OCR Text |
Show mm The Daily Herald Finding the right thing to say You might say that Cindy was a child of the streets. Only in her case, it had nothing to do with It had to do with m socio-economi- fun. At age 6, Cindy loved to play in the street with her friends, an entertainment choice with which her parents were, at best, uncomfortable. They did everything they could to keep her off the streets. They lectured. They bribed. They grounded. They even spanked. Still, every time Cindy turned up missing, they found her out there on the streets with her friends. "Thankfully, the street we lived on wasn't very busy," her father, Steven, recalls. "In fact, it was sort of a winding, country road. But it Thursday, October 3, 1899 : A, '' ' I Jt) Daily Herald PhotoJennifer Grlgg Jay Jolley poses next to the drinks at last week's Hawaiian luau at Recreation and Habilitation Services (RAH) in Provo. Local agency needs money to rnntiniiA its nrnarams businesses and agencies such as United Way of Utah County and life Community Development Block When he was Grants from Provo, Orem and for Stuart Johnson consisted mainMountainlands Association of ly of going to school, coming Governments. home to work on the things he didAlthough each of these agenn't get finished at school, visiting the physical therapist and then cies contributed this year to RAH, the amount was less than expected, spending more time on his studies. The Lindon boy was diagnosed meaning RAH fell short of its prowith cerebral palsy early in life. jections. "This year there was a dramatLiving with the disease meant Stuic cut in what was awarded. We're art had extra challenges learning to reductions from almost all walk, getting through his school getting said Adamson. aspects," with and even keeping up subjects last two months, we've "For the the neighbor kids. been $3,000 more than spending But then someone told Stuart's we're taking in. If we're not able RAH Recreation about family the budget, we're and Habilitation Services in Provo to supplement to have to get smaller and going and things started to change. smaller until we're not here," she "He couldn't even walk when added. he started RAH so a lot of the time Adamson recognizes that many he would lay around and watch may say the organization's people others because it was easier," said is slightly top heavy since budget Sue Anne Johnson, Stuart's mom. most of it goes to pay for the "Now he goes once a week and employees. However, no one is they help him have a good time just sitting around; they get in a and they don't worry about if it's van and go to work. good for him physically." During a typical month, RAH But this weekly break for both serves almost 1,300 mentally dismom and son may not be around abled individuals. Those ages 4 to for much longer. 12 take part in Little Trickers, ages The Johnsons and hundreds of 13 to 19 have the Teen Club and other families across the county ages 16 and older participate in the may soon have to look for another Adult Program. While RAH does provide some way to provide their disabled families members with recreational support and crisis interactivities if RAH can't find a way vention, the organization is most to increase its budget. known for its monthly calendar of assistant activities. Cheryl Adamson, director and volunteer coordinator For example, the Adult Profor RAH, said the organization is gram had something scheduled currently about $50,000 below every Tuesday through Saturday their projected bare-bonbudget throughout September, including a for the 1996-9- 7 fiscal year. date night to the Kathy Mattea RAH leaders had projected they Concert, bowling, swimming, need would approximately boating on Deer Creek Reservoir $210,000 for the '96-9- 7 year. That and a Hawaiian luau. amount would have allowed them The Little Trickers met every to continue established programs Wednesday in September for such but was not enough to provide activities as an opening social, an additional programs or raises for outdoor adventure that included e and four part-tim- e feeding ducks and arts and crafts. the three The Teen Club met every Friday employees. it The organization survives on grants from various (See RAH, Page B2) By JANET HART Daily Herald Lifestyle Editor losoph iSOfe Value Speak was a route often traveled by soldiers on their way home from a nearby military base, and sometimes they would drive awfully fast." Every time he drove by the lifeless form of a rabbit or dog that had wandered into the road, he shuddered at the thought of his little girl's propensity for street life. And so he continued trying to with teach her not to play there limited success. It was a frustrating time for father and child. "I don't know what I'm going to do with that girl," Steven said to his wife, Susan, after yet another scolding session. "She just doesn't seem to understand what I'm saying to her." Susan, who had been following the ongoing saga for ... well, for as long as there had been a saga, turned the entire situ- ation around with one simple, gentle observation: "Then maybe you aren't saying it in the right way." "Maybe," Steven said. "But what else can I do?" "I don't know, honey," she said. "You'll think of something." And he did. It came to him the next day as he was driving home from work. When he got home, he walked over to where Cindy was playing (on the street, of course) and scooped her up into his arms. "Come on, sweetheart," he said. "We're going to go for a little ride." They drove into the country, finally stopping alongside a furry mound of...something. . "What is it, Daddy?" Cindy asked as they got out of the car. - "Look closely, but don't touch it," Steven said. "Can't you tell ,what it is?" She studied the object by the side of the road for a few minutes, unsure of its identity until she picked out its unmistakable ears, It's a bunny!" she exclaimed. "Is it dead?" "Yes, I'm afraid it is." 1 "What happened to it?" "It was playing in the road, and a car came along and..." "... and squished it?" ' "That's right," Steven said. "It got squished because it was playing in the road." i "Yuck!" Cindy said. And for the first time, Steven saw understanding in Cindy's eyes. At least, he thought he did until he came home from work the next evening and saw a group of children playing in the street, with Cindy standing by the side of the road, yelling right along with the other kids. Steven jumped out of his car i and began striding toward his daughter, prepared to lecture, perbribe, ground and spank haps all at the same time. And then ,he heard what Cindy was shouting tfrom the sidewalk. she t "Come on, you guys!" yelled. "Quit playing in the street, pr else you'll get squished!" I Today Steven is a veteran teacher who spends much of his time training young teachers. One of the most significant lessons he (teaches is the one he learned from Cindy and Susan: if you're not communicating, maybe it's because you're not saying it in the right way. Or because you've already .been squished. is a nationally , Joseph Walker syndicated columnist who lives in flmerican Fork. father-daught- -- er .1 y 1 i. y - .. Kr WW r i '. Vv one-to-o- es full-tim- v., non-prof- x f Daily Herald PhotoMatthew R. Smith Volunteer Dave Nabrotsky helps Stuart Johnson of make a picture keychain during an arts and activity at Recreation and Habilitation Ser- vices (RAH) in Provo. RAH has been providing recreation activities for mentally disabled individu-Lindo- n als of all ages for many years but is now facing gram cutbacks due to a decrease in their funding, They need about $50,000. pro-craf- ts IIIMIII iSl 111)1' I! HO V 0 i .;: v 8A li " o 75 n " Daily Herald PtntoUannrfar Grigg end its seven employees to staff Its monthly activities, oxe, volunteer Lindsay Memmott, 10, wraps silverware for the participants of the recent Hawaiian luau. Right, volunteer Michael Rice, left, and employee Edgar Rodriguez prepare barbecued pork for the same luau. RAH relies heavily on volunteer Daily Hrald PhotoJftnnifer Gtkjg |