HORIZONS
A Newsletter for Families and Friends of Crotched Mountain
Spring 2004
Volume 4 No. 2

Gentle Teaching, an Approach to Learning Where the Process is More Important Than the Outcome
Twenty or more students in rows or a circle of desks can create too many distractions and too 
much stimulation for some children with disabilities. 
Struggling to focus, learn or even participate socially, they experience frustration.  
No matter how inclusive the curriculum, some ultimately will be labeled with behavior challenges. 
These are the children who will be referred and are enrolled at Crotched Mountain.
To address these learning disabilities Crotched Mountain is implementing a new teaching method 
called Gentle Teaching.
Introduced to Crotched Mountain by special educator Dan Hobbs from Nebraska and Crotched 
Mountain’s behavior and education specialist Jan Holland, Gentle Teaching looks beyond behavior 
to the whole person, improving communication, determining what the person is trying to say, and 
defining clearly what the person needs in order to participate.  
Hobbs has taught extensively throughout the US, Canada and Europe, exploring and encouraging 
positive approaches to behavior challenges.
Jan Holland is heading the new Crotched Mountain Center of Excellence focused on positive 
behaviors.
By offering more choices and changing the approach to best fit the person, Gentle Teaching 
addresses the frustration that often precipitates behavior outbursts, increasing opportunities 
for education, socialization and participation.
Jan Holland observes daily that the use of Gentle Teaching is making dramatic differences for 
students who, in other circumstances, could become disruptive, uncommunicative and even combative.
“It’s a very common sense approach,” says Holland.  
“If standing next to a person who is eating causes them to exhibit disturbing behavior, try 
sitting with them.
Better yet, try eating with them!” 
Teams of teachers, therapists and residential specialists work together with individual students 
to create a process that supports each student’s well being.  
Since all behavior is a form of communication, the team works to understand each behavior so that
disruption can be avoided, making it possible for the student to focus, learn and connect with 
classmates and teachers.
Once a week, each team including their student member, is videotaped and the tapes are analyzed 
immediately after class.  
The process looks at everyone’s communication – teachers, aides, therapists, and students – 
considering tone of voice, choice of words, body language and facial expressions.  
The goal is to adapt teaching methods to students’ individual learning and participation styles, 
creating sustainable and fair teacher-student dialogues.  
Formats are developed for helping children who easily lose control to stay in control.  
They rehearse the format over and over so that in an “emergency” the child will revert to the 
format, just like a fire drill.
At the heart of Gentle Teaching is relationship building.  
“All of us thrive on relationships,” according to Hobbs who explains that activity for its own 
sake is meaningless, but shared with someone else, it becomes fun.  
“Relationships carry people through,” he emphasizes.
“Successful teachers connect.” 
Teachers report that Gentle Teaching has made remarkable differences in individual students’ 
abilities to concentrate and interact.
Parents also see differences.  
“Gentle Teaching is real-life based.  
Everything for [my son] needs to be purposeful and have meaning.  
With this element, he is able to make sense of the world around him,"  wrote one mother.  
“I have great respect for [my son’s] team.  
I thank everyone at Crotched Mountain for investing in his life and future outcome.
”Perhaps the most important aspect of Gentle Teaching is that it enables us “to see ourselves as 
others see us,” observes teacher Mark Tanner, “and with that insight, to change what we do and 
how we do it to be more effective." 

Crotched Mountain Forms Center of Excellence in Positive Behaviors Supports for People with 
Disabilities
The recently approved strategic plan for Crotched Mountain set as a priority the development of 
several “Centers of Excellence.” 
These centers will focus on meeting the most challenging needs in our mission of service. 
They will also allow us to build on our strengths in new, flexible, and innovative ways. 
The Center for Positive Behavior Supports for People with Disabilities is the first center we 
have initiated. 
Under the leadership of Jan Holland, our goal is for this center to influence practices and 
methods not only at Crotched Mountain, but also in the broader community of professionals and 
families. 
In addition to the ongoing implementation of Gentle Teaching techniques at Crotched Mountain, it 
is sponsoring a seminar led by Dr. Steven Gutstein, co-director of the Connections Center in 
Houston, Texas, on the topic, “Solving the Relationship Puzzle: Opening Doors to Friendship for 
People on the Autistic Spectrum” on Sept. 17 & 18. 
For more information, contact Linda Hughes at 603-547-3311, ext. 598.

