HORIZONS
A Newsletter for Families and Friends of Crtoched Mountain
October 2001
Vol. 1, No. 3

Outpatient Clinic Opens For Business; Video-Conference Center New, Too
Crotched Mountain continues to dynamically create and expand its resources and expertise to serve
people with disabilities of all ages.
Most recently, we opened a new outpatient clinic on our Greenfield campus.
Though Crotched Mountain has provided outpatient services since the opening of our rehabilitation
center in 1953, our primary mission has been to provide educational and rehabilitative services 
for children and adults with disabilities who are residents on our campus.
With some reorganization and the completion in May of a new $1.8 million Outpatient Services 
Center, we culminated a three-year planning effort to bring Crotched Mountain's wealth of 
clinical expertise to families in area communities.
"Our new outpatient center allows us to grow and centralize our outpatient services in a setting 
that is wonderfully patient and family-centered," said Michael Weil, Psy.D., vice president of 
Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center.
Services available at the Outpatient Clinic and other facilities on campus include aquatic 
therapy, audiology, developmental pediatrics, driver evaluation and training, dysphasia 
(treatment of swallowing disorders), occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, sensory 
integration therapy, speech-language pathology, and wheelchair seating and mobility.
"This project, indeed, has been a team effort," said Major Wheelock, president of Crotched 
Mountain, at the opening ceremonies.
"Our architects, Lavallee/Brensinger of Manchester, NH, and our construction firm, MacMillin 
Company of Keene, NH, did a marvelous job in transforming Carter Memorial Meeting House into a 
modern facility that significantly increases our capability to assist people with disabilities 
to achieve optimal growth and independence."
"We created a space that would be welcoming to both children and adults," explains Kathy Thonis, 
director of Outpatient Services, "a relaxed, homey atmosphere that accomodates our clinical needs."
The outpatient clinic is staffed by 17 professionals and features a convenient parking area and 
entrance, a family-friendly reception area, five treatment rooms, a therapy gym, an examination 
room, and an audiology suite equipped with a soundproof booth and a hearing aid repair shop.
In addition to first-class facilities for Outpatient Services, the renovated building includes 
the Carter Hall conference center that is used for large group meeting and special events, such 
as graduations and the Crotched Mountain Gala.
In addition, the conference center is equipped with interactive video-conferencing technology to 
enable clinicians to provide consultations and training to professionals in rural communities 
throughout New Hampshire or to any locality in the world that is linked to the network.
"This technology," points out Ludwig von Hahn, M.D., developmental pediatrician, "will support 
such initiatives as our School Partnership Program, which provides on-site medical, educational, 
and therapeutic evaluations to assist local schools in serving students with complex 
developmental and behavioral disorders."
Crotched Mountain also is making the facility available to Monadnock area charities and service 
organizations and other events consistent with our mission.


From the President
"Feel the excitement!" someone once exclaimed.
As I travel throughout Crotched Mountain's many divisions and departments, I continually am 
exhilarated by the exemplary commitment, dedication, and compassion I witness.
And when I am in various parts of the state speaking at civic organizations or meeting 
governmental, educational, and community leaders, my spirit is bolstered all the more when what 
I know is confirmed: that we are better known than we realize.
For much of Crotched Mountain's lifetime-more than 65 years now-there seemed to be a need to 
"keep to oneself."
In recent years, however, we have realized that Crotched Mountain no longer is a best kept secret.
Moreover, we have come to accept that our unique expertise is not only sought after, but also 
coveted.
To share our wealth of knowledge and expertise, we have embarked on initiatives to expand our 
services.
In this issue, please read about the expansion of our Outpatient Services.
In the previous issue, I hope you read about Community Care's expansion and the high praise and 
confidence it has received by the State of New Hampshire.
Also in this issue is a feature story about Assistive Technology showing how our expertise in 
adaptive technology and wheelchair assessment and mobility has expanded and is reaching out in 
the region.
And in future issues you will learn about other initiatives, including SupportNet, video 
conferencing, and our School Partnership Program, as well as some other exciting projects in the 
planning stages.
Soon, when you visit, you will see another new dimension to our visibility.
A year ago we unveiled our new logo and a new graphic identity program.
Within the next few months all new signage (the experts call it "wayfinding") will be installed 
on our Greenfield campus roads and buildings to make it easier to find your way around.
New signage also will be installed at all of our community locations.
Crotched Mountain, indeed, is a tremendously dynamic, diverse, and complex organization growing 
at an impressive rate. 
In the past year, we have added a hundred new employees to grow to 750 clinicians, care managers,
and staff members who serve more than 2,000 people throughout New Hampshire, New England, and 
Western New York every day.
As you know, with growth, particularly rapid growth, comes new challenges.
Among them is our need for more registered nurses and certified nursing assistants, as well as 
other qualified health, rehabilitation, and education staff.
We need your help. 
If you know of great people, why not steer them toward Crotched Mountain?
We'll appreciate it.
Another way you can help is through volunteer support, whether in Greenfield, Portsmouth, Derry, 
Manchester, Keene, Albany, Whitefield, Portland, or elsewhere.
Remind your friends that Crotched Mountain is always looking for friendly, enthusiastic people to
offer their help and expertise.
We also are in need of your charitable support to ensure that we do not compromise the quality of
our services in any way.
I can assure you that we will be good stewards of your donations and put them to work where 
needed.
While we see our successes daily in all those we work with, we need your reinforcement that we 
are doing the best we can.
With all of this support, we can continue to give progress and hope to people with disabilities.
Join me in "feeling the excitement!"
Major Wheelock
President

