HORIZONS A newsletter for families and friends of Crotched Mountain Winter 2004-2005 Volume 4 Number 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT by Don Shumway Crotched Mountain’s outpatient clinic and staf fwas recently approved for Medicare billing. This approval covers all our physicians, speech pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists and audiologists. The implications for us are many and will improve our overall patient base, our reimbursement base and our service delivery systems. Some of the best parts of life on this mountaintop were combined in events of the past several months, highlighted by seasonal foliage and the annual air show afforded by hawks riding the thermals. Our Brain Injury Center’s Awareness Day involved its staff, clients and their families and friends in their most ambitious effort yet featuring a 5-K race with 45 runners, fun walk, raffle and cook out. The crisp clear day was an opportunity for visitors to enjoy our campus and each other’s company. Brain Injury Awareness Day raised $15,000 in support of activities that range from equipping a wood working shop and exercise facilities to outings, entertainment, education, scholarships and arts opportunities for residents of the Brain Injury Center. Our students showed off their best work in classroom displays, parents and families met with teachers, and everyone enjoyed the magical performance of Masha and the Bear at Fall Festival in October. Herb Simpson and his Masonic friends served up a barbecue lunch, visitors toured the treehouse and the Fall Festival Dance capped off a day of family activities. CMCC Honors Home Care Providers Off campus, our Crotched Mountain Community Care (CMCC) office in Portsmouth held an appreciation reception honoring 19 direct care providers who bring home care services to New Hampshire adults who are elderly or who have chronic illness in the Seacoast area. “We do not recognize often enough this work that generally goes unrecognized and is an alternative to nursing home care,” said David Mullholand, speaking at the reception. In addition to individualized care plans, the homemakers, LNAs, nurses and companions offer holiday cheer, kindness and little extras that keep these people, who are often isolated, in touch with the larger community. Over 600 New Hampshire people receive CMCC medical and nursing care, homemaking and respite services through a network that reaches from Nashua and Salem to the Rochester, Keene, Claremont, Manchester and Littleton areas. Helping People to Have a Full Life Supporting our students, clients, their families, one person at a time, at all our facilities is now under the leadership of Mike Shields, our new director of community development and continuing education. Mike’s extensive background in education, disability services and case management for people with disabilities have already contributed to revisions in orientation training for direct care staff, promoting and encouraging more emphasis on person and family-centered practices. We are setting in motion the scenarios for success 10 and 15 years from now by recruiting and retaining staff to reduce turnover as part of the vision and values of the Crotched Mountain work culture. “What motivates each individual is key,” emphasizes Shields, “whether staff or client, each person needs to be recognized for what they do well.” All of us at Crotched Mountain are energized by the changes in seasons, the evolving environment we work in and the continual forward momentum of our programs and services. None of this would be happening without the loyal support of you, our donors and friends. Thank you. MASHA AND THE BEAR A PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER For more than a year, students in Crotched Mountain’s Adaptive Dance Program have practiced their dance moves, held workshops with guest instructors, and watched videos of professional dancers, some of whom use wheelchairs. They dreamed of the day they would don costumes, wait for the curtain to open and dance the story of Masha and the Bear. A Russian folk tale, Masha and the Bear tells of a little girl who loses her way in the woods and is held captive by a bear until she devises a plan to outwit him and return to her family. While sets were painted and assembled and lighting was modified, dance classes segued into rehearsals and dress rehearsals. The excitement was reflected in the flushed faces, intense concentration, giggles and smiles of these young people who shared an experience where they discovered their talents, gained confidence, and made new friends. Eighteen students and 32 staff, friends and volunteers combined their diverse abilities in the production that was presented October 1 and 2 in Carter Hall. Masha and the Bear came to life with student dancers taking the principal roles, dancing to music created expressly for this adaptation with original illustrations projected between the scenes as part of the story narration. Masha and the Bear was a superb performance and we applaud everyone who participated. AXIS Dance Company: Redefining Dance and Disability When the AXIS dancers perform, the audience soon finds it hard to believe that two or more dancers use wheelchairs and two have prosthetic feet. The athletic moves, timing and innovation of the troupe’s repertoire convey a seamless collaboration among dancers of all abilities and a sense of liberation, confidence and joy. The AXIS Dance Company of Oakland, CA, conducted two workshops at Crotched Mountain in partnership with Keene State College’s Redfern Center for the Arts, as part of its east coast tour. AXIS demonstrated to students, staff and dance instructors how they work as a group to create exciting and critically-acclaimed dance. Funding for Crotched Mountain’s Adaptive Dance Program and the AXIS Dance Company workshops was provided by individual donors, the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, Therapy and the Performing Arts -- The Genesis Foundation, The Saint-Gobain Corporation Foundation, and the Expeditions Program of the New England Foundation for the Arts supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, state arts agencies of New England and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. A NEW LIFE FOR JEFF Former athlete continues to enjoy scuba diving, following a traumatic