The Next 50 Years
From the President
Last year, when we reached the 50th anniversary of Crotched Mountain’s founding, we held many 
celebrations, reunions and events that publicly called attention to the achievements of this 
remarkable organization.
But behind the scenes, many people were working hard on a project that will provide a guide for 
us as we start our journey over the next 50 years — the development of a Strategic Plan for 
Crotched Mountain. 
The Strategic Plan, which was completed earlier this year, is the work of many people, who came 
together from inside and outside Crotched Mountain, in small groups and as a community, to 
converse, dream, appraise, focus, envision and plan.
The plan we created describes an exciting vision for Crotched Mountain — to build a community of 
mutual support. 
It also maps the activities and investments in our staff, programs and campus that will give us 
the best chance to achieve the goals we identified. 
In my letter in this issue of Horizons, I would like to tell you a little bit about this plan and
our dreams for Crotched Mountain.
We began by seeking the participation of many people who make up the Crotched Mountain family — 
staff at all levels, directors and trustees, parents, students and clients, community members and 
others who work on behalf of people with disabilities. 
Their active participation in numerous meetings over many months was crucial to the development 
of the strategic plan.  
We thank all who shared in the process.
We identified what Crotched Mountain does well and our strengths as an organization. 
We agreed that our underlying strength is a profound commitment to our mission of service to 
people with disabilities, especially those with profound challenges. 
With a full-time staff of 700, of which 75% provide direct care to over 2,000 people annually, 
Crotched Mountain makes a significant contribution to the well being of vulnerable populations 
in New Hampshire and New England. 
We found that the power of our clinical rehabilitation and education has few parallels. 
We were impressed with the universal observation that caring and warmth are found everywhere at 
Crotched Mountain. 
Our programs are able to accept ever more medically challenging patients and residents. 
The location of Crotched Mountain on a beautiful mountain that has been well protected is also a 
significant strength.      
But we are not without challenges: staff shortages in key health and therapy occupations; 
emerging populations with unmet needs; difficult transitions for people with disabilities 
throughout their lifetimes; service systems that often ignore the need for stability and 
relationships; campus buildings and infrastructure that do not meet the service needs of today 
and limit our ability to achieve our goals for tomorrow.       
The plan we developed identifies goals in our health, education and residential services programs
that emphasize our continuing commitment to quality and serving those most in need. 
In addition, we have established a goal to build what we are calling “communities of mutual 
support” that address the needs of people over a lifetime. 
These communities will be a physical place — where people live and receive state-of-the-art 
education, therapies, and rehabilitation — and they will also foster the building of 
relationships. 
To achieve these communities, the plan calls for significant investments in the Greenfield campus
a new school, new housing for residents and staff, and improvements to roadways, water, energy 
and other infrastructure. 
We also want to preserve and sustain the beautiful mountain environment and create more 
opportunities for accessible recreation.
The Board of Directors and staff are committed to this vision and strategic initiatives described
in this plan. 
To achieve the goals of the plan will require significant investments in our campus and in our 
programs and staff. 
As we have for 50 years, we will turn to the individuals, groups and organizations that have 
sustained Crotched Mountain to help us reach this next level. 
We are confident that together we will succeed in making this vision a reality.
I would be pleased to provide you with a copy of the Strategic Plan and I welcome your thoughts 
about our future.
Donald L. Shumway
President and CEO

Crotched Mountain Board of Trustees Welcomes New Members
Stephen R. Bates
“I am very pleased to be a member of the Board of Trustees and a part of the Crotched Mountain 
family,” said Stephen R. Bates of Centerville, MA.
“The Board of Directors and management have put together a wonderful vision and road map for the 
future of Crotched Mountain and I look forward to helping make that vision become a reality,” 
Bates continues.
Bates and his wife Gretchen are the parents of a Crotched Mountain student and are frequent 
visitors to the Greenfield campus.
A graduate of Babson College, Bates has worked in the finance management area of cable 
manufacturing and commercial lending. 
He is president of Global Interconnect, Inc., Pocasset, MA, a company he founded in 1996.  
Global Interconnect manufactures custom molded cable assemblies, pc boards, fiber optics, 
electromechanical sub-assemblies and high speed assemblies for the medical, computer and 
industrial markets.
The Bates and two additional children, Joshua and Charlotte, reside in Centerville, MA where they 
enjoy boating and fishing in the summers and skiing in Vermont during the winter months.