Special Events
The 8th Annual "Reach for the Top" Triathlon raised $20,000 for the Brain Injury rehabilitaton 
program for adults.
Some 200 athletes swam a half mile, biked 28 miles, and ran a 5k road race.
In addition to a fund-raising goal, the Triathlon is to promote awareness of the increasing 
number of rain injuries there are each year.

More than 200 people attended the annual Crotched Mountain Gala held in the newly renovated 
Carter Hall.
Nearly $60,000 was raised for Crotched Mountain programs.
Special thanks to Gala Committee members Claire Bean, Jaffrey; Bonnie Bennett, Jaffrey; John 
Dinkel, Jr., Milford; Marcia Krause, Peterborough; Dorothy Peterson, Peterborough; Michael and 
Laura Redmond, Jaffrey; Janet Reilly, Peterborough, Audrey White, Peterborough; Andrea and Peter 
Wensberg, Greenfield; Lucy Bradley, Keene; Board of Trustee members Cynthia Yuknewicz, Amherst, 
and Charlton McVeagh, Marlborough; and Major Wheelock, president of Crotched Mountain.

Assistive Technology Unit Forges Way To Innovative Means To Accessibility
Crotched Mountain has always led the way in wheelchair seating and other adaptive devices to 
promote improved independence.
Recently, Crotched Mountain made a major commitment in this area with a new full-time director, 
expanded space and equipment, and the opening of the outpatient services clinic.
Assistive technology is a relatively new science that focuses on a broad range of devices, 
services, strategies, and practices that are conceived and applied to solve problems faced by 
individuals with disabilities.
Crotched Mountain's management team eagerly promotes developing innovative ways to address client
needs.
To that end, a year ago Michael Daniels was appointed the director of our expanding Assistive 
Technology Unit (ATU).
Joining Crotched Mountain with verve coupled with an impressive background in computer technology,
Mike has spawned new horizons for providing assistive services and equipment.
"While in the past, the principal focus was on wheelchairs and ease of mobility, the new 
era-which certainly continues this priority-is aggressively assessing and addressing important 
'environmental' concerns.
In our context, environmental means switches, such as those that open and close doors or operate 
mouse movements," points out Mike.
He also said the new era means developing a breadth and depth of relationships with service 
providers to assure they are being responsive to clients' needs.
"We provide a powerful service because of our broad range of expertise," said Mike.
"The variety of services we provide range from limiting noise or sensitivity in a switch for a 
client to us," Mike explained, "to full evaluations, recommendations, and installation of devices
and equipment."
Though the obvious equipment (wheelchairs, adaptive keyboards and switches) gains the attention, 
what is not apparent is the variety of interaction in which ATU staff members engage with many 
disciplines-including teachers in the school, clinicians, and therapists, the Brain Injury Center,
and in working with Crotched Mountain's community programs, including the Outpatient Clinic, 
Community Care, Community Partnership, and Residential Services.
What may sound like an easy tweak here and there actually requires intensive interaction, for 
example, with a client's team members.
The tweaking means fully understanding clients' requirements, such as range of motion, spasticity 
(spasms), vision, educational needs, and other capabilities, such as communication devices that 
transform discrete speech into continuous speech.
All involve several different clinicians.
The demand for such assistive tools is infinite.
"A lot of problem solving is required," he explained.
"Our goal," said Mike, "is to provide total access for our students and clients, from access to 
computers to testing, improvising, and developing new devices.
It's exciting!"
Staff members are excited, too, with the changes taking place.
Teacher Karen Ricciardi offered, "A major achievement is that we as teachers have been delighted 
that each week ATU comes into the school and discusses with us our needs and concerns, and they 
quickly respond to supporting and working with us to provide counsel about new equipment or 
software to better serve our students."
Kristen Baldyga, occupational therapist, said she is delighted by what the new era of assistive 
technology brings to her.
"I see excitement and amazement in the children I work with.
In August, I began working with Jenny, who has limited perception and fine motor skills,
With an adaptive keyboard, this smart and determined young woman in a short time has made 
gratifying progress.
She's thrilled," said Kristen.
"And so am I."
Along with providing many devices is the demanding responsibility for maintaining all of those 
devices on a regular basis.
Before Mike joined Crotched Mountain, a formal tracking system of equipment did not exist.
In less than a year, Mike has created an inventory of more than 400 devices (such as 50 power 
chairs and scooters, dozens of adaptive computer keyboards and mouses, and more than a hundred 
different types of software, and hundreds of switches that perform a multitude of tasks, from 
opening doors to raising and lowering window blinds).
He also developed a tracking system (a sign-out/sign-in protocol) so that he knows where and how 
most of the equipment is being used.
In addition, Mike is hopeful of gaining a whole new realm of clients to serve within a 25 mile 
radius of Crotched Mountain-from throughout the Monadnock region as well as stretching into the 
areas of Concord, Manchester, and Nashua, NH.
It's an ambitious goal.
"But we have so much to offer, and we want to be sure that people who could use our vast array 
of expertise in assistive technology have that opportunity.
Many people with disabilities do not know how much is available to them to assist in their daily 
needs," said Mike.
An exciting realm of innovative ways and endeavors to assist people with disabilities is occuring 
daily at Crotched Mountain.

