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Show rr - U 3 The Sampler, June 6, 1985 , mother said, laughing. cult to know what is going Oquirrh Hills is the only to happen when you're, school for the mentally and gone," said Stearman. "In the beginning you physically handicapped in to accept that they are have Tooele county. 'The kids stand out for retarded, and then treat, what they can do and not them as normal as possible. what they can't," said Stear- They fit into the world," said man. "Melissa cant do a lot, Stearman. Their behavior' and apshe has an IQ of about 40, unbut her capabilities are pearance are important. limited and unpredictable, Especially their appearance, shell fool you every time. I they learn to take care of feel so proud of her, it gets themselves. "It makes them to the point that I feel sorry take pride in themselves," for people that dont have a said Stearman. pirode : Dugwayite brings home two medals J x . ; by. Lisa Simunaci When Bob and Barbara Stearman adopted their they daughter Melissa, severedidn't know she was ly retarded. "At first you cry a lot," said Barbara. Then you realize there's only one way to go and that's up." Melissa, 27, brought home a gold and a silver medal from the Utah Special Olympics held in Provo last month. "She was so proud of herself, all kids that participated brought their medals to school and clanged them, it was the nosiest day ever." 'The Special Olympics have gone farther than anyone ever expected," said Jan Beckerhoff, a teacher at Oquirrh Hills school for the mentally and physically handicapped. "It builds a lot of confidence in these kids." "The slogan at the school is that if Melissa can do it, anyone can do it," her "We have never had any problems with people loving retarded child." Although Melissa's mentality is very limited she enjoys life. "She's a happy and Melissa," said Stearman. "Some other people have cooperative person, when you get around her, you cant help but enjoy life too." Melissa loves to go to the opera and ballets with her parents. "We take her anywhere we go," said Stear- problems, but everybody here knows her and accepts her. I think it's because of our attitude toward the situation." Since they discovered that Melissa was retarded, 25 man. : years ago, the Stearmans Even though Stearman have been "the good said she's happy and fight for thefighting retarded." PRESCHOOLERS Center, graduated and now are looking wouldn't have things any "It's a hard fight, and you other way, she admits some- can't wait for someone to times she can get frustrated say, "I'll help you.' " When and burned out. "Living with they moved to Dugway, 14 a retarded child is a birth to years ago, a sergeant got todeath affair. So far, we've gether some boys to help covered birth to age 27. special kids. "The boys startRetarded people have a ed training the kids for Spenormal life span with today's cial Olympics, and like many medication. "It's very diffi people they got hooked," said Stearman. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o oo O g O o o o Come o . In lodayl oo o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Now Available, Ot On all o Pull siso 2vd Pickups. o o ?- I. c it rr rnv niil iA wj -- f o ' U ITU Lab o F3 o o AE))0)S o o o o D3 o AM BRONCO Ms o DQKIG o I o Save $1,500! Save $735! o o 1903 1905 o o o 4wd fun. Stock 602 New fuel efficient size o o - QUALITY USED CAR SPECIALS o o 1984FO&D 984 POSD TXMPO GL 1983EBOIfCO o 4 door, auto, air cond. . CROWN VICTOBIA Loadodl Low miles o 2 door. real beauty o o o 97S CUV GMC 'JIMMY 1984 o 1981 fORDMUSTANO MustSMilmniaculato the equipment real pretty car o Low, low miles o 911 o o ESCORT o POOD GL FORD 1984 BRONCO II 1984 1982 OLDS CUTLASS 2 door - 2 to choose from Loaded! Real nice "F-Sori- os" m it o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o ... Full-si- . 1 1 earn their own money. "We want it and need it," she said, "but in Tooele, why should we have to go to Salt Lake if we live in Tooele many years," she said. There are laws regarding care of special children, but according to Stearman, you have to push people to follow them. these people and help find them jobs so they can better support themselves. There are 11 students at Oquirrh Hills over the age of 22. They're eligible for a workshop program, but have nowhere to go; "They continue to come to school so they can maintain skills County?" The workshop would be a combination of a work program and a group home for the older kids. "When the children's parents are gone, it becomes a . real problem," said Jan Beckerhoff. A workshop would provide a home for Currently, the Stearmans are trying to arrange a - C shelter for the older retarded kids. It would be a place for them to live and work to c; learn how to use kitchen appliances safely," said Beckerhoff. They also learn how to set the table and learn eating and social habits. Of the 20 staff members at the school, five are certified teachers. The rest are aids or drivers, "Even the drivers work here as aids," said Beckerhoff, "Everyone 10-fo- ot . I gets involved." The school has normal looking classrooms. One is set aside as a "communications classroom." This is where they work with the or stu- physically handicapped.: 'There are many misconcep-- tions about what these people can do," said Jan Beckerhoff, lead teacher of the non-verb- , low-verb- al Students at the school 'kitchen. "Here, the kids have learned sign language. T-to- p. All I lesJL LIFETIME SERVICE UwmnimmA GUARANTEE m 1 ns TOOELE i y 002-221- 1 533-937- 4 slc o o o o o o o o o o o o o t o r ,1AIM will double. "There is a growing need to provide this type of environment for them," said Beckerhoff. Repetitive work,, like are packaging or sortingSome most people. boring to of these students would be able to perform this type of work and would find it challenging, according to There are many misconceptions about what these people can do, "The community needs to be educated," Beckerhoff continues, "Then hopefully, the community and a workshop program could grow together." They have a deaf man who is about 70 years old come in and teach these people to sign," said Barbara Stearman, mother of a mentally handicapped child. This way, the kids that can't talk can communicate. "They always manage to get their message across." The school also has a gym with a universal weight set. "This is where the students do their training for the Special Olympics," said Beckerhoff. Next to the gym there's a therapeutic pool. This is used for the kids with cerebral palsy and as a motivator for other students. 25 off all regularly priced dress Or casual shoes for children. Classic Mary Janes strappy sandals and dressy pumps that will make any girl feel light on her feet Smart looking, stylish slip-oand oxfords for the boys. Choose from everybody's favorite fashion colors. A large variety to choose from, in sizes for boys and girls. Sale prices from regular priced merchandise effective through June 8th. 3 DR. (tii Beckerhoff estimates the number of eligible students children's dress or casual shoes A SUPREMI BROUGHAM In the next five years, 2B m - erhoff. (cont. page 5) S--10 . AN .I al dents. school. Next to the craftshop is a A EL CAMINO Beck- - by Lisa Simunaci If you walk into the craft .shop, and go past the kiln,, you'll see a beautifully paint-shelf ed chess set. A holds even more half painted 'ceramics. There is nothing I unusual about this workshop or it's products, except the vpeoplethat workin it. The craft shop is located in a corner of Oquirrh Hills ; school for the mentally and 1 1 they've learned," said Special school teaches skills to handicapped off Tooele County ze ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo l the best of their ability to very cooperative, it really cares," she said. "We've worked hard for 1997. (U.S. Army photo by Ruth A. Mecham) for- "Once you get involved, there's no way back. It's not a sacrifice for people that help, they're pleased to do it." One of the boys that helped is now a special education teacher. "Dugway has been very cooperative," said Stearman. The high school band played for the Special Olympics in Provo. "The Army has been 1 ' ... ward to graduating as the class of at the Child Development - t i. mm JCPenney Tooele |