Howard O. Stoner
Howard O. Stoner of Sudbury, MA, joins the Crotched Mountain Board of Trustees with the personal 
goal of making Crotched Mountain’s Strategic Plan for community living a reality.     
The father of a student who has resided at Crotched Mountain for 11 of his 18 years, Stoner 
speaks also for his wife, Carol, when he says, “We unreservedly believe in Crotched Mountain 
School."  
"In eleven years,”  Stoner continues, “We have been consistently happy with Crotched Mountain and
most importantly, our son John is happy.”
Stoner is President and CEO of Stoner and Company, a national network of salvors and appraisers, 
with offices at 10 locations across the country and headquarters in Sudbury, MA.
A graduate of the University of St.Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, Stoner has worked in the 
commercial/industrial insurance and recovery field for 29 years, 23 of them in the company he 
founded. 
His wife, Carol, is CFO of Stoner and Company. 
Stoner and Company serves large retailing distributors and manufacturing corporations, 
specializing in the salvage, inventory, appraisal and liquidation of losses.
The Stoners reside in Sudbury, MA.  
In addition to John, they have a daughter, Allison, two sons, Brendon and Dax and three 
grandchildren.

Editor’s Note: 
We are delighted to share these letters from the families and friends of Crotched Mountain who 
write from the heart about their experiences here..

Mr. Redmond: 
Do you remember Camp Union?  
I spent a few weeks there every summer in the late 1950s.  
Each year, on a Saturday morning, the camp would open its doors to the kids from Crotched 
Mountain.
They were different from the rest of us – most physically disabled, some barely able to talk.  
But through the exposure provided by the camp, we came to the realization that they weren’t 
really different at all – they had the same spirit as we did, just faced a different sort of 
challenge.  
These are warm memories for me, memories that helped shape my views of the world at the tender 
age of 10.
With admiration for the work you do,LS

Dear Dr. Cooley: 
When we asked our daughter what she thinks about the people at Crotched Mountain, she said that 
they give her strength and self confidence so that she is sure she can accomplish everything.  
We agree with her.
From our very first visit, you put your arms around us and you now have a place in our hearts.
We feel that you have given us a lesson about life.  
For our daughter, that is very important for her future, since it has to do with her physical and
psychological development and health.
For us it’s a reassurance that science and human feelings go together and you have proven that to
us.
It’s very difficult to put feelings into words.  
It’s too little to just say “thank you” but we think that the best reward for all of you and us 
as well is to see our daughter’s smile become bigger and bigger.
We would like to thank you, Dr. Cooley, for what is reflected on our daughter’s face. 
We thank Lyn because our daughter can now swim by herself. 
And we thank Peter, Kevin, Jeff and Liz and all the other persons we haven’t met but we know are 
there.
We wish you all the best,
The parents of a Crotched Mountain student
  