'The Spirit of Crotched Mountain Is Instilled In My Heart'
Brent Reagan, Class of 1993, Speaks at School Graduation
Thirteen years to the day, June 19, that Brent Reagan was in an automobile accident in which he 
was in a coma for eight and a half weeks, he stood before Crotched Mountain School graduates to 
praise his high school alma mater.
"During the three and a half years I resided at Crotched Mountain," said Brent, "I received 
encouragement from friends, family and staff to help me through all the good times as well as the
bad times."
"Activities that were once second nature prior to my accident became challenging tasks," he said.
Today, he has graduated from college, and he recently received his driver's license.
"Never in my wildest dreams would I have been able to do half of what I told you today without 
the help I received at Crotched Mountain.
"Although I am no longer a student at Crotched Mountain, the spirit of this place is instilled in 
my heart."
New school principal Archie Campbell pointed out how appropriate it was for Brent to be the 
speaker because the graduation theme was "Let Them Shine."
"Today," he said, "we show off our diamonds.
Each student shines in his or her own unique way."
The graduation, held in the newly renovated Carter Hall, was filled to capacity with a standing 
room only audience to witness and applaud the 16 students who were graduated.
The school choir, under the direction of music teacher Bonnie Arpin, moved many to tears of joy 
for the graduates with the singing of "Looking Up To You," "Wings," and "Soar."
Other highlights of the commencement were Elizabeth Thomas-Train's comments about her pride for 
her son Joe, who was one of the 16 graduates.
"You can count us forever as partners in our parenting," she said in her praise for the ways in 
which Crotched Mountain became a partner in helping to prepare Joe and his family for the years 
ahead.
Crotched Mountain President Major Wheelock emphasized that the special day was "commencement," 
for "It signifies a beginning of exciting new things for each of the students we celebrate today.
You have whatever it takes to make it at whatever you choose to do."
A reception for the graduates was held following the ceremonies.

