Monthly Archives: January 2017

Please Don’t Tell Me You’re Sorry

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by Brittany Reiger

As time goes on and I add more kids to Team Spectrum, I hear the phrase “I’m Sorry” more.

My kids are overboard quirky and I do not make them “hide” that. So, I find myself telling strangers quite often that all three are autistic. I have no shame in it, and I feel if people know, they will understand and be more accepting. Then, I wait for it…what they’ll say. Most of the time it’s “I’m sorry.” I sometimes get “WOW!” There are also the times people just stare at me like a deer in the headlights and do not know what to say.

I get it.

Before I was thrown into the land of autism, I would not have known what to say either. I too may have looked like a deer in the headlights.

So, I am here to help you come up with different things to say.

First and foremost, there is no need to be sorry. I am not sorry. They are not sorry. Is our life tough? Sure! Do they make it that way on purpose? No. Do I have the slightest idea what I’m doing? Nope. Is my head spinning every day? Absolutely.

As a matter of fact, there are days I think I should haul myself to the doctor and get myself the same happy liquid Benelli is on.

But here’s why you shouldn’t be sorry..

My kids are probably the coolest people I know. I may be biased, but they are absolutely kick ass kids. I don’t always feel I deserve to be their Mom because they are so cool. The reason parenting them is hard and I have my days, is because they speak a different language than I do. As a matter of fact, they have a completely different brain than I do. I am really hard on myself all the time about whether or not I am doing the right thing for them. I am sorry that I probably fail them or do not understand them enough, but I am NEVER sorry for who they are.

They have taught me things a typical child wouldn’t. They have taught me patience, humbleness, devotion, hard work, and perseverance. They taught me to be selfless and to be a good person. They have taught me words aren’t a necessary thing, all you really need in this world is love. They have taught me there is not a one size fits all for intelligence. They have taught me to forgive more easily. They have taught me that you do not need to worry so much about everything. Most importantly, they taught me that it is in fact imperfection that is beautiful.

My children will love you no matter who you are. Benelli’s best friend is a homeless man who plays the bongos on the streets of Philly. She doesn’t care about his past or who he is, she loves him because he includes her, he remembers her. I have watched countless families turn their heads away from this man and tell their children not to look, while mine are having a rock out session with him on the streets with his bongos.

My kids do not care what is cool. They do not care about the latest toy craze. They do not care when we walk through the toy section. My kids would be perfectly happy to play with a stick or a leaf.

When we are outside, they look to the sky squealing and flapping, the biggest smiles you could ever imagine. I wish I could see what the world looked like to them. How amazing would it be if we all saw our Earth that way? Maybe we would treat it better.

They teach me lessons every single day. They do not hate, they do not fear. They love, they accept.

So, do not be sorry for me. In fact, I may feel sorry for you. I may feel sorry that you have not had the same opportunities as me to see the beauty in the world being guided by some of the most beautiful souls to bless our planet.

So, next time someone tells you that their child/children are autistic, give them the biggest smile you can and ask them if there is anything you can do to make their life better. Because even through the hardships, even on those days that we can’t muster anymore strength, we get through from the beauty our kids have shown us.

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Memories from a Friendship Academy Graduate

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by Grace O’Brien

Grace attended the Friendship Academy from the age of 2 1/2 until kindergarten. Today, Grace is an honor student in the sixth grade. Over the winter break, she came to Easter Seals to volunteer. She also wrote her very first blog post about her experience in the Friendship Academy.

Friendship Academy is where I went to preschool. I loved it there. While I was there, I made many new friends. I also learned how to spell many words such as red and yellow.

I loved all of my teachers. Some days in after care, I did yoga! One day in after care I painted my nails. During the summer camp, I learned about camping. I also learned about the clean-up song, which I used to use with my friends when I was little. I occasionally start singing it without even knowing it.

While I was there, I learned a lot about diversity. I learned how to treat others. If I hadn’t gone to the Friendship Academy, I would be a completely different person.

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Grace performing in her holiday show at the Friendship Academy

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Grace taking pictures of the holiday show this year

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Grace helping the music therapist Grace with the program

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Grace with one of her classmates, Cara, from Friendship Academy

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Easter Seals of SEPA: A Leader In Developing Communication Using Eye Gaze Technology With Young Children!

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by Sandy Masayko

In November 2016,  Joy S. McGowan, Sandy Masayko, and Melissa Spada presented a seminar on “Developing Communication in Young Children Using Eye-Gaze Technology” at the national convention of the America Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Philadelphia.  The presentation was accepted for the conference after competitive peer review.

Easter Seals of SEPA provides the Assistive Technology resources and support to evaluate and implement eye tracking technology for communication for children who have limited speech production and motor difficulties. Our Easter Seals team presented training guidelines to determine candidacy for successful use of an eye-tracking system.

Angels Without Wings

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by Michael Murphy

Being a teacher you expect to have an impact. You expect the children you teach to at some point carry a couple of your lessons into the rest of their lives. This can be a difficult idea when you consider a preschool or primary grade student’s perspective. As a preschool teacher I battle for attention in a steel cage versus SpongeBob Squarepants, Mickey Mouse and a plethora of Disney Princesses for the World Heavyweight Champion of THE BRAIIIN… and sometimes I come out on top. Every once in a while I walk away with a victory. I get that it is never a routine victory, and that’s the joy of teaching. It is not often, however that a teacher expects to reach the parents in the same way.

At Easter Seals Bucks County Division, our Friendship Academy parents often pick up their students right from the classroom (as opposed to waiting in a car line or waiting for dismissal at the door). This offers us a unique opportunity to wrap up the day, share some praise and concerns about their child and creates the welcoming family community that we have established so well.

During an encounter with a parent after their child’s particularly rough day, one of several in recent history, I shared my concern:

“They did great with X, Y and Z but could use some extra help with A. Can I share some strategies with you?”

The look of joy, relief and grace poured from the parent. “I thank you. You do it, I don’t know how you do it, but you do it. They are a different kid since they started here. They clean up at home Because “Mom Mr. Mike said so.”

I’ve gotten compliments before, people notice what teachers do sometimes, but then mom stopped and reached out and said “this place is amazing. I love it. Everyone says hello, they smile, they ask how I am, they all know (child’s) name. You don’t know, Mr Mike. I come in here and I am so happy. You are angels without wings here. You may not see your wings, but I see them. All of you have them.”

I’ve gotten compliments before. I’ve gotten hugs and high fives, I’ve seen parents tear up with gratitude. In this sense I know I am lucky. Not every teacher gets to hear or see the kinds of things, achievements progress milestones that we get to see at Easter Seals. Not every teacher gets to be part of such a team as Easter seals. The parent went on to talk about the staff and administrators at the front desk who greet them both by name each day. She also discussed teachers, therapists and teaching assistants from the building that share smiles and praise her child’s walking feet or listening ears. She crosses fellow parents who share a wave or some words as they hustle to another stop or errand.

I’ve never heard any of these people set goals to make people smile, but it is just something we do here at Easter Seals. Something ingrained in our approach and our routine; to be thankful for each child and family we get to reach and those that are supportive and positive about what we do. It’s not always easy and no day is like another. We smile and take those parents who need us under our wings, that now I know we have, and let them know that they have a team behind them.