Patrick’s Story
Eleven-year-old Patrick came to Crotched Mountain as a day student three years ago with extreme 
behavioral challenges. 
He resisted all involvement – social, academic and athletic.  
Transition from one activity to another was especially upsetting to him. 
When asked a yes/no question, he always answered “no.”
Patrick was taking medication to reduce undesired behaviors.  
He had great difficulty understanding that each activity has a beginning, a middle, and an end. 
He never smiled and was anxious all the time.  
He wanted to be in control but he didn’t seem to know how and caregivers were not sure how to let
him.
In his weekly occupational therapy sessions, Patrick was “all over the place,” according to team 
member Stacy Eberhardt.
Since Patrick’s team began using the Gentle Teaching approach, Patrick has responded by being 
able to concentrate on developing his sensory/motor skills.  
His behavior medications were gradually reduced and then eliminated. 
“And sometimes, for 30 seconds, he’s just a little boy.  
A very engaging little boy,” smiles Mary Griffin, a school psychologist who works as part of 
Patrick’s team.
“We changed our approach, and that has helped Patrick adjust his behavior,” both therapists agree.  
By watching videotapes of their interaction with Patrick, Stacy and Mary see that he responds to 
visual cues more positively than verbal cues. 
Instead of yes/no questions, they make statements.  
“We’re going to motor circuit now, do you want to walk or ride your bike?”  
This provides a structure, within which Patrick can make choices.
The team, including his one-to-one residential aide, praises Patrick for even partial 
participation.  
And gradually he is learning about choice making, turn taking and coordinating his body.  
He’s more playful and less anxious now.
While Patrick still struggles between engagement and resistance, his participation has increased.  
He is able now to enjoy his swimming sessions, and he joins in when his class is singing.
These are huge steps.  
“I feel I’m a better therapist,” says Stacy.  
“When I am struggling with a student, I realize now that I am the one who has to change."
“If a student is not meeting expectations,” says Mary, “it means he needs more support and more 
encouragement.”  
In the past, students were rewarded only if they met expectations.  
“But now we realize that affirmation is part of a step-by-step process, and we acknowledge each 
step.”
Now a resident of Crotched Mountain, Patrick is calmer and happier.
He can focus better on individual tasks.
He gives and gets hugs.  
Because he is offered choices, he feels more in control, and that translates into being in 
control of himself.
"When you see this kind of positive reaction, you just love your work!" Stacy smiles. 
“It energizes you.”  
Stacy, Mary and Patrick are all in a better place because of what they’re learning from Gentle 
Teaching.

Project Linus Blankets the Mountain 
by Lisa Moran, Manager of Volunteer Services
On a chilly day in early spring, Persephone “Percy” Agrafiotis from the New Hampshire Chapter of 
Project Linus brought a little warmth and a lot of smiles to the students of Crotched Mountain 
in the form of blankets, afghans, and quilts.
Time and materials were donated to provide children with the gift of new, homemade, washable 
blankets, lovingly created by Project Linus volunteers called “blanketeers.”
Project Linus was born in 1997 when Karen Loucks began providing blankets to young patients at 
the Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center in Denver, Colorado.  
The child who inspired this project said her “security” blanket helped her get through 
chemotherapy treatments.
Since then, Project Linus has delivered blankets to children all over the world.  
The children of Crotched Mountain enjoyed receiving a blanket because it’s special and it’s 
theirs.
Jenelle Callahan from Residential Services stated that the reactions of the more than 50 students
who received blankets were priceless.  
“I cannot remember anything else touching and impressing our students as much as those blankets. 
One student LOVES his new blanket so much, he went home, wrapped himself in it and fell asleep.”
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization.  
Volunteers make the blankets and donate gift certificates for new blanket materials and office 
supplies to operate the chapter.
For more information contact Lisa Moran, volunteer services at ext.410

Boot Scootin’ Boomers Bring Fun, Entertainment and Support to CMF
Since 1999, more than $46,000 has been contributed to Crotched Mountain by a unique musical group
known as the Boot Scootin’ Boomers.
The group made their annual visit to Crotched Mountain recently to perform for students, 
residents and staff and to present a check for $12,900.
“We just like to make people happy and help out children in need,” said Phil Catudal, who with 
his wife, Elyce, leads the dozen or more civic-minded, fun-loving volunteers from Manchester,
Goffstown and surrounding towns.
The Boot Scootin’ Boomers perform nearly every week at schools, churches, and retirement homes, 
as well as in parades and festivals.  
They are a popular attraction as they always invite their audiences to try out the “boombah,” an 
original percussion instrument that is part cymbal, part tambourine and part pogo stick, trimmed 
with a bicycle horn and jingle bells.
“The Boot Scootin’ Boomers are terrific,” noted Michael Redmond, Vice President for Advancement 
for Crotched Mountain, when presented with the check.
“Not only are they generous donors, they are true ambassadors of our organization.
With every performance they increase the community’s understanding of what we do and how we help 
children and adults with disabilities.”

Taking the Plunge Raises over $4,000
On a cold and windy February day, Crotched Mountain staff, a student and a parent braved the icy 
Atlantic to make the annual Penquin Plunge in support of Special Olympics.  
“I can’t even begin to explain,” said Geoff Garfinkle, director of therapeutic recreation, 
“but felt like it was some NASA test for an astronaut to see how much the body can take.”
Every year, Crotched Mountain students compete in the summer and winter games, always bringing 
home medals.

