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Show Special Board Aids Handicapped rjM blsselberg ' -VISGTON - The mt 6,000 Dav,s -;..nis are of major I -'".'i 25 who form :'"a Education Com-: Com-: Committee. .ERS vary from a ':"..;31 confined to a :;.'ir to parents of ' "'.t ho have some VTVfi? disability to ';',Jy multiply hand- .yn committees the ,'et in formal ses-"waionth. ses-"waionth. Their regu-' regu-' is the second Mon-: Mon-: p.m. in the pupil ".' -ii'ding in Farming-". Farming-". .,'re hardly a social :',;;''a:r.s Chairman .'.t Mickeison, mother :"o4.'.di:apped children. ,- MEMBERS are able eo-beteens for pa- ' leP with their ; '.J'noi knowing where "-"A parent would call, i hear their side and , 'k to the district and jitrict's angle. We act : -d party helper." , 'jfjes far beyond that, risibility given board '.ho serve two year : 'i!0 become acquainted i , ,ae rules, regulations J --grams for the hand-i hand-i ind gain awareness of Schools special educa-. educa-. ; earns. -jjLN itself is a mouth-jdering mouth-jdering just the many i -as provided by the !, district to nearly 6,000 ::s from those with 1 tearing or speech im-vnis im-vnis to the severely I ripped. .J Education Director , Ann Williams says the ;:ee's accomplishments rduded: implementing a i jfped awareness week .ret schools; representa- : 'k White House Con-:.t Con-:.t on Families; institut- parent training program . -ocitizen sessions "that nore parents than any program." ' iOSETWO sessions, held cimont and Clearfield high schools, were to teach parents pa-rents how to participate in pre-panng pre-panng a handicapped child's individual education prosram They re held yearly TvheuC,mmiuee has worked with the Legislature on bui'd-ing bui'd-ing accessibility and equal opportunity, among other things. Currently the committee commit-tee is working to get AM-FM communications equipment in all school buses. AT PRESENT, buses do not have any radio communications communica-tions and may become staled for instance. That mav mean a lot of unnecessary miles driven by a bus to pick up a special education youngster whose parents discovered at the last minute couldn't attend school that day. A lot of gas and time could be saved with the communications communica-tions equipment, committee members emphasize. COMMITTEE members all bring different experiences as to the needs of the handicapped handicap-ped and the value of the committee com-mittee in helping themselves and others. Robert J. Matthews explains ex-plains his situation. "1 had polio when I was two but I always al-ways went to a regular school, got a high school diploma and had two years of college. "I STARTED working in Goodwill Industries (similar to Deseret Industries) in Texas. I was a regular employee and then made a supervisor, worked work-ed in a halfway house and with Alcoholics Anonymous and then moved to Utah three, years ago." What of the move to the Beehive State? "It was a sort of self test to see if I could make it on my own without my family around. There's more work being done here (to help handicapped) than in Texas. There are better advantages for the handicapped." THAT BOILS down to employers em-ployers that would tell him they couldn't hire him for fear their insurance wouldn't provide pro-vide coverage he was different diffe-rent he was handicapped. "In general it's better here," he continues. "Every place I vent they looked c rv qualifications. 'not as'ra-'i-icapped." And he his for severs! area ele;:: Firms. sJ WHAT OF his r.le - :'-comrr.iv.ee? :'-comrr.iv.ee? "bt:rZ - "Z ped I feel if there 'is sc'rr'e-h" unacceptable. I co.d b.-.-z r 'concern) to the ce-rr.":::'ce. i see it through their i Kur.diVar-pedi Kur.diVar-pedi ces." Phyll Hansen is a r-e-: with a daughter hawr.g'a special spe-cial problem that man', wouldn't consider as "handicapped" "hand-icapped" in the crv.cr.es and braces sense. "M. darter has some special' Frc-bierr.s limiting one aspect uf her growth social awareness didn't occur. "DIAGNOSED as auti-Ti she withdraws into her own thoughts. I am amazed huw little lit-tle we knew about what was available (help). Being on this committee has been most useful use-ful to me. We had to find out the hard way," he adds, to which other members agreed it'd been the same for them. "We were just asking. 