Bonnie Arpin Has A Song In Her Heart
Bonnie Arpin, the music teacher in Crotched Mountain School, is relatively new here, but she has 
made a tremendous impact in a few short years.
To know Bonnie is to know boundless energy.
You may have heard about the school musicals she's produced - last year's "Christmas Carol," and 
the previous year's "Annie."
Perhaps you've heard about taking her kids to give instrumental concerts in local schools, her 
fervor to energize the drama club, and if you haven't heard her beautiful solo voice, then you 
need to meet Bonnie.
"I love teaching here.
Every day is challenging in a very exciting and meaningful way.
The support and encouragement I get is wonderful, and my students are delightful.
It's very gratifying," said Bonnie.
Bonnie has stunning energy to rally volunteers to help in all facets in the production of the 
musicals.
And if you attend any of her music classes, her energy is no less.
Attending her classes or helping her in a musical production, or watching her direct and sing 
with her chorus cannot help but make you smile.
Her enthusiasm is contagious.
Her patience is saintly. 
And her energy is boundless.
And, as with every teacher in the School, her love and dedication to her students is exhilarating.
But she has some needs to better serve her students.
Like most teachers, Bonnie has a "wish list."
Hers is musical equipment and other supplies that would make the music program even more special:
A grand piano, "which we desperately need for our performances and for guest performances in 
Carter Hall."
Musical instruments for her classroom, especially violins, an electric bass guitar, "but I'll 
take any instrument for the kids to actually hold, which is so much better than just having 
pictures."
Choir robes.
"Our current ones are in short supply and not in the best of shape."
For more information on ways to contribute to Bonnie's wish list, contact Michael Redmond, 
Vice President for Advancement, Crotched Mountain Foundation at 503-547-3311, ext 404, or write 
to him at Crotched Mountain.

Puzzled By The New Tax Law?
Like most people, you are probably reading and hearing-and scratching your head-about recent 
changes in the federal tax law.
You may be wondering what it all means and whether you need to sit down with an attorney or CPA 
to see how it affects you and your estate plans.
You may also be asking, "How do these recent changes relate to my charitable giving-now and in 
the future?
Changes in the tax code, as well as major developments in our personal lives, provide impetus to 
stop and take stock of our gift and estate plans.
These are "opportunities" to review and revise.
The development staff at Crotched Mountain Foundation wants to encourage you to dust off your 
will and other estate planning documents in light of these recent changes.
For your own peace of mind and for the protection of your family, we urge you to review your 
plans with a qualified estate-planning professional to make sure they are compatible with the law
and that they adequately reflect your wishes.
We also want to offer you a free brochure that explains the most important changes in the tax law 
and how these changes may affect your charitible giving.
Simply email michael.redmond@crotchedmountain.org or call our toll free number: 800-394-3311.
In addition to the printed material, we are happy to visit with you personally to chat about the 
new tax law and about some of the exciting and rewarding options for making planned gifts to 
Crotched Mountain.
We are eager to assist you with helpful information and personal assistance, not only when tax 
changes occur, but anytime during the year.
Our service is confidential and complimentary.
Please contact us at your convenience.
Michael Redmond
Vice President for Advancement

A Miraculous Discovery
The Saturday Evening Post in its March 24, 1956, edition called Crotched Mountain "Medicine 
Mountain," pointing out the extraordinary accomplishments achieved here.
The achievements since then, indeed, are legion.
Recently, the yelps of joy could be heard across the mountain when our new vision specialist, 
Rene Paquin, made a remarkable discovery about Will, an 18-year-old student.
When Will arrived at Crotched Mountain two years ago, everyone knew-or thought they knew-that 
Will was blind.
Will, who has cerebral palsy, all his life had been considered to be completely blind.
When he came here, he was totally dependent on his aides.
After talking with Will's team members and carefully observing and asking Will a variety of key 
questions, Rene began conducting a series of tests.
He discussed his suspicion with other team members.
Team members became excited with the stunning possibility that Will has some vision.
With Rene's guidance, each collaborated to provide him with specific information about their 
observations in working with Will.
According to Rene, Will can make our shadows and large shapes.
Rene says his sight is equivalent to that of an infant.
With this information, the team has focused on creative ideas to motivate Will to "push the 
envelope."
And the results have been astonishing.
Will has progressed from being totally dependent to achieving a new level of confidence and 
personal responsibility.
His social skills are expanding.
Will now operates his own power chair and is learning to discriminate objects and to understand 
his orientation to north, south, east, and west.
He is no longer fearful of taking risks to travel on his own.
Recently, Will moved to the independent living apartment on campus where he will be able to put 
these skills into practice.
"It is for us to pray not for tasks equal to our powers, but for powers equal to our tasks," 
said Helen Keller.

As a service to our readers, please write to us at our Greenfield address if you wish to have 
your name removed from the list to receive fund-raising requests supporting Crotched Mountain in
the future.
In the event you contact us with this request, all reasonable efforts will be taken to comply
with your request.