brain injury and rehabilitation at Crotched Mountain. Jeff Morrissey was a hiker, skier and swimmer when his life was changed instantaneously at age twenty-two by a devastating automobile accident. A brain stem injury caused paralysis to his right side and he lost his ability to speak. "Following the accident, we were told that he would probably never walk or talk again,” his mother, Kathy, recalls. Arriving at Crotched Mountain in a wheelchair in 1991, Jeff communicated at first with pen and paper. Gradually, working with his speech therapists, he regained his ability to speak. It was a slow and sometimes frustrating process but Jeff learned to keep his cool when people couldn’t understand him. During the ten years Jeff was at Crotched Mountain’s Brain Injury Center, he became very social and developed an interest in politics. He learned to scuba dive in the therapy pool and a real highlight was completing his first open water dive in Sunset Lake. His physical strength improved and he lived for awhile in the brain injury transition apartment, working on housekeeping skills and meal planning while waiting for a community placement to open. When Jeff was ready to live on his own, he collaborated with Crotched Mountain case manager Mary Griffin to find accessible housing that would enable him to be independent. Transitioning from Crotched Mountain to the community was a daunting task that took four years, due to lack of funding for a community home, but Jeff and Mary never gave up. Today Jeff shares a home with another young man. He has passed his scuba diving written exam, “With flying colors,” according to his mom. He has been to Ireland with his dad, and has taken some computer training. He works out at a gym three days a week and is looking into therapeutic horseback riding. He loves visiting his family. Jeff continues his involvement in politics and campaigned enthusiastically for Senator Kerry whom he has met on several occasions. He goes fishing with his housemate. He has become adept at using his computer and he walks a bit, using crutches, every day. He has a home of his own, a place in his community and a life with many interests! Jeff credits Crotched Mountain with his recovery and smiles broadly when he says, “I’m getting stronger every day!” The Brain Injury Center at Crotched Mountain serves 30 adults with acquired brain injuries providing speech, physical and occupational therapies and a variety of recreational activities toward rehabilitation, socialization and independence goals. Donor support helps people like Jeff progress through recovery from stroke, accidental injuries and other brain trauma to transition to the larger community. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY HAS HANDS-ON HISTORY By Gwen Rumburg Occupational Therapist All people have a desire to be active, to be involved in purposeful activity, and to be a contributing member of society. When a disability or illness prevents that pursuit, an occupational therapist can help relearn old skills, add new skills or adapt or modify current skills. Occupational Therapy helps people with disabilities accomplish their work, pursue their avocations, and participate in activities of daily living. In the 19th century the medical profession began to see that patients with developmental disabilities who engaged in arts or crafts improved their ability to function overall. Theories developed about why and how these patients improved, and over the next century, leaders in OT established hospitals and retreats to treat patients within an “occupational” framework. Following World Wars I and II, “reconstruction aides” (an early term for OTs) treated veterans with disabilities and helped them return to the work force. Technology and treatment methods improved, and OT reached beyond arts and crafts to become a full-fledged medical specialty. Affiliation with the American Medical Association led to examination requirements for licensing. As more became known about the effects of polio, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and stroke, the role of OT expanded and became cemented in the medical model. Today’s OT works with diverse populations in many settings from acute-care psychiatric wards to clients’ homes; from consulting with corporations about preventing work-related injuries, to increasing accessibility and managing well-elderly programs to maintain health. At Crotched Mountain School, OTs work with students so they can better access their educational and residential environments. Skills taught can include using a computer or holding an implement to write and draw, or learning how to participate in cooking, bathing, and grooming. Grasping objects such as eating utensils or books, making buttons and zippers work, and playing games that develop fine motorskills are all part of every student’s “occupation.” Adults with acquired brain injuries are intensely committed to relearning former skills and new occupations. Residents of Crotched Mountain’s Brain Injury Center work with OTs to strengthen their arms and hands and refine their grasp in order to regain skills of daily living crucial to their independence. Donor support provides important funding to art programs at both Crotched Mountain School and our Brain Injury Center as well as a woodworking shop and equipment adaptations designed by our Assistive Technology Department that make computers, tools and utensils accessible to the people with disabilities we serve. Whether it’s engineering, teaching, writing or plumbing, what you do in life is your occupation. THE ROLE OF PHILANTHROPY THOUGHTS ON WHY PEOPLE GIVE It’s all about people helping people. By Robin Connell Abbott Major Gifts Officer In my travels through New England, visiting the many friends of Crotched Mountain, I meet fascinating people each week. Everyone has a story to tell and from time to time I’ll share them in this column, beginning with the following. Together as a Team Growing up in a small Lutheran community in Boston during the Depression, Wilbur didn’t think much about “inspiration.” Families were close, money was tight and philanthropy was not common practice. “Five dollars would buy food for the week!” he told me, “and you became very prudent about money and how it was spent.” Wilbur describes himself as a “throwback to the old days of working hard, living