HORIZONS A NEWSLETTER FOR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF CROTCHED MOUNTAIN SUMMER 2011 VOLUME 11 NUMBER 2 MUSIC, WHAT FEELINGS SOUND LIKE A HAND UP How the Harry Gregg Foundation Helps by Don Shumway, President and CEO I DON’T NEED TO TELL YOU that we live in diffcult times, and this is especially true for those with disabilities. While we continue to provide amazing supports and services to people who come to Crotched Mountain, people elsewhere can and do fall through the cracks. It was with this in mind that, in 1989, Crotched Mountain established a foundation to provide small grants to New Hampshire residents with disabilities for products and services not funded elsewhere. Since then, the Harry Gregg Foundation (HGF), established in honor of the founder of Crotched Mountain, has made over 6,000 grants totaling more than $2 million. In 2010, the HGF made 361 grants totaling $140,573. The foundation is unusual in that it provides funds to people, not organizations, and is one of the few in the state that does so. People like Scott who, with HGF funds, was able to purchase a service dog to help him with tasks of daily living. Or Helen who has a chronic mental illness and, with a computer bought with HGF funds, now edits a newsletter targeted to people in the community with similar issues. Home and vehicle modifcations, specialized equipment, computers, recreation and education — these are the kinds of things that enhance independence, improve quality of life and are attainable with HGF funds. This year, in light of funding reductions to supports and services for people with disabilities and their families, trustees of the HGF decided we needed to do more. Available funds, usually 5 percent of our endowment, were increased to 6.5 percent to help offset the inevitable financial pressures people will experience as a result of these cuts. This will add $53,000 to the grants for next year. The Harry Gregg Foundation works to ease the burdens of our most vulnerable citizens. But you don’t have to take our word for it, the words of our recipients tell the story... The computer has helped my daughter pursue her interests. Thanks for making it possible for people in our position to have things and do things that are beyond our means. — Mother of a 17-year-old girl with a life-threatening chronic health condition. Your assistance to Joan and our family will help us meet Joan’s needs and continue to maintain her health, happiness and well-being. To know we had someone to turn to, to ask for this help, leaves us grateful beyond words. — Mother of a child with a severe metabolic disorder. I was starting to think I would have to stop Greg’s treatments due to money constraints. The award allows him to continue the treatments that are finally helping him learn. — Mother of an 18-year-old boy with severe learning disabilities THE POWER OF GENTLE TEACHING Living and Learning in Relationship WHO IN YOUR LIFE helps you feel safe and confident? Who shares the things you love and understands your challenges? At Crotched Mountain we make sure everyone has an opportunity to make these kinds of connections through a care-giving model called Gentle Teaching. The program was adopted in 2004 as the philosophical underpinning of our ethical caregiving with patients, clients and students. It’s a way of being with and attending to another person so that learning and healing happens in the context of a trusting, respectful and authentic relationship. Jan Holland, a behavioral health and education specialist who brought this approach to Crotched Mountain, has seen it as transformative for the entire community. “Gentle Teaching assumes a posture of nonviolence that says I choose to be loving, kind and compassionate even when faced with confrontation and aggression. The goal is to express a culture of gentleness throughout the organization. Ideally, the minute an employee new to Gentle Teaching walks through the door, they will find acceptance to examine and reflect how they care for others,” Jan explains. “When schools refer students here, they are aware we use Gentle Teaching methods,” says Nancy Pierce, vice-principal at Crotched Mountain School. “They understand we take the time to develop safe and caring relationships unique for each student — an approach that may take longer, but in the end the student learns something greater; to respond to life and their world differently.” Jan says it’s important to notice when people are engaged and happy. When a person is comfortable, it’s likely the caregiver has organized life to include their preferences. “Gentle Teaching focuses on what works and asks us to notice the environment — what are the interactions with others, physical surroundings or nature of activity,” she emphasizes. Awareness, conscious intention and growth through self-reflection — all are part and parcel of the ongoing journey of Gentle Teaching. “You want your heart to be transformed,” explains Jan, “and we help each other be transformed day-by-day, moment-by-moment. I will be here, I accept you even when you try to reject me.” What does Gentle Teaching look like? Gentle Teaching always considers these four elements: Environment A Gentle Teacher first considers time, place, people, stimulus level and other controllable environmental elements that will play into the success of an activity. Flow of Activity To maximize success, a Gentle Teacher plans an activity from beginning to end, anticipating areas of difficulty and making accommodations to address them. Adequate Information A Gentle Teacher shows step-by-step what they will do together. Motivation The Gentle Teacher identifes those things the student enjoys and incorporates them into the activity FINDING THE LIGHT JD’s Journey Toward Happiness HE WAS ONLY THIRTEEN, but he’d been through a physical and emotional war zone. From the time he was a toddler, JD and his family struggled with behaviors that were harmful to him, his family and their home. Diagnosed with autism, he destroyed furniture, broke windows and even smashed the Plexiglas replacements. JD’s