Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina

Education Grant Recipients – 2010

Chris Carraway \| Howell Care Ctr	Promethean (Smart) board as a teaching aid for medically fragile/developmentally disabled children that live at our residential facility. Ages Pre-Kindergarten to 4th grade. Here they are exposed to every content area (Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science). Will help increase student’s attention to lesson, gain new skills through hands-on, and build knowledge in the content areas of language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
Jayne Fisher \| Creekside Elementary	Developmental Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, Other Health Impaired or Severe and Emotional Disabilities. Reading Fundations kits for Levels K-2 but in the kits only one of each item for reading groups of 5-6 children. Kits make the reading program more hands-on and individualized to each of the student’s special needs for communication, vision, cognitive, motor and social/emotional disabilities.
Ellen Moore \| HB Sugg Elem	Provide simple nonfiction texts to reinforce skills in English/language arts, math, science, and social studies for Exceptional Children in Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Scholastic produces two classroom magazines, Scholastic News-Grade 1 and Let’s Find Out, which can fulfill this goal. These high interest weekly issues provide a wealth of information about the student’s world, help vocabulary, practice in phonics and comprehension skills, and application of math skills to real life situations. Scholastic also provides online editions for differentiated reading levels, videos which activate prior knowledge and prepare the student for reading, and mini-vocabulary slide shows which introduce new vocabulary. Big Books, which can be laminated and used in classroom libraries for years to come, are also included. Low cost and highly useful!
Rhonda Phipps \| Wahl-Coates Elem	Motor delays, verbal communication disabilities, some visually impaired, cognitively impaired. Pair objects and pictures with words to either look at or touch. Planning on using objects paired with popular children’s literature to increase vocabulary and practice communication skills. Able to choose an object that is requested, make choices between objects and simply become familiar with the objects to increase vocabulary. Also allow parents to check out these materials to use at home with their children. Funding will allow big books and the objects to represent the stories to carry out this project.
Charles Lowman & Elizabeth Strathern Pitt County HUGS Program	H.U.G.S. is a component of EC Preschool Services. program consists of four classrooms with 24-32 children, ages 3-5 years who have autism and related spectrum disorders. Plan to provide educational resources to support activities of daily living, community integration, increased awareness of individualized strengths, interests, and needs. The equipment and supplies will be available to all students on-site, and used within the context of their daily schedule. The project will provide opportunities to confront their challenges, develop a greater confidence through conquering fears within a secure environment.
Wesley Trump \| Sam D Bundy	Intellectually Disabled Moderate benefit from high interest/ low vocabulary readers to practice their increasing reading skills to their parents. funding for two sources of “at home” reading materials. “Keep Books” from OSU have repetition, large print and fit smaller hands. We Are Authors! books made right here in class teachers take pictures of the students involved in special activities such as science experiments, class picnics, cooking activities, etc. Together as a class choose pictures for books and everyone helps formulate the story that goes along with the pictures. The students cannot seem to wait to take these home and read them to their parents. With an additional class camera, the students themselves would be able to learn to take pictures of activities in our classroom and download them to use in our class books. In order to make these books last, we laminate the pages before we send them home to be used over and over again.
Bobbie Wood \| Benson Elem	K-4 cross-categorical exceptional children’s classroom. Students have different needs and learn differently. Plan to reinforce the concepts they have learned with hands-on access, visual representation, and technology. Integrating Leapster 2’s into center activities. It would also increase motivation in my learners, allowing my students a different way to view and explore concepts and skills we have learned and will be learning. Able to work independently in centers while applying critical thinking and problem solving skills through the use of the software programs purchased for these devices.

2010 Education Grant Application

The Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina, provides emotional support and resource information to families of children with disabilities, chronic illness, premature birth and to parents who have experienced the death of a child

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS:

2010 FSN-ENC EDUATION GRANTS (formerly Mini-grants)

The Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina (FSN-ENC) Education Grant Program is designed to provide funding to the educational community for equipment and/or materials to help a child or children with special needs. This year we will accept grants up to $500. The grant selection is very competitive so please be as specific as possible in your application.

Grants will be awarded for equipment or materials to be used in the classroom and/or at home by a child or children with special needs. Selection criteria will include evidence of need; other funding sources attempted; number of children/families that will benefit; potential for reuse of equipment; and how the proposal relates to the mission of FSN-ENC.

The application deadline is October 22, 2010. Applications are to be completed in MS Word format using the Application Form linked here and email as an attached file to: fsnenc@gmail.com

For questions or to obtain further information, you may contact FSN of ENC at 252-328-9332, or by mail at:

CDSA, Attn: Education Grant Committee

Irons Bldg., Oglesby Drive

Greenville, NC 27858

FSN of ENC Education Grant Committee will review applications. Funding decisions will be made and applicants will be notified by November 15. If you are a recipient of an Education Grant, you will be required to attend the FSN-ENC preview party free of charge at the Greenville Convention on the evening of December 3, 2010. Checks will be awarded at that time and photographs taken. Award recipients agree to being interviewed and photographed, and to submit a brief year-end report summarizing how the funds were used.

