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Show - V ? - & f - xfm 7: Oajunfiirirlhi HS11 Mararrl ViinNov Profiles Writer If you, like many of ns, have liecome Bv depressed over the world situation and would like a lift, make a visit to the Otpiirrh Hills Si hoot. As we read more and more eaeh day of man's inhumanity to man," the wars, the starvation, terrorism, killings and plundering. the vice and the hate, it is easy to lieeome jaded and weary, to look at the world with cynieisin and fnrclxxling. BIT A ilSIT to this little school tucked away at 711 East Vine will convince you that here is a place w here something tangible is liemg done to change the world for the lietter, to raise the quality of life for an unfortunate minority. Oquirrh Hills is an oasis of hope in a world caught up in selfishness and greed. It isasihool for the trainable mentally retarded and multiply handicapped (two or more handicapping conditions). THE SCHOOL has a total of 45 students segregated into three programs: a component, funded !y contrail w ith the Division of Family Services; an over-2component, funded the same a and aged sihool fundregular way; d ed iiy the I'tah Board of Education pre-scho- 1 1 handi-capx-- funds. lead Teacher Mark Eatough defined the different problems handled by the school. Mental retardation means a reduced capacity to learn; teaming disabilities concerns problems that are not associated with intellect - it may lie a memory problem, a visual perception problem that gets in the way of the child learning as a normal child would leam. In addition, motor handicapped or visually handicapped or blind are areas of handicapping that the state recognizes. THE STUDENTS at Oquirrh Hills, who are bussed from all over the county, are segregated according to ability. There is a developmental section for kids with severe language problems. They may not lie t rained or can't eat by themselves. This group works with survival training using words like 'women,' 'men,' stop, 'go,' 'keep out,' - words that the rest of us take for granted. Mr. Eatough used as an example a restaurant where pictures of a cowlioy and a cowgirl mi restroom doors add to the decor. But it thrown kids like these for a loop," he said. We dont generalize; we do some specific training for unusual circumstances." section Then there is a where students are taught skills that are marketable. These are people w ho will always have to live in a sheltered environment, but they can hold jolts. EACH STUDENT has a different goal: In cooeratioii with the Utah Technical College, one of the st udents works at a local bakery. Another student gifted in working with plants and animals hopes to get a job in one of these fields. Another is learning to do basic hair care for employment at a nursing home. The school started in 1 lXi') under the school district. Before then, it was a private institution started by parents and other interested people called Tooele Day Care Center and then the Edgemont Training Center. Before that, these people just stayed home. There was no place for them in to- ' day's world. Thanks to federal legislat ion for the handicapped, there have been quite a few changes for the better. RIGHT NOW Mr. Eatough said, We are getting some students back from American Fork Training Center. They are coming back into the home environment with supervision from the schools. Am The school teaches functional academics. There are three certified teachers and five aids. A speech therapist comes three days a week to work with those who have speech difficulties. Some younger children are learning a written language system, and there are some high school aged students who are reading on a fourth grade level. There are two youngsters at the school who have no spoken language at all. One child has only two sounds that he makes. Working with youngsters like this is a challenge and re- quires more and more training for teachers as more knowledge concerning these problems come to light. FOR TIIE hard of hearing and deaf, the school uses an amplifier so the teacher can communicate with students working with spoken language and developing basic concepts aliout language. Fifteen of the students also spend one hour each day in an L.D.S. Seminary Program taught by Sheryl Aswad. A visitor to the Oquirrh Hills school cant help noticing the love and concern demonstrated by teachers and aides as they work with these children. They are enthusiastic aliout their work. A feeling of hopefulness and progress permeates the air. The children respond to this atmosphere. MR. EATOUCH said Many think this is just a day care center, and that learning does not go on. We are working on life problems that handicapped people have, and we teach them how to cope with these problems. It is a t raining school that helps youngsters leam skills to cope with life. The goal of the Oquirrh Hills is the gaining of job skills as well as teaching these youngsters how to get along with people on the job. The school has placed one student at Deseret Indust ries in a shel Oai Of Hop tered environment. Three have gone to live in group houses and to work one in a ' sheltered environment, or in hand-picke- d jot is. The school features facilities that many schools would envy. THERE IS a gym, specially built for the handicapped, a weight room with up to date equipment, a hydro therapy unit, a shop, a personal care area, a home living center equipped with washer and dryer, stove, sink, etc., a TV area for educational programs, a sewing area center, as well as a media center which houses the district's learning center for all of the special education programs. There also is a small green house where students leam to care for plants, and a stage area for special programs. Much of the equipment for the school has been donated by various service organizations and others