mom, Kim, became a virtual prisoner in her home while his dad, Chris, ran all the errands and did the grocery shopping. One adult had to be with JD at all times. His family tried a number of programs as they searched for answers, solutions and hope. At the age of eight, his family reluctantly placed JD in the first of several psychiatric hospitals. “It broke my heart to let him go,” says Kim, “but we weren’t helping him at home.” JD’s aggressive behaviors toward his younger sister, his parents and himself had only worsened. He was miserable, communicating by whining and crying while continuing to try to hurt himself. JD’s family was desperate to help him. Through research, Kim discovered Crotched Mountain. She and Chris were impressed with Crotched Mountain’s exceptional reputation for working with children on the autism spectrum. They moved JD to the mountainside setting in New Hampshire with the hope that this might be the answer for him. JD arrived at Crotched Mountain wearing restraints and a helmet, which were part of the program at his previous placement. Initially, he was assigned five aides for his own and everyone else’s safety. For new students like JD, the path at Crotched Mountain is not always smooth — sometimes it can be quite arduous. JD’s first weeks were difficult. His restraints were immediately eliminated and medications reduced to try to build trust and break through to the young boy inside. JD responded by destroying his room. Those who worked directly with JD understood his reality: he saw the world very differently. According to Carl Cooley, chief medical officer of the Crotched Mountain Foundation, “Autism can affect an individual’s response to his or her surroundings so that sensory experiences are misinterpreted. What would be completely unthreatening sounds, sights, smells or touches for most people become exaggerated, noxious or even painful for an individual with autism. An individual’s sometimes violent responses to such stimuli must be regarded as self-protective until there is an opportunity to slowly learn to trust and accommodate the world’s everyday sensations.” Through creative interventions that combined Gentle Teaching, non-aversive conflict resolution and consistent goal setting, Crotched Mountain recognized JD’s potential to learn, to remain calm and to be a happier young man. Staff members spent hours swaddling and holding him, all the while talking to him and reassuring him that he was a valued human being. After months of positive coaching, they began to see changes. Today, JD is very different from the troubled young man who came to Crotched Mountain two years ago. He has progressed from spending 10-20 minutes a week in school to three hours a day. He now makes eye contact, smiles and greets his classmates. After school, like most children, he is swimming, playing soccer and basketball, and going on field trips. He even helps with dinner in the evening. Crotched Mountain did what it took to help JD find comfort and meaning in his world. When one approach didn’t work, JD’s staff kept trying — watching, listening and learning from JD, until the right balance was achieved. For Kim, among the many people who helped bring about the positive changes in JD’s life: two stand out: Sujan KC, a support person who was with JD early on, “made it clear to JD that he was committed for the long haul and JD responded,” recalls Kim. And Adam Ahmed, JD’s primary support person who now lives with JD in an apartment on campus, “has the patience and trust to let JD test the waters and try new things,” Kim adds. In fact, it was with Adam’s support that JD recently had a successful trip to the dentist. “Adam assured JD that it would be okay, and JD succeeded because of the trust between them,” says Kim. “He’s even been able to take JD shopping at the grocery store! This never would have been possible a year ago.” Recently, with Adam by his side, JD and his parents dined at a nearby McDonald’s, which was a thrill for the family. “It has been about five years since I’ve been in a restaurant with JD,” says Kim. JD’s family visits are now memorable and enjoyable for all. It’s the smile and his sense of humor that his family is most enthusiastic about. JD seems happy for the first time in his life. “JD’s progress at Crotched Mountain has been awesome,” remarks Kim. “I always knew there was a light, and Crotched Mountain found it.” Endowing Your Values at Crotched Mountain WHEN YOU ESTABLISH a named endowment fund with Crotched Mountain Foundation, you do more than endow a program or a building or even the operating budget — you endow your values. Since 1953, Crotched Mountain has kept its promise to offer a lifelong alliance to people with disabilities. That promise, seen daily in the work we do in our school, in our hospital and throughout our community, is dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities and their families, embracing personal choice and development and building communities of mutual support. Through your endowment, your commitment to the mission and ideals of Crotched Mountain will carry forward for generations to come. With every annual disbursement from your endowment, your name will echo through this organization as a person or family who believes in Crotched Mountain and what we represent. Imagine the effect of this on your children and grandchildren and future generations. Even though family members in the future may not have known you personally, they will know about you by your endowment. They will know something of your values, your generosity and your heart. And, quite possibly, your example may influence them to contribute to your endowment or to perhaps establish one of their own. Endowments are powerful conveyers of values. Endowment funds are easy to establish, and they last indefinitely. You may think it takes a large amount of money to create an endowment. You may think it has to be done all at once with a single gift. If so, you will be surprised at how reasonable and convenient it is to establish an endowment now and to fund it over time, including a final gift through your will. Today, many people are funding their endowments by establishing a charitable gift annuity with Crotched Mountain so that their values are recognized now, while retaining the use of the funds for their lifetime. Here are a few examples of the many permanent endowment funds established at Crotched Mountain. To learn more about endowing your values at Crotched Mountain, and why so many donors are using this tool to pass along their values to future generations, please contact Tom Fogarty, Vice President of Development, 603.547.1485 or email tom.fogarty@crotchedmountain.org. Tom will be delighted to discuss how your values can be permanently endowed, while benefitting the children and adults we serve for generations to come. The Albert E. and Clara F. Chorley Memorial Fund Established in 1993 through a bequest from Clara F. Chorley to create a permanent endowment to be used for the Crotched Mountain Dental Clinic and its dental care program. The Lillian C.M. Bunker Fund Established in 1997 through a bequest from Mrs. Bunker and a subsequent gift from her daughter, Mrs. Joy MacConnell, to purchase equipment for the alleviation and/or treatment of hearing diffculties in children at Crotched Mountain. The Edna McConnell Clark Campus Maintenance Fund Established in 1972 to provide annual income for the care and maintenance needs of staff housing. The Lloyd G. Balfour Fund Established in 1993 to create a permanent chair for Rehabilitative Medicine at Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center. The Irene and John Given Fund Established in 1968 to create a permanent endowment for a rehabilitation specialist training program at Crotched Mountain. The Edith E. Hill Fund Established in 2000 through a bequest from Mrs. Hill’s estate to provide a permanent source of income for the expenses associated with the treatment, rehabilitation or education of children and adults born in New England in need of assistance at Crotched Mountain. The Elizabeth and Norman Bergh Fund Established in 1990 to “provide pleasure and fun” for children at Crotched Mountain on holidays such as Halloween. BRIEFLY noted TALENT ABOUNDS Parents, Staff and Students were treated to a wide variety of acts that covered everything from singing and dancing to musical numbers and ventriloquism at the annual Crotched Mountain Talent Show on April 15. Music from country, rap and pop genres were featured. “All of our students worked very hard to prepare for the talent show, and their hard work really paid off,” said CMS music teacher Bonnie Arpin. REM ONLINE NOW OPEN Refurbished Equipment Marketplace (REM), a program of Crotched Mountain’s ATECH Services, now has an on-line store. The store is offering a range of donated and refurbished durable medical equipment like manual and power wheelchairs, mobility aids, hospital beds, bath aids, scooters, portable ramps and more, at affordable prices. To browse or buy go to www.shoprem.com. FUN AND GAMES! Joseph Klucinec, a patient and student at Crotched Mountain, demonstrates his favorite game, Super Mario Brothers, on a Starlight Fun Center,™ which includes a Wii™ gaming system and DVD player. The Fun Center was donated to CM to entertain children rehabilitating in the Specialty Hospital by C & S Wholesale Grocers of Keene through an ongoing partnership among the company, Colgate Palmolive Co.and Starlight Children’s Foundation. Watching Joseph play are Tom Patterson and Gina Goff of C&S Wholesale Grocers, Mark Maloney of Colgate Palmolive and Tom Fogarty of Crotched Mountain Foundation. 100 KM FOR CM On Sunday, August 21, over 300 mountain bikers from the U.S. and Canada are expected to race in the fifth Hampshire 100, New Hampshire’s premier ultra endurance 100 kilometer mountain bike event. Now part of the USA Pro Ultra Endurance Tour 2011, the race benefits Crotched Mountain accessible recreation and sports. The race winds through the beautiful and diverse terrain of the eastern Monadnock Region, features Novice, Sport, Expert and Pro/Elite classes for men and women, and begins and ends at Oak Park in Greenfeld. For more information or to register, go to www.efta.com or hampshire100.com. KEY CLUB DONATES Manchester Central High School Key Club organized their third annual Ski-a-Thon to benefit Crotched Mountain on February 12. The event, held during Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride’s Midnight Madness, was a huge success! Over 70 students participated this year. Jared Sandler, second from left, a senior at MCHS, with the assistance of club advisor Todd Libby, far left, created the event. The $5,500 raised will be used to offer scholarships and purchase adaptive equipment. A large part of the success of this event is due to considerable in-kind support from the ski area. Mark June 25 On Your Exercise Calendar! That’s the day the fully accessible trails at Crotched Mountain will be open to the public. Dutton Brook Trail This 1.8 mile trail winds around a beaver-built wetland that features diverse plant and animal communities. Boardwalks and observation decks offer users plenty of opportunities to observe and learn about our native fora and fauna. Interpretive information is available at various points along the trail to familiarize users with the rich and complex natural beauty that abounds in the Monadnock Region. Gregg Trail A series of switchbacks rising 200 feet with grades of no more than 8 percent takes users from the trailhead parking lot to the top of the knoll on Crotched Mountain, a distance of almost a mile. The trail skirts blueberry felds, which are in the process of restoration, and crosses an open field offering great views of Crotched Mountain. At its terminus, users are rewarded with panoramic views to the west, southand east. HORIZONS Published by the Office of Advancement Editor: Robin Boyd, robin.boyd@crotchedmountain.org Crotched Mountain Foundation One Verney Drive Greenfield, NH 03047 603.547.3311, ext. 1490 Please write us at the above addess if you wish to have your name removed from fund-raising requests supporting Crotched Mountain.