Matt Savage Trio Performance
Internationally-Acclaimed Eleven-Year Old Jazz Pianist and Autistic Savant Has Charmed Audiences
from New Orleans to New Zealand
In recognition of National Autism Month, Crotched Mountain Foundation featured the celebrated 
Matt Savage Trio in concert on Sunday, April 25.
New Hampshire resident Matt Savage, one of the world's foremost young jazz piano players, has 
shared the stage with names like Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea and Bobby Watson.
Matt, who is now eleven, was born with a form of autism, a disability that affects social 
interaction and communication.
Ten percent of people diagnosed with autism also manifest amazing abilities such as prodigious
memories and advanced math skills.
At age six, as the result of an acute sensitivity to loud noises, Matt was introduced to the
piano as part of his therapy and "Everything just snowballed," says his mother, Diane.
His playing is "something very atypical, something an autistic child normally can't do," she 
continues.
"But then we've never dwelled on what people can't do, it's all about what you can do."
Matt began studying at the New England Conservatory in 1999 as a classical student and played
his first concert two years later. 
The Matt Savage Trio has released three CD's of his original compositions.

Robin Connell Named Senior Development Officer at Crotched Mountain Foundation
Robin Connell of Merrimack, NH, has recently joined the Advancement Department of Crotched 
Mountain Foundation. As senior development officer, she will be cultivating relationships with 
existing and prospective donors.
Previously, she was employed as a financial advisor for UBS Financial Services, CIBC Oppenheimer,
and Fidelity Investments where she counseled corporations and high net worth individuals to
develop effective investment strategies.
In the process, she earned her registered investment brokerage licenses (series 7, 63, 65 and 66 
certifications).  
Connell is a 2002 cum laude graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she received a 
bachelor of arts in English.
“We are delighted to welcome Robin to Crotched Mountain,” remarks Michael Redmond, vice president
foradvancement.  
“Her expertise as a financial advisor complements her personal commitment to serving the needs of
individuals with disabilities and their families.”    
Connell is the founder of Merrimack STARS, a non-profit organization that provides special 
training and rehabilitative services to physically and developmentally disabled children in her 
home town.
“I’m very excited to be here,” Connell said.  
“Crotched Mountain is such a resource.  
I look forward to telling people about all that we offer and I am committed to enhancing the
philanthropy that supports it.”

Gala 2004 Set for June 12 at Crotched Mountain
Donald L. Shumway, President of Crotched Mountain Foundation and Peter L. Gosline, CEO of 
Monadnock Community Hospital met recently with volunteer committee members from both 
organizations to begin planning their collaborative Gala to be held June 12, 2004, at Crotched 
Mountain. 
By popular request, the Gala will again feature the Tom LaMark Orchestra, Boston’s society band.
Last year’s event raised $38,000 to support programs at both Crotched Mountain and Monadnock 
Community Hospital. 
Proceeds from this year’s Gala will be directed toward dental health programs for the 
constituencies of both organizations.
Shumway describes the Gala as “an event that celebrates a community that is the cornerstone for 
support for underserved populations that include low income families and people with 
disabilities.”
For more information call Pat Whitney at Crotched Mountain, 603 547-3311, ext. 471.

Tree House Nears Completion
Furniture and a few finishing touches are all that is needed and the wheelchair accessible tree 
house at Crotched Mountain will officially be open.
People are welcome to visit the tree house any time.  
Groups who want to use the tree house for activities are requested to make arrangements ahead by 
calling 547-3311 and asking for Geoff Garfinkle.
All visitors are invited to check in at Crotched Mountain’s main entrance reception desk and sign
the guest book.
A dedication of the tree house will be celebrated in July when donors, volunteers, students and 
friends will be invited for a ribbon cutting, tours of the tree house and the campus, and 
refreshments.