a good clean life, and giving where it’s needed.” Upon moving to New Hampshire in the 1950s and joining a local congregation, Wilbur was very touched by a young minister who inspired him to donate some money to help build an addition to the church. “That really gave them a shot in the arm!” he said, describing his donation as a catalyst that got everyone “excited and fired up,” besides making a huge improvement to the church. Wilbur went to work running a struggling manufacturing company in northern New Hampshire. “Business was tough and it was difficult to hire people at first but we knew that if we concentrated on our product and selling the benefits, as well as the quality, we’d make it.” And make it they did. Within a few years, Wilbur and his team had grown the company in numbers of employees and expanded to different regions of the state and into Vermont. “We took a small company from a struggling idea to a successful, thriving enterprise, but most importantly, we did it together as a team.” Until recently, Wilbur had only heard about the wonderful work of Crotched Mountain. He had friends whose child had a disability, he knew our work was important, and he was, “impressed at what children accomplished at Crotched Mountain.” This past summer, he made his first visit to Crotched Mountain and came away not just impressed, but “inspired.” As he stated, “It’s a big undertaking, and you run an amazing organization.” Crotched Mountain also inspired Wilbur to make a very generous gift that has become the first to be included in our Fund for the Future. This Fund will implement our Strategic Plan for a new school and new communities of mutual support. We are very grateful to Wilbur as well as to the many who make donations of time, personal commitment or funds. And to quote this kind and generous man, “You can’t ever do it alone; you have to do it together as a team. Just look at those Red Sox!” As I told Wilbur when we spoke this week, I am thrilled he feels and understands true inspiration, especially after visiting Crotched Mountain, because he truly has inspired us all. BRIEFLY NOTED HAPPILY EVER AFTER Patricia M. Vincent and James C.Piet, both of Manchester, NH, were married on Sept. 3, 2004 at Crotched Mountain in Greenfield, NH, where Jim attended school from 1964 to 1985. “I first brought Pat to Crotched Mountain on a beautiful day to show her where I had spent a good part of my young life away from my family,” Jim recalls. “Later we decided that this would be the perfect place to have our wedding and to bring our new family together.” Jim, a public relations specialist with NH Vocational Rehabilitation, and Pat, the housing specialist for Granite State Independent Living, have a daughter, Katelin, who is eight. SERV-A-PALOOZA Seventy-five volunteers from The Timberland Company, Stratham, NH, including UNH student recruits and City Year project members, chose Crotched Mountain’s Courtyard Apartments in Manchester, this Fall, for a day of renovation and building projects. The volunteers scraped and painted the interior and exterior, constructed a 30 ft. raised strawberry bed and ten raised flower boxes, washed windows, and left the Courtyard Apartments sparking inside and out. Courtyard Apartments is one of four accessible apartment complexes owned and managed by Crotched Mountain for people with disabilities. Serv-a-palooza is a worldwide community service initiative that unites employees and business partners in collaboration for the community good. Timberland is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium footwear, apparel and accessories for the outdoors. Thank you Timberland SCOUT HONORED David Moulton receives an Heroic Acts award in Scouting from troop leader Jon Eriquezzo for observing and notifying staff, promptly, that a peer was in need of immediate help. David has been a Scout since June when Crotched Mountain Troop 349, Boy Scouts of America, was organized. He joined to make new friends, work hard and have fun. The dozen members of Troop 349 have collected items for a soup kitchen, visited an animal shelter and worked on their individual merit badges. CLINT HILLIARD LECTURE SERIES A gift in memory of Clinton Hilliard, former speech pathologist and head of the speech department at Crotched Mountain, has established a lecture series in his name. One of Hilliard's proteges, Sally Pore, who was a speech-language pathologist at Crotched Mountain from 1979-1986, began the series in September with the presentation "If She's Handicapped, She Must Be..." Recalling the days when she worked with Hilliard, Ms. Pore shared humorous anecdotes about assumptions regarding people with disabilities and how those assumptions affect interpersonal relationships. Following the second presentation in the Clinton Hilliard Series, Cindy Campbell, anchor from Smart Traveler on Channel 5 in Boston, visits with Lindsey Huntoon and her mother, Louise, at Crotched Mountain. Cindy’s talk, One Family’s Experience with Traumatic Brain Injury, described her own sister’s brain injury, continuing recovery and family support. TEMPLE GRANDIN JANUARY SPEAKER Clinton Hilliard Lecture Series Presents Acclaimed Autism Authority Temple Grandin, Ph.D.,has been called the most accomplished and well-known adult with autism in the world. The professor, author and consultant will be featured in an interactive video presentation January 31 at 3:15 PM, at Crotched Mountain’s Carter Hall. An assistant professor of animal science at Colorado State University, Dr. Grandin has won numerous awards, authored four books and four videos and is nationally recognized in the field of animal sciences and agricultural engineering. She has appeared on the Today Show and 20/20 and has been featured in Time magazine, Forbes, US News and World Report and the New York Times. THE NUTCRACKER The students of Crotched Mountain School will present a song, dance and dialogue adaptation of The Nutcracker with traditional music on December 17 at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM directed by Bonnie Arpin and Karen Vincent. Snow date, December 20. Horizons is published by the Office of Advancement, Crotched Mountain Foundation. For more information, please cotnact: 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 removed from our mailing list for fundraising requests supporting Crotched Mountain.