in this area. I'm not going to start trying to name them all, Mr. Eatough said. The community support has been fantstic. One visit to Oquirrh Hills gives only a glimpse into what the school is trying to accomplish. The challenge is huge, but the spirit manifest there to overcome is just as large. Progress for these youngsters is slow. For instance, it may take one of these children several years to learn the se quence necessary for sewing on a button. Curricula might be spread over five years with only bits of progress actually observed, but discouragement is not part of the picture. TALK TO parents who have had to keep their children at home, away from life, or have had to send them away. Ask them about Oquirrh Hills. They will tell you that Oquirrh Hills is indeed an oasis of hope. The tapes tell the story, and Toby is able to follow along in the book. Youre really getting up there, arent you? she agreed. Birthdays are a pain in the neck Jus Talkin arent they? TIIE NEXT evening I was look AAV Yesterday was my birthday (again). Of course, when you get to be my age, its doubtful whether birthdays are a blessing or a curse. In fact, Eric works out in the hydro-therap- y unit assisted by Sue Antry. AH the students love the pool. The basic layout for each classroom includes a wet area with a sink, a carpeted area, and an outside exit. Rex washes his hands at the sink prior to lunch at East Elementary. game of bowling tonight. You might remind him that I dont want a bit of fuss made. GOTCHA, she winked. You can see how reprehensible the whole idea is to me. firmly. He turned back to the evening night, JUST FORGET that red housecoat I showed you at ZCs last week. I dont need it, even though my old blue one is ten years old, and the elbows are out. OK, he repeated. Whatever you say. The personal care area is a place where students are taught to take care of themselves, and Dawn and Peggy take advantage of Oquirrh Hills excellent facilities. . And I certainly dont need that new china closet, either, I added. We can just find something else to fill up that horrible bare spot in the kitchen. YES, AT my age, birthdays can be a pain in the neck and are best forgotten. As the day drew nearer, I had to keep reminding my family of that. My friend Irma called a week before. Can we get together for a com- mittee meeting on Wednesday night? she asked. I TURNED to my husband. Is there any reason at all why the charity committee couldnt hold a meeting NEXT WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16? Why are you asking me? he said. I just thought you might have something planned for Wednesday, JANUARY 16th. WHY SHOULD I have something planned for Wednesday? he said crossly as he turned back to the program he was watching. Make it Thursday, Irma. I said. Yes, when you get to be my age, you dont like to be reminded of it. No, siree! Classrooms at Oquirrh Hills are busy, productive places. t ratio Teacher Nikki Cochis has the time to work with students on Teacher-studen- Jan Hurst, motor development specialist, works with Peggy in the speclially gymnasium. never more than an individual basis is day. they are best forgotten by everyone. Dont you agree? Thats what I told my husband at least a month before that fateful days arrival. I DONT want any fuss made over my birthday this year, I said. I certainly dont want anyone to buy me any gifts. Everyone has better things to do with his money. OK, he replied, if thats the way you feel about it. Thats the way I feel, I said, paper. Shop work under Judy Thompson featureswood working, ceramics, and leather work skills that could lead to eventual employment. John and Walter plan to use the wood from this log to make clocks. ing through the photograph album Look, I said to my husband, This photograph was taken just last year ON MY BIRTHDAY. Youve certainly changed since then, he replied, barely glancing at it. Look at this beautiful clock, said to my son on Friday, pointing out a newspaper ad. Ive always j (wanted one of these. If an occasion arises IN THE NEAR FUTURE, you could get me one. I CAN hear you, he replied, You dont have to shout. Yes, if theres anything a body my age doesnt need, its to be reminded of an upcoming birthday. Would you like me to jog his memory a bit? asked Irma on Satur- IM BEGINNING to feel my age, I said to my daughter the next day, Ill SOON be 54. HEAVEN FORBID! I replied. After 50, birthdays are best just ignored. I guess youre right, she agreed. However, I hastened to add, hes coming to pick up George for a Did you talk to Irma last I asked him the following day, as I carefully laid out the birthday card I had received from the salesman who sold us a car five years ago. YES, he said. Sigh. On Monday I baked a cake - a rare occasion. Doesnt this remind you of anything? I asked my hus- band. EXCEPT FOR the candles and Happy Birthday written all over it, there is nothing to distinguish it from any other cake, he replied. He was right, and of course, I really didnt want to do anything that would remind anyone that my birthday was on WEDNESDAY. Birthdays are for kids, you know. On Tuesday I cleaned the house from top to bottom. YOU ARE certainly ambitious all of a sudden, my husband said. I thought maybe we might be having some company tomorrow, JANUARY 16, I said. Hmph! he mumbled into his bowl of cereal. Well, I thought with satisfaction as I crawled into bed Tuesday I have succeeded in convincing everyone that I dont want a fuss made on my birthday. After all, birthdays are just painful reminders of ones age. ON WEDNESDAY night, I opened the front door to cries of Surprise! Surprise! Happy Birthday, from family and friends. There was a cake and presents piled high. Happy Birthday, said my husband giving me a kiss on the cheek. You shouldnt have done it, I said tearfully. After all, birthdays are only for kids. f |