IF YOU RECEIVED AN AWARD IN 2009 YOU MUST SUBMIT A SUMMARY REPORT BY OCTOBER 1, 2010 TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE 2010 FUNDING CYCLE.

Heart Award Recipients

Ricky and Beverly Hines – Given the Family Support Network of Eastern NC Heart Award for their outstanding contribution and encouragement to families in eastern North Carolina, during and after their son’s hospital stay in NICU at Pitt County Memorial Hospital.		Joan Adams – Given the Family Support Network of Eastern NC Heart Award for her work with families who had a child born prematurely.

Mitchell Picton Awarded $1000 Pitt Community College Scholarship

Mitchell Picton receives scholarship from family support network of eastern nc

The Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina is proud to announce that Mitchell Picton has received a $1000 scholarship. Mitchell will be attending Pitt Community College in the fall of 2010 and is a graduate of Farmville Central High School. His future goals are to work as a game warden or wildlife officer after college.

Mitchell Picton has two things that most 19 years old don’t have: a clear vision of what he wants to do with his life and autism. Driven by a love of the outdoors, Mitchell is preparing for a career in Wildlife Law Enforcement. A hunter and a fisherman, Mitchell talks candidly about the environment and his desire to protect it so that future generations can enjoy it.

Mitchell is currently enrolled at Pitt Community College. His classes include Criminal Justice, Math, Computer Skills, and College Student Success. Upon completion of his studies, he will enroll in the Basic Law Enforcement Training Academy for his certification in law enforcement. He hopes to then be accepted to the 4 month North Carolina Wildlife Resource Officer program to finish his preparation for his chosen career: a NC Wildlife Resource Officer.

Mitchell admits that school can be “stressful” but he also acknowledges the fact that it is a necessary step to complete his life goals. He keeps his eye on the race and takes it one day at a time. With his focus and commitment, I have no doubt that he will succeed.

Those of you that hunt and fish, keep an eye out. One day in the future, you may very well have the privilege of meeting this remarkable young man. Mitchell is living proof that a handicap may slow you down, but it in no way has to kill a dream!

Submitted by: Tommy Pate

Allison Warren Receives 2010 Angel Boberg Webb Memorial Scholarship

Allison Warren Family Support Network of Eastern Carolina Scholarship Congratulations to Allison Warren, recipient of the 2010 Angel Boberg Webb Memorial Scholarship from the Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina.

Allison is a senior at East Carolina University, majoring in Special Education.

Interview with Allison Warren – October 8, 2010

Meet Allison Warren, the 2010 recipient of the Angel Boberg-Webb Scholarship for senior college students who plan to teach children with special needs.

Allison is a senior in the College of Education at ECU and is a gracious, articulate young woman with a goal to serve others. She comes from a long line of teachers. Her Mother taught 3^rd grade and became an elementary school principal. Her Maternal Grandmother taught reading and might be considered a pioneer in grasping the needs of children who learn differently.

I asked Allison what led her to choose the path of teaching children with special needs. “My neighbors in Beaufort, N.C. had a little boy my age with chronic health problems including dependence on a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. We became friends and used sign language to communicate. I used to read to him when I was a child. He was a special person with a unique light coming from his eyes. This family and child made an impact on me.”

Allison is interning one day a week in a public school in Pitt County this semester and is looking forward to teaching in this school on a daily basis next semester. She has a passion for elementary age children and will be qualified to teach in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Her long term goal is to have a permanent job teaching special needs children and she may pursue a Master’s degree. As she says, “One must keep learning.”

I wondered what Allison thought would help her most to be a successful teacher. She said, “I think it takes a team of special educators to make a difference in a child’s improvement. One person cannot do it alone. I take pride in my education from ECU and am very fortunate.”

This young college woman is an inspiration to us, and it is evident from our conversation that she will make a difference. The Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina is proud to help her toward her educational goals.

