The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Special Needs

Town Sports “VIP” Programs a Hit

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By Gillian Hand

Every Saturday afternoon, sneakers are laced, team jerseys put on, and excitement builds. It’s game day. Players head to the field, ready for an afternoon of soccer.

Sam Mason, a VIP Player
Sam Mason, a VIP Player

This isn’t just any Chappaqua sport, though. This is AYSO VIP, a program dedicated to providing a safe and enjoyable sports experience for children with mental, social or physical disabilities that prevent them from participating on town teams. VIP, which stands for “Very Important Player,” teaches the foundation and skills of the game while also addressing the particular needs of every player. Like mainstream AYSO soccer, the program runs in both the fall and spring, and plays like any other AYSO sport.

With over 20 players, ranging from ages four to 14, VIP allows all children with varying disabilities the opportunity to learn, have fun and be a part of a team. The program helps build self-esteem and provides chances for exercise and socialization with others. At the start of each session, each player is assigned a “buddy”–an able-bodied volunteer helper who assists them both on and off the field. Each practice/game starts with group stretching, after which players can choose to play in the game or simply work on their skills with their buddies. These volunteers stay with the children throughout the practice, always teaching, assisting and encouraging. Whether it’s a high-five for a good kick or a cheer for a goal, buddies keep the kids in high spirits and enthusiastic about the game. There is always space set aside for one-on-one attention, and many different activities that the players can engage in.

Part of the Team

VIP Coordinator Josh Lurie first learned about VIP when he brought his daughter Charlotte to a similar program in Tarrytown several years ago. Thrilled with the opportunity it presented for his special needs child, he went to AYSO to propose a VIP program in Chappaqua. In 2010, the program was born here in town, and with support from the community and AYSO, VIP has progressed into the “fun, safe and healthy sports environment” Lurie hoped it to be.  He even hopes to eventually have games against the VIP teams in other towns.

Josh Lurie and his daughter, Charlotte. Photo by Joanna Segal
Josh Lurie and his daughter, Charlotte. Photo by Joanna Segal

Parents of the players, says Lurie, have been incredibly grateful for the program. “They can sit down and watch their kids run around, which they usually don’t get the opportunity to do.” Parent Joanna Segal, who’s daughter Leora, age 12, participates in VIP, finds the program wonderful. With two other daughters who play Chappaqua sports, she loves being able to also see Leora as part of a team, enjoying not only the sports themselves but the social aspect as well.  “Leora is so excited when she wakes up in the morning knowing it’s game day,” said Segal. “She puts on her uniform proudly and is so thrilled to be part of the team. VIP has allowed her to be more connected to the community.”

Expanding Beyond Soccer

The popularity of the VIP soccer program convinced Lurie that a similar program could be offered during the winter. With the assistance of the New Castle Youth Basketball Association, which helps scheduling court time, VIP basketball was introduced two years ago, and has become popular as well. Not only does the basketball program give the kids another activity to engage in during soccer’s off season, but it also provides an outlet for winter activity and maintains the contact with the friends they made during the fall.

As the program and its need for buddies grew, a Greeley club was formed to recruit and coordinate the volunteers. VIP Special Connection, formed by Greeley students Margot Putnam and Dana Weinberg about a year ago, spreads word of the program and informs the volunteers of practice time and location. Special Connection has doubled the number of volunteer buddies, typically  7th through 12th graders, many of whom form relationships with the VIP children and truly get to know them.

Changing Lives

“VIP has been one of the most rewarding things in any aspect of my life.” said Lurie. “You can see the impact it has on kids.” Kids gain a sense of joy and normalcy, which may not always come easily to them.  As they score a goal and look up to see their parents cheering for them from the sidelines, or return to their families after the concluding VIP cheer, the players’ smiles are contagious.  As a VIP “buddy” who has worked with these young soccer and basketball players for the past two years, I can’t help but smile along with them. Being able to see their progress and happiness is a feeling like no other, and it’s a privilege for me to be able to participate in this extraordinary program. For more info, visit

chappaquaayso.org/VIP.asp.

Gillian Hand will be a freshman at  Horace Greeley High School in the fall.

 

Learning To Be Independent After High School

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Learning To Be Independent After High School, While Living With An Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult…

In 2009, my stepson Jared, who has Aspergers Syndrome, was finishing his last year of high school, and had recently turned 19. He was a “super senior” due to his academic and behavioral challenges, which made our family very anxious about where Jared was going to go after graduation.

Kevin Gersh and Jared racing at the track.
Kevin Gersh and Jared racing at the track.