Windham Center School Fifth Graders Raise $900 for the Tree House
Any teacher will tell you that fifth graders have a lot of energy.  
And when they channel that energy into positive action, their accomplishments can be awesome.
Three classes of fifth graders at Windham Center School decided during the holidays that instead 
of giving each other “secret elf” gifts, they would donate their gift money to charity.  
And because one of their classmates has autism, they decided to do something to help kids with 
autism.  
Teacher Kim Cassale went on line to find a local organization and came across Crotched Mountain 
and the tree house.  
“It was a perfect match,” she said.  
The 70 students raised $900 and invited Jim Orr, who led Crotched Mountain’s tree house project, 
to come and tell them about it.  
Jim brought videos and a power point presentation, but the star presenter was Chaz, a student at 
Crotched Mountain School who described a typical day at Crotched Mountain and answered questions 
about life on the Greenfield campus.  
At noon, Chaz joined the students for lunch and looked like the Pied Piper, as he wheeled down 
the corridor to the cafeteria with a swarm of students clustered around him.

Crotched Mountain Golf Classic to be Held July 19 at Stonebridge Country Club
The parents of Crotched Mountain School students will host a charity golf tournament on Monday, 
July 19 to benefit programs and services of the school.
Crotched Mountain Golf Classic co-chairs Tom Gaul and David Barnes emphasize that this is a great
event for a good cause.
Known as one of the best courses in New Hampshire, Stonebridge Country Club was awarded a Four 
Star Rating by Golf Digest in its “Places to Play” ranking.
Additionally, Stonebridge is one of only six clubs in New Hampshire to receive a Three-Star 
rating by the New England Golf Guide.
Registration of $125 includes greens fees, cart, lunch and the awards reception following the 
event.  
For more information, please contact  Pat Whitney at 603-547-3311, ext. 471 or at 
patricia.whitney@crotched mountain.org.

Donors Choose New Automatic Monthly Giving
Recently, two long-time donors called us to ask if there was a more efficient way to support 
Crotched Mountain on a recurring basis.
One caller explained that he felt strongly about supporting our work. 
He wanted to make gifts on a regular basis and he wondered if there were some way to contribute 
every month for an agreed-upon amount, until further notice.
Crotched Mountain is happy to provide two monthly giving plans for donors looking for an easy, 
efficient, no hassle way to make regular donations.
The first is an automatic credit card donation that can be made monthly or quarterly.  
The second plan arranges an automatic electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a donor’s checking 
account at agreed-upon intervals.
Both plans can easily be changed, upgraded or cancelled by contacting us.
For more information, call Pat Whitney, Director of Development for Crotched Mountain, at 
603 547-3311, ext. 471.

Foster Grandparents Help Shape Young Lives
Each week in 39 schools and other youth settings across five New Hampshire counties, 75 seniors 
serve as role models for children who need a little extra tutoring, advice and individual 
attention.    
“If I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t be here!”  
Irene Ameen smiles as she helps a second grader with his math worksheet.  
Affectionately known as “Grammy Irene,” the 80-year-old foster grandmother for Crotched 
Mountain’s Foster Grandparent Program has volunteered her time and love – five days a week at 
Gossler Park Elementary for the last nineteen years.  
This year she will retire from the school, but not from foster grandparenting.  
Now her child care center summer site will benefit from her love and attention all year round.
“We could use 20 more foster grandparents in our classrooms,” according to assistant principal 
Nancy Smith at Highland Goffe’s Falls School in Manchester.  
Smith went on to praise the benefits reaped by teachers and students when a Foster Grandparent 
is assisting.    
“Mr. Nick, be careful driving home.  
I don’t want you to get hurt.”
This from a second grader whose classroom enjoys tutoring by Nick Gianoulis in math, phonics and 
writing. 
For many of these children, foster grandparents play an important role, helping them develop the 
skills, confidence and strengths to succeed in school and beyond.      
Program director Sherry Wheeler welcomes new volunteers, “Crotched Mountain is dedicated to 
making life better for everyone, helping people feel comfortable with each other. 
We stay in touch with our seniors even when they are no longer active in the program.”  
For more information call Sherry Wheeler in Manchester, NH at 603 668-1990.

HORIZONS
is published by the Office of Advancement, Crotched Mountain Foundation.
For more information, please contact:
Pat Whitney, Director of Development
Crotched Mountain Foundation 
One Verney Drive
Greenfield, NH 03047
603-547-3311, ext. 471
patricia.whitney@crotchedmountain.org

As a service to our readers, please write us at the above address if you wish to have your name
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