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UMW program offers respite to parents while educating future teachers Date published: 12/13/2009
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
Parents raising children with disabilities need a break. Future teachers need to know how to educate those children. The University of Mary Washington's respite program strives to fulfill both needs. Many Saturdays during the school year, UMW students volunteer to watch children with disabilities for a few hours. Students majoring in education and psychology and graduate students getting their special-education certifications often sign up to help. UMW and Arc-Rappahannock have offered Daybreak for 13 years to area parents. Last year, the program got two new coordinators. Nicole Myers, an associate professor of education, and Heather DeCou, a former graduate student, inherited some broken crayons and a few damaged toys. They used some money from a grant the college received to train future teachers to work with students with autism. They also dug into their own pockets to furnish play equipment, sensory toys, puzzles and art supplies. And their vision continues to outstrip their budget. The women immediately saw Daybreak as more than a baby-sitting service. "It's more than just dropping your kids off at a safe place," DeCou said. "The family can let go and know some meaningful activities will take place." They've set up strategies to combine play and learning, focusing on socialization, speech, sensory and academic goals. The activities teach the children and the volunteers. Many of the university volunteers will go on to become teachers. And with more children with disabilities educated in regular classrooms, teachers are very likely to have such students. The Daybreak activities showcase strategies for teaching children with disabilities. As many as 18 children rotate through various stations, including obstacle courses, art projects, puzzles and more. "There is a method to the madness," DeCou said. Parent Jennifer Lockwood brings her two sons to Day-break--the program takes a child with a disability and non-disabled siblings. "It's such a wonderful resource to us," she said. "I'm glad it's available. The kids love it, and they look forward to Daybreak." Her 5-year-old son, Pat-rick, has an autism spectrum disorder and attention defi-cit hyperactivity disorder. Sometimes he has tantrums that most baby sitters can't handle. "It's hard to find somebody who has the skills required," Lockwood said. "It's nice to know I don't have to worry because these people are trained." She uses the time to go grocery shopping or to go out to lunch with her husband--time alone is rare for the couple. And Daybreak will become even more important next year when her husband, who is in the Army, deploys to the Middle East. Myers and DeCou hope that next year the program will also help more families. They want to grow Daybreak. Myers said she wants to give every family the chance to have a break. "I know they're out there, and I know they need it," she said. Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Date published: 12/13/2009
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