'Isn't there something1' You know your own situation and are reaching out for help from someplace. The (school) district dis-trict has been most supportive. I'm proud of what w e're doing in this district." MANY JLST aren't aware of what help they can receive for virutally any type of "special "spe-cial education" type case. Mr. Hansen says. "Until this slaps you in the face, you say you don't need (help). "We have the full gamut of activities available. We have Monte Vista it addresses special needs on a continuing basis from infants on up." THE HANSEN'S previously sent their daughter to a private, pri-vate, out-of-state school in a complete "self-contained" program. But then they tried the Davis Schools. First she took one regular "main-streamed" "main-streamed" class and then two, etc. "Now she's a senior and not in any (self-contained classes) at this time and her counselor is watching the situation. It's - -. : : '- ...' : f l ' X , " , v i : . ..- ' ' .n , . ; , . . r . r ' r ; " i i .. " -s : t - ' - ' SPECIAL ED BOARD AIDS HANDICAPPED such a relief to know if she needs that support (it's there!." THROUGH the committee's commit-tee's efforts Stale Sen. Haven Barlow, R-Layton. was informed in-formed about special needs. He serves as chairman of the education conimitee and has been "most supportive." Mr. Hansen says. "I'm amazed how much can pour into programs before re-suits re-suits are seen and how much basic citizens don't know or don't care." he says, adding, "It's amazing how those in authority au-thority can get tunnel vision. Sen. Barlow got more things done for us after he met with us. Sometimes saying we represent rep-resent a group of parents allows us access we might not receive." DR. WILLIAMS attributes committee action with getting financial results for the needs of multiply handicapped from the Legislature. The committee also worked on a program involving illegal The SjHvial Kilueation Community Adv ioi Hoat.i t- .:. v. . f...i dot's more than hold monthly meetings. Tlu v'u dn i -lv ;:.. . furthering the caue of help tor the handw appe.l M hack. Sharon Cornell, lift. Pin 11 Hansen. Hav 1'v.,ms. p.,., M M MarvAnn Williams and Hetty Ahhaker; livnl. I'u. V -' i. I:t. Dixie Kjar, C.eraldine Mickeison. Peggy H aino!i ;.n.l K- '"i ' Matthews. vehicle passing of buses loading load-ing and unloading children. Dr. Williams notes. C'lty councils and the Council of Governments Govern-ments mayoral group were contacted and gave support. -THIS IS the second y ear of cooperation and in one instance inst-ance where there were 10 violations now that's down lo iwo." she says. Under that program bus driv ers are asked to note v 10I.1-tions 10I.1-tions by taking license plate numbers and reterrmg them to law enforcement agencies tor possible follow up. LAW enforcement officials have been cooperative and occasionally paik "unobtin-siv "unobtin-siv ely around bus stops'' to encourage en-courage compliance. Dr. Williams Wil-liams say s. Hv woiking together parents of handicapped children and adult handicapped can "luith-er "luith-er substantiate a jointness ol effort that all have when they talk about special education." she says. "IT MUST he joint effort between be-tween the home and school. The solutions are jointly shared." Hut many are unaware uf available help. Mis. Mkkel-son Mkkel-son say s. " I heie aie si ill pen- pie w ho don't know help is available even lor ad, ills Ab out a month ago mv dai.e' lei lan into a .( veal old a'i''!'i d p.iKv v it 1 1 hi taken cue ol hv an eklei lv aunt and uik U w l o knew nothing about it." t!u lp progi .tills) NOW 1 HE w oman will piohablv be duelled in li e adult lile ptociam adnunis teied alone w uh the Stale Dim sion of I anulv Set v u i'v she s,t s . "What's s.id is t tut eldei lv aunt s.ud. ' tui nu .at there' s sonu iMie w ho t. a n help.'' I couldn't believe llu tc weie people siill lo inj; in d,n k ness." ( llten a child isn't hoi n wuh a handicap hut uiciiiiisi.uii.ts change thai. Connnitlcc mem be l I'eggv Heal nson i elates In i stoi . We have an II v i .u oht daiighlei W hen she w as T I months old she w as mv ol v ed in an automohile ,k i id, ni li oni w hn h she becune haiulu ap petl ami her pai t in s ttor killed " ( II KI N(i III K daii) h ler s edikational pio"i ss she continues. "We've I ad In i shh c thai lime . 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