CREATING A VISION FOR NINE-YEAR-OLD ISIAH

VOLUME 1 – 2015
REACH
A Newsletter for Friends of Oak Hill
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Empower
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CREATING A VISION
FOR NINE-YEAR-OLD ISIAH
I
“ came to Oak Hill with a misperception: I thought all the kids
in the school would also be blind, wheelchair bound, and
non-verbal, like my son, Isiah,” explains Karen Parzych. “I was
afraid he would not learn to walk or talk in that environment.
But when we got to the school, I realized there were all types
of children with varying levels of needs and disabilities: some
physical or developmental and others emotional or behavioral.”
“The teachers and students immediately made us feel at home,”
Karen added. “One child, Brian, took Isiah under his wing and
showed him around, then invited him to create artwork and
shared lunch. I could not get Isiah to leave! We enrolled the
next day. This opened the door for us.”
Empower
“Today Isiah has about
50 words in his vocabulary.
And now it includes the
word HAPPY!”
“Because we are with him all day long, our counselors recognize when he is
ready to communicate,” Mallory noted.
(Continued on page 2)
Camp
Hemlocks
to Reopen this
Summer!
Going Chrome?
March 27, 2015
A Special Event for
Autism Awareness!
April 27, 2015
Coming Attractions
Isiah’s emotional behavior and social skills have improved at Oak Hill’s new, on-campus
school, which focuses on children with emotional and behavioral challenges. The school offers
trauma-informed programming with on-site teams, which include behavioral clinicians, special
ed teachers and instructional specialists. “As a team, we can better understand what Isiah is
capable of, and we hold him to that, then we push him to achieve,” said one of Isiah’s teachers,
Mallory Isbell. “He also sees the same people day to day. This creates a safe zone.”
Mobile Tools and
Assistive Technology.
May 22, 2015
Isiah loves the other children,
they look out for him and show
him kindness and respect.
Isiah’s Story
(Continued from cover)
“Our students don’t have to wait
for a scheduled appointment for
counseling. We are all available,
on their time clock, to address
their specific needs.”
The school’s culture fosters an
environment of kindness and
respect. “Isiah loves the other
children — they look out for him,
which makes him feel safe,” his
mom added. “He is longer isolated.
He used to scream, bite, cry and
throw tantrums before he went
to school. Now he shows a
willingness to get ready. Their
behavioral program has helped
him listen and follow directions;
he is more patient and polite. And
he is less afraid to try new things.”
The creative instruction at the
school includes technology,
programming with the DEEP, shop,
cooking and landscaping. “He
enjoys that, because he loves nature
and helping me cook,” explained
Karen. Isiah likes hands-on activities.”
President’s Message
Communication!
Communication!
Communication!
The staff at Oak Hill hear these words from me
often. Whether they’re designing a new program,
trying to solve a problem or identifying ways to
improve the quality of life for those we serve,
my mantra is simple: communication is key.
As I have shared in previous messages to you,
my vision for Oak Hill includes meeting the needs
of our participants and communicating the need
for our services to both the community and public
policy makers. They both go hand in hand, as we are helping our
participants advocate for themselves to achieve their full potential,
engage in their community, and in building meaningful relationships; and,
advocating for our mission that Oak Hill sets the standard, partnering
with people with disabilities, to provide services and solutions promoting
independence, education, health, and dignity. Again, communication is key.
I recently gave testimony at the Appropriations Hearing on the DDS
budget and spoke to the fact that the people we serve matter and that
funding for human services needs to be restored. Every legislator I talked
with was impressed that Oak Hill was there in force. I was proud to be
a part of this group.
As donors, parents, family members and friends of Oak Hill I would like to
challenge each of you to communicate. Take a moment today to write or
call your legislator and Governor Malloy. The message is simple... people
matter. The more people that share this message, the more impact we will
have on policy and funding being changed.
Thank you for helping to make a difference in the lives of those that
we serve.
Best regards,
Barry M. Simon, MA, MPA
Cross programming at Oak Hill
allows the class to travel weekly
to their new Sports & Fitness
Center, Chapter 126. Coaches
work on building the strength in
Isiah’s non-dominant hand. This
helps him grasp his gait trainer
more securely, which he now uses
3 to 4 times a day at school…
that’s up from zero times a day!