I had made several attempts at getting him into a program at a few of the local colleges, but I couldn’t find one that would accommodate his needs. I explored colleges where he could live, such as Landmark, Lynn, and Mitchell College, to name a few. None of these had a residential program that offered support or assistance . Jared was becoming increasingly frustrated and his anger and ill behavior was quickly becoming a heavy burden on our family. Where could he go that he would attend college, learn social and independent living skills and be supervised with his hygiene, medication, and household responsibilities?

In October of that same year, I was participating at an annual walk for autism at Jones Beach. It was at this event that I walked up to The Gersh Experience booth. I spoke at great length with Kevin Gersh, the founder of The Gersh Experience. It sounded like the perfect model program for Jared, but so did many other places. I took the brochures home and followed up by scheduling a meeting with The Gersh Experience staff. After learning more about the program, I continued to be impressed. The following week, Kevin Gersh took Jared to shoot pool and speak with him, we continued to be impressed, although still a little nervous because it sounded too good to be true.

After taking a leap of faith, and fast-forwarding a little over 3 years; Jared is a junior at Daemen College, a small liberal arts school in Buffalo, which works closely with the staff at The Gersh Experience. While he attended college, Jared lived at The Gersh Experience housing for 3 years, where he participated in a program consisting of academics, social skills, and independent living support. While living there, they provided daily transportation for his commute to school.

After a short period, Jared became employed part time at a local supermarket and received job coaching from a Gersh Experience professional. Jared belongs to a fraternity and has a thriving social life, one that he never had before. He is maturing beyond my wildest dreams; it’s been quite a journey. Currently, Jared lives in his own apartment in Buffalo, in a development called Collegiate Village, which houses students from a number of Buffalo colleges. Even though he lives on his own, he still receives off-site support from the staff at the The Gersh Experience. – Laurie Benjamin
Jared’s Stepmother

Remarkable Individuals

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By Sarah Ellen Rindsberg

Joseph D’Adamo
Joseph D’Adamo

Outsiders are often unacquainted with the world inhabited by special needs children. Tomes on the subject are few and far between. Eager to shed light on their rewarding lives, several local families graciously shared their perspective.

Debra Marino spoke of the way in which siblings explain their brothers’ and sisters’ differences to others. When her son, Dylan Bower wanders over to greet his sister Alana and her friends, Alana says, “This is my brother.  He has autism.  He can’t speak too well.”

For Dylan, being among typical kids–which he enjoys immensely– brings its own set of challenges. One day when he was at a pool, talking and splashing to his heart’s content, one of the other boys asked Marino:  “What’s wrong with him?”  “His brain works differently from yours,” she responded. The next question posed was:  “Is it catching?”

Max Krooks’ energy is amazing. On vacations in La Quinta, California, his days include swimming, biking and shuffleboard. “I don’t get tired,” he  related.  Having cerebral palsy and being developmentally delayed diminishes neither his pace nor his desire to remain active.  After a busy day, he craves muffin tops from Stew Leonard’s.

Max Krooks
Max Krooks

At home, Krooks is always on the go. Every week he smiles from the saddle when he participates in the Pegasus Therapeutic Riding program. Volunteers surround Cinnamon, his usual horse, as Krooks posts and trots around the ring.  His proud mother, Robin Krooks, watches each session and revels in his success. “He’s an equestrian when he’s on a horse,” she said.  In a magical dance, the riders follow the gait of the horses. This practice translates into dramatic improvements in posture and movement in their daily routines.

Another important facet of Max’s life involves–you guessed it–more sports.  His long list of activities includes playing VIP soccer (AYSO’s program for kids with special needs) and competing in the Special Olympics as part of North East Westchester Special Recreation’s swim team. He often asks his mother whether she will be attending his activities.  “He loves when people cheer him on,” his mother related.

Lee Block is an advocate for people with Asperger’s, like himself. He eagerly answered a reporter’s questions. “I can share my experiences and hope people will learn from them,” he said.

Attending a talk by John Elder Robison, the author of “Look Me in the Eye,” was a pivotal moment for Block. Robinson’s memoir focuses on his life with Asperger’s. “I felt very connected. That’s exactly how I felt. I understand his predicament,” Block said.

Lee Block
Lee Block

Block described his comfort level when he is with his Aspy friends. “Most boys my age like to play sports and talk about girls,” Block explained. “We stick to our own little world and that’s how I like it,” he continued.