Kathleen Previll, MD

Board member FSN-ENC

2009 Pitt County School Education Grant Recipients

Tiffany Johnson EC Teacher Hope Middle	Five non-verbal students with various disabilities, some with limited vision and hearing. Classroom with assistive technology communication devices. Students communicate throughout the day using switches, Go Talk devices, Cheap Talk devices, as well as other communication devices. In the classroom, we have various computer programs, such as the Start-to-Finish Literacy Starters that students use independently to access the computer using a switch. Something missing is sensory input devices which are age appropriate. During transitional times, students could access sensory input devices. Students be served academically and also gain more independence in the classroom. Could also gain more freedom and choices at home. Parents could see a student using a switch to access the Starlight device, and it could be used at home to access other adapted things, such as a mixer to help a student participate during meal preparation, as well as CD players to allow students to pick something they would like to listen to. The sensory input devices requested will give students more independence.
Vicki Saunders MR Teacher Bundy Elementary	Additional reading materials for 10 students with varying disabilities, 2 non-verbal and 1 hearing and vision impaired. All of the students are struggling readers and are working on phonics skills. Use a child-friendly, multi-sensory system reading program called Letterland for teaching children to read, write and spell. This program has helped most of the students in our classroom learn their letters and sounds. It has friendly letter characters which provide strong visual memory cues so children learn and retain letter/sound correspondences. All the students love this reading program. EC purchased the teacher’s manual, three computer programs, vocabulary and picture code cards, bare essentials to help get started. Items requested will enhance the program. The reading books will help students tie their phonic skills to words in the printed text. They will, also, take the Sentence Copymasters and readers home to share with their families.
Traci Crayton EC Teacher Ayden Elementary	Communication materials for use by EC teacher and Speech Pathologist with 15 students in a Intellectually Disabled – Moderate Class. These students all have special communication needs, one of them is non-verbal and two have limited verbal skills. The hard laminator purchased will help these students communicate to their teachers, peers, and other people throughout the school environment. It will give these students a way to communicate their feelings, wants, and needs through the use of pictures symbols. The teacher has a software program that will print picture symbols for these students. The laminator will make the pictures more easily accessible throughout the school environment, as well as at home. Without the use of this laminator, the picture symbols have to be replaced frequently. The laminated picture symbols will also be used by parents at home to reinforce the use of this way of communication. The Speech Pathologist will use the communication symbols during her speech sessions to reinforce what is being taught in the classroom and vice versa and to make a picture symbols book that can be posted throughout the classroom and travel to various locations. The parents will be able to tell me of any additional items that will be useful for these students at home and I can laminate the pictures for them also. This will help with communication between the families and school as well as increase the student’s communication.
Paula Dowd EC Asst Coord Pitt County Schools	Pitt County Schools and the Department of Social Services would pair up again in 2010 to sponsor an event called THE REAL WORLD for the purpose of teaching independent living skills to high-risk students. Over half are EC students with disabilities and others are part of the DSS Foster Care Program. Previous experience in Pitt and other counties in the state has been positive. The event allows participating students to find out what it actually takes to live on a salary, based on their interests and desired educational level. They are given the challenge to take their salary and develop a budget based on every day needs (such as food, electricity, rent, etc) and evaluate occupational choices based on their chosen lifestyle. Students participate in a career assessment and learn about writing/checks, applications, insurance, and budgeting using a set salary based on their expected level of educational training. Using their salary, youths obtain housing, transportation, insurance, and purchase entertainment while staying within their budget. Funding is requested for door prizes to be given throughout the day that promote independence in daily living and self-help skills (calculators, pencils, packets, door prizes). Funding will also provide breakfast items, drinks, lunch and snacks. At the end of the day, the students complete an event survey that ‘tests’ what they learned and asks for feedback about their participation. Adults complete another type of questionnaire asking for ideas for improvement. The program is a transitional activity that teaches functional daily living skills. Program content can be correlated with instruction in the Standard Course of Study and the Occupational Course of Study (depending on the cognitive level and course of study each student has chosen). Not only will this activity assist in the classroom, but it provides practical experience of what it takes to live in the ‘real world’. The families will benefit by having children who are independent and are aware of the importance of completing their education. They will have a realistic vision of what is considered a fixed cost under the area of needs (food, clothing, medical/dental and savings), Flexible costs under the other area of needs (loans, housing, transportation, etc) and flexible costs under wants (insurance, loans, cable, pets, electronics, etc.).

Graci – Our Hero

Graci - Our Hero Hello, my name is Graci and I was born with Hemifacial Micorsomia.

My mom is the Parent Coordinator for FSN-ENC in Wilson County. FSN-ENC allows my family to share our experience with others.

We also want to say thank you for all the support we have received from so many people. It meant a lot to my family especially this past year when I had surgery in California.

Thomas and Daniel – Our Heroes

Thomas and Daniel - Our Heroes My name is Thomas and this is my little brother Daniel.

When I was two years old, I was diagnosed with Autism and a month later, my little brother was born. My mommy got in touch with the Family Support Network of Eastern NC in Johnston County and found many resources for me. She also met another mom that could relate to what we were going through.

My mom is still involved with FSN-ENC and now they are helping her with my little brother. He is almost two years old now, has a speech delay, and needs therapy to help with feeding.

My mom is very thankful for all FSN-ENC has done for us. Thanks!

Sasha – Our Hero

Sasha - Our Hero My name is Sasha, and I was born in February 2009, at 27 weeks gestation, weighing 900 grams.
I want to thank FSN-ENC for visiting with my mom while I was in the hospital and for telling her about Early Intervention.

Even when I was re-admitted to the Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit my mom counted on your being there for us. Mom would have the nurses page the Parent Coordinator so she would know we needed to see someone.

Thank you for everything you have done this past year to make our hospitalizations easier.

Robbie – Our Hero

Robbie - Our Hero My name is Robbie and my birthday was in August. I am one year old. My mom and dad met the FSN-ENC staff when I was born. They gave them information about Down Syndrome and Early Intervention.

Mom and Dad have learned a lot of new information by attending workshops and other groups sponsored by the Family Support Network of Eastern NC. For over a year now FSN-ENC has had ongoing communication with my family as we learn about so many different things. Thank you for being there for us.