Isiah used to hit his teachers when
he wanted attention. Now he uses
technology to communicate his
needs. His Quick Talker device
enables him to press buttons to ask for
a drink or let them know if his body
hurts. “Communication is a two-way
street now, which takes the guessing
out of his situation,” explains Mallory.
Isiah’s improvements with
his words and sign language
skills have helped minimize his
frustration and build confidence.
“This makes me feel encouraged. I
have less stress and fewer problems
at home, which is a big relief,
because I have my own disability
to manage,” explained Karen.
“I have hope and I can see a future
for Isiah. He can do anything with this
level of encouragement and support.
That’s all he needs now that he has
learned to accept help. My only
regret is that I wish I had found
Oak Hill a long time ago.”
VOLUME 1 – 2015
THANK YOU
We would like to thank the following
companies for their contribution of
$2,500 or more in support of Oak Hill’s
programs and services:
Major Corporate Partners
Advanced Wheels of Technology
Apex Technology Group, Inc.
Avon Auto Wholesalers, Inc.
B.T. Lindsay & Co., Inc.
Bank of America, U.S.Trust
ConnectiCare, Inc.
Hancock’s Pharmacy & Surgical, Inc.
Monaco Ford
Wentworth, DeAngelis & Kaufman
Willis of CT, LLC
EASTER SEALS CAMP HEMLOCKS, AN
OAK HILL CENTER,TO REOPEN IN JUNE!
When Oak Hill acquired Easter Seals of Coastal Fairfield County last year, it
came with an added bonus — the organization’s unique Camp Hemlocks.
Camp Hemlocks is located on 160 acres in Hebron, CT. It provides educational
and residential summer camping. The facility is approximately 50,000 square
feet with large meeting rooms, dining room capacity for 150, overnight
accommodations for 100, an open-air pavilion and three lodges. There is also
a 22-acre lake on the property, which is used for boating and fishing, and a
fully handicap-accessible 60’x40’ indoor pool. The facility features barrier free
design, an environment that allows people with disabilities complete access
and optimal independence.
The camp offers maximum participation for CT’s youth, adults, veterans and
seniors with physical or developmental disabilities along with their families,
friends and caregivers. Community programming and meeting spaces will
be offered to the community-at-large and civic groups.
Oak Hill is grateful to Governor Malloy and the Connecticut Bond
Commission for allocating one million dollars towards the purchase and
renovation of Camp Hemlocks to help make this vital program a reality.
Oak Hill’s plans are underway to renovate the camp and restore programming
with the goal to reopen in June of 2015.
Response
Early programming considerations include: summer camp, programs for
veterans and seniors, adaptive sports and potential partnerships with
organizations like Special Olympics.
If you would like to contribute to provide
camperships or support to the overall camp
program, please contact Ruth Hayes, Chief Development
and Communications Officer at 860.769.3834 or
email ruth.hayes@OakHillCT.org.
Corporate Partners
AT&T
Bartlett Brainard Eacott Inc.
CompuMail Corporation of CT, Inc.
Connecticut Business Systems
Connecticut Home Interiors
Connecticut Natural Gas
Connecticut Pharmacy
Eddie’s Bradley Auto Body and Sales, Inc.
Fusion Cable Systems
Gaffney, Bennett and Associates
R. A. Georgetti & Co.
The Hanover Insurance Group
May, Bonee & Walsh Inc.
Medline Industries, Inc.
New Britain Medical Supplies, LLC
Patterson Maintenance Services, Inc.
Reid & Riege, PC
Webster Capital Finance
Grants Awarded to Oak Hill
Thank you to the following
foundations for their support:
The Beatrice Fox Auerbach Fund
Barnes Group Foundation
Harry F. and Carol H. Barnes Family
Foundation
Mabel P. Brady Trust
The Eugene and Margaret Blackford
Memorial Fund
Harold and Rebecca H. Gross Foundation
Help for the Blind of Eastern Connecticut
The Main Street Community Foundation
The William and Alice Mortensen
Foundation
People’s United Community Foundation
Sky Bight Foundation, Inc.
Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation
Walmart Foundation
VOLUME 1 – 2015
Connect
THE IMPACT OF A LIFELONG MISSION
Friday, March 27, 2015
“Oak Hill helped me move in this direction.
They gave me the chance to get involved at a young
age. I fell in love with this place and I’ve been able
to carry on this mission throughout my life.”
When you answer your calling, lives
change: both yours and those you help.
After a few years, Oak Hill asked
Ned to serve on their Advisory
Board, then later to become the
Board Chairman. Today his company,
Wentworth, DeAngelis & Kaufman is
also a major corporate partner.
Ned realized that Oak Hill was not
just an institution. “This is a successful
place that nurtures, protects and takes
care of the most vulnerable people
in our society to ensure their comfort
and well-being,” Ned explains.
“I could see immediately that Oak
Hill’s employees were saints. While
(9am-3pm)
GOING CHROME?
Participants will explore: the Chrome Browser
and Operating System, a world of extensions
and apps and Chromebooks options (hardware).
Place: The NEAT Center at Oak Hill
they can’t take the place of parents,
they care deeply. That goes across the
board, from employees to executives:
I cherish the innovation and change
Barry Simon is
bringing to Oak Hill,”
Ned added.
Ned Wentworth first heard about
Oak Hill over 40 years ago when
he learned about his
high school friend’s
sister, Mary, who was
severely challenged
“This type of creativity
and secluded at
and growth will help
home. When Mary’s
us meet the future
family discovered
needs of more clients,”
Oak Hill, they found
he explained. “That is
the help she needed. Ned Wentworth, lifelong supporter
one reason I became a
Through their
member of the Emily of Oak Hill. (Pictured with Chief
Development Officer Ruth Hayes,
dealings with the
Wells Foster Society,
at The Inspirations Gala.)
organization, Ned also
to plan for the future.
became involved.
With the instability in our economy,
we don’t want our clients to become
In 1974, at age 27, Ned began to
volunteer. “I would go to Oak Hill on victims. When donors make provision
for Oak Hill in their estate plans, it’s
Wednesdays. My first assignment was
a form of insurance for the next 25
a young kid named Freddie. He was
to 30 years. We all have to share in
a biter! Everyone was afraid of him,
that responsibility.”
but he loved me. It was kind
of cool because we could walk
anywhere on campus and people
would give us all the space we
needed,” Ned recently reminisced.
“I counseled many young kids and
discovered early on that you get
more than you give here. This
place just kept calling me back.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, April 27, 2015
(9am-3pm)
EVENT FOR AUTISM AWARENESS!
AUTISM, APPS, AND AT...OH MY!
Learn about assistive technology tools that
help support students and individuals with
Autism in a variety of environments.
Place: The NEAT Center at Oak Hill
Friday, May 22, 2015
(9am-3pm)
MOBILE TOOLS AND ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY DISCOVER THE
POSSIBILITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS
WITH DISABILITIES!
Explore various assistive technology tools
and mobile devices such as tablets, iPads, and
Livescribe Smartpens for students and individuals
entering or re-entering the workforce. Place:
The NEAT Center at Oak Hill
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
VISION OPEN HOUSE
(10am-1pm)
Learn about the latest equipment and services
currently available for people who are blind
or visually impaired.
Place: The NEAT Center at Oak Hill
“If you’re thinking about doing
something good for society or for a
REGISTER: neatmarketplace.org
non-profit, I would urge you to call
or contact Julie Hein at
Barry Simon or Ruth Hayes. Ask for
860.243.2869, x 3151 or
Julie.Hein@OakHillCT.org.
a visit to an Oak Hill group home. I
guarantee you, when you witness the
care and the love and meet our clients,
you will want to become a supporter,”
said Ned. “I see a lot of unpaid
volunteers. These are people
MISSION MATCH?
who write checks, people who
care, and people who are trying
Are you interested in becoming
to make life better for others.”
“I don’t know what kind of guy
I really am and someday I’ll be
judged on that,” Ned speculated.
“But you try to do the right
thing and the best you can.
People can learn from Oak Hill.
I’m honored to be part of this
120 year success story. It’s been
a great adventure for me.”
a donor, volunteer or corporate
partner? Would you like to learn
more about the Emily Wells
Foster Society and how you
can leