground that provides both 
recreational and therapeutic benefits to the children.
Among the features are special ramps to slides, climbing equipmetn, platforms, walls, and bars.
A raised sandbox for easy accessibility for children in wheelchairs and specialized activity 
panels that are manipulative complement the full-featured playground.
The playground's setting provides spectacular views of surrounding hills and valleys.
The playground is open to the public.
The Crotched Mountain School Playground Design Team included teachers Judy Beckman, Maria 
Gendron, and Ann Wheeler; Jennifer Booth occupational therapist; Philip Girard, SupportNet 
project coordinator; John Parisi, director of building services; and Karin Thibaudeau, physical 
therapist.
Major donors were the J. Walton Bissell Foundation of Hartford, Conn. 
Grand Royal Arch of Massachusetts, Story Land of Lincoln, N.H., and the Bean Foundation of 
Jaffrey, N.H.

Charitable giving through bequests
Crotched Mountain has received many bequests - gifts made through a will - from kind and generous
people who thought it entirely fitting to make a gift from their estates to us and their other 
favorite charities.
For these gifts, as with all donations to Crotched Mountain, we are deeply grateful.
When you make a bequest to Crotched Mountain through your will, it is a lasting testimony to your
confidence in us to provide the care, education, and rehabilitation services to the children and 
adults we serve in our lifelong alliance to people with disabilities.
Many people may not realize how simple it is to make a gift to a charity through a bequest. 
Your bequest can be a stated dollar amount.
Or some donors prefer to bequeath a certain percentage of their estate to Crotched Mountain.
There also are special arrangements by which your bequest can first provide financial benefits to 
your family and then later to Crotched Mountain.
For more information about making a bequest to Crotched Mountain or to discuss other forms of 
planned giving, please contact:
Michael Redmond
Vice President of Advancement
603-547-3311, ext 404

New brochures provide excellent overview of Crotched Mountain programs
A new series of booklets is being produced to present overviews of Crotched Mountain's programs.
The first in the series is the Brain Injury Program brochure.
Coming in the next few months will be brochures on the Children's Specialty Hospital, Crotched 
Mountain School, and a "view book" that will present a general perspective of all other programs
and services that Crotched Mountain has to offer.
"Because Crotched Mountain is a complex organization with so many wonderful services, we are 
developing these brochures to better showcase specific programs as well as promote our 
distinguishing and outstanding people, facilities, and the services we offer," said Advancement 
Vice President Michael Redmond.
For more information about any programs or to receive a copy of the brain injury booklet or any 
future piece being developed, please write, call, or email to:
Marketing Department
Barbara Summers
603-547-3311, ext. 407
barbara.summers@crotchedmountain.org

Meet Bernie and Glen: 2 very remarkable men
Bernie
In 1974, Bernie Spinney said he had enough.
After all, he was 53 years old.
He had been in Laconia State School since he was 16.
He decided to start asking some questions.
Bernie said he didn't hear the answers he thought he should be hearing.
"I'd had enough," he recalls.
"So I signed myself out."
For Bernie, it was the beginning of an odyssey that would lead him to a life that he says has 
made him happy.
Bernie has Fredriech's Ataxia, a form of muscular dystrophy.
At an early age, his mother could not care for him, so he was placed in Laconia School, a state 
facility for children and adults with disabilities that was closed in 1991 following public 
outcry over poor treatment provided to residents.
While Bernie has vivid memories of the institution called Laconia School - his two brothers were 
there, too - he says, "I left with no grudges."
In fact, Bernie tells us that he was the first to ever leave of his own volition.
A determined man, he went to Manchester where he found a room in a boarding house before moving 
to a group home.
He found jobs at the Moore Center, a bowling alley, but landing the job as a cashier at Canobie 
Lake Park in Salem, N.H., is the job he likes to tell about most.
"I heard about the job at Canobie Lake, and I went there for the interview.
The boss said he'd get back to me in two weeks."
"No!" I said.
"That's not good enough.
I want to know now.
And the boss told me to start the next day."
And Bernie worked at Canobie for 11 years, until 1997.
Today, at age 73, Bernie is retired and leads a very independent life.
Thanks to Crotched Mountain, Bernie has been reunited with his two brothers, and they live with 
him in Salem.
Each day a Crotched Mountain direct care professional is with Bernie from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 
to assist Bernie.
He likes to write poetry, has helped with political campaigns, and always is seeking the 
opportunity for new experiences.
"He's an extraordinary man, and we are delighted to be able to offer our services," said Barbara 
Pettengill, executive director of Crotched Mountain Residential Services.
"The whole idea of our programs is that without Crotched Mountain, people like Bernie and Glen 
would probably be in nursing homes.
It is a wonderful service that Crotched Mountain Residential Services offers people with 
disabilities the opportunity to lead independent lives of dignity."
Glen
Glen Parker, like Bernie Spinney, is one who has maintained his independence, thanks to his 
alliance with Crotched Mountain.
Glen also successfully made the transition from Laconia State School.
In 1986, he moved into a community residence in Atkinson, N.H.
Through his own diligence, Glen rapidly worked his way to independence through the training 
provided by the staff members of Crotched Mountain Residential Services.
He soon landed a manufacturing job with a company that recognized his contributions and loyalty.
Glen worked there for eight years until a turn in the economy forced him to be laid off in 1993.
At the same time, Glen's Crotched Mountain support team felt he was ready to move to a staffed 
apartment setting, and Glen moved in with a friend who also was being served by Crotched Mountain
in a three-bedroom apartment in Plaistow.
Glen flourished in his new environment.
He began another job working full time, arranging his own transportation to and from work, as 
well as maintaining his own medication and doing his own banking.
"While becoming a more active participant in his community and within the service delivery system
for individuals with developmental disabilities, Glen joined a group called "People's First," 
said Barbara Pettengill, executive director of Crotched Mountain Residential Services in Derry, 
N.H.
"People's First was established to help individuals teach fellow community members about 
individuals with disabilities and to teach and empower each individual to advocate for themsleves
and to influence public policy."
Two years ago, Glen said he would like to move in with a previous roommate with whom he had 
established a good relationship.
Glen and his team found a new apartment and the two moved in together.
Staff members check in with him four hours each day to lend the assistance he needs.
Glen is exuberant.
He has fulfilled one of his biggest dreams.
He visited Alaska a couple of years ago, when he attended a People's First conference.
He diligently put money into his savings account for more than a year so that he could afford to 
attend the conference.
Glen's next goal is to purchase his own home, preferably in a country setting that he intends to 
share with his roommate.
"And I would like to have a garden to raise some tomatoes," said Glen.
Crotched Mountain staff members are working with Glen to help him achieve his goals.

Crotched Mountain Residential Services
provides residential and day services for adults with developmental disabilities and acquired 
brain injuries throughout southern and coastal New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.
Independent Living Apartments offer accessible housing for people with disabilities.
Crotched Mountain developed and operates independent living apartments for people with 
disabilities in Manchester, N.H., Portland, Maine, and Greenbush, N.Y.

Holiday celebrations of the mountain
A multitude of events sustained a lively and busy holiday season that included the superb musical
production of "A Christmas Carol" that rang in the Yuletide.
The ghost of Christmas Present was played by Chaz who confronts Scrooge, played by Jason, both 
students at Crotched Mountain School.
New Hampshire Fire Chiefs brought great joy to the adults and children in residence.
A 50/50 raffle raised $2,400 for client needs at Crotched Mountain Residential Services in Derry. 
Bernie Spinney drew the winning ticket that was held by a group from Sims Press in Peterborough, 
N.H.
Giving Trees in the Children's Specialty Hospital were decorated with ornaments sent to us by 
many contributors to Crotched Mountain.

HORIZONS
is produced three times yearly by the Office of Communications.
For more information, contact John Greene at Crotched Mountain, 
1 Verney Drive, Greenfield, NH 03047
603-547-3311