His mother, Toddi Gutner, added further insight into this aspect of Block’s life.  After deciding that public school was not a good fit for her son, she and her husband enrolled him at the Winston Preparatory School.  Here, they found a compatible environment, one that eschews loud music, lockers and bells.  Gutner explained the way in which this setting meets her son’s needs:  “I’m not different there,” he told her. “That’s human nature,” Gutner mused.  “Everybody needs their own people.”

Lori D’Adamo’s son Joseph, who is classified as multi-disabled due to the effects of a seizure disorder, benefits greatly from his participation in North East Special Recreation. He enjoys a slew of fun activities including bowling, field trips and dances at the American Legion Hall.

Joseph’s parents nurture his passion for Broadway musicals by taking him to the theatre once a month. His happiness radiates during the shows. When Lori looks at him sitting beside her, she sees him “beaming from ear to ear.”

Dylan and Alana Marino
Dylan and Alana Marino

At home, Joseph often bursts into song spontaneously, singing one of his favorite tunes. His mom is often treated to a rendition of “Luck be a Lady” from “Guys and Dolls.”

The inspiration for this article came from Sarah Ellen Rindsberg’s fond recollection of the baby’s voice in “Look Homeward, Angel.”

Where Dance is for Everyone

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steffi pixThe Steffi Nossen Dance Foundation, believing that Dance is for Everyone, began its Moving Wheels & Heels program of classes in 2002. The program was originally developed by Master Teachers Barbara and Sabatino Verlezza, with the help of Nancy Lushington, as Dancing Wheels of the Cleveland Ballet. In the years since, the program has grown from a Summer Dance Intensive to year-round programs for children, teens and adults and an outreach program which continues to serve countless day programs, recreation centers, hospitals and residential facilities for people with special needs.

Throughout history, people have always danced to express emotions, traditions and beliefs. In our classes, stand-up and sit-down dancers work together on creative expression, range of motion, technique, and learning dance vocabulary.  Our goal is for participants to experience the joy of moving to music while developing and increasing strength, flexibility, social skills and self-confidence through modern dance. All movement is adapted so that all can participate to their fullest and enjoy success. Many new friends are made.

We believe that dance is for everyone: old, young, able-bodied, people with physical and developmental limitations, professional and recreational dancers.  Dance can be a powerful tool to broaden the mind and engage the spirit.  Inclusive dance classes develop independence and improve the quality of life for people with limitations. Join us the summer to experience the Joy of Dance at our Moving Wheels Summer Dance Intensive June 17-22 or our Summer Camp for Children June 24-26. Please check www.steffinossen.org , for further information.

Five Essential Ingredients at Home and Beyond

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Crystal and Neel during a visit to New York last Thanksgiving.
Crystal and Neel during a visit to New York last Thanksgiving.

By Bal Agrawal

After raising an older teen with special needs, I believe I have narrowed down the bare essentials of what your child needs to prosper at home and also once he or she is grown.

1  Unconditional love

2  Structure

3  Activity

4  Medication and 
 Psychological Help

5  Positive Vision and Hope

When my son Neel was 18 and diagnosed with mental illness at the University of Southern California,  my world had come apart. He was hospitalized with serious psychotic episodes. He was catatonic and not even taking food or medicines at times.

I made a vision and etched it in my head. Through ups and downs over the last 10 years,  and all sorts of challenges, I never let my vision fade away.

The vision was that someday he will ring my door bell and there he will be with his wife and children. He has done so much hard work in the last 10 years. He gave up drugs 10 years ago, smoking and drinking eight years ago, junk food, five years ago, and sugar and soda, three years ago. He also now walks three to four miles a day, has lost 50 lbs and looks great.

The best part is that he got engaged a year ago, and his fiancé , Crystal, has a daughter. They also got a dog recently–Sasha! His meds have been reduced from four daily to two! He goes to college, and helps me in my business as well as making movies.

I just love him dearly and the way it all worked out and he has worked so hard to get there. God bless him and the power of positive thinking…

Bal Agrawal is the founder and CEO of LifeWorx, a Greater New York company. With its beginnings in the basement of Bal’s home in Chappaqua, LifeWorx has now grown to four offices in Westport, CT, Manhattan and  Englewood NJ. LifeWorx is the premier child care, elder care, nanny and chef service provider with a mission is to enhance the overall quality of life for Clients. It has provided over 40,000 services to hundreds of clients throughout Westchester, Fairfield and NYC. LifeWorx trademark is flawless customer satisfaction with a personal touch. The 250+ LifeWorx experts are chosen from thousands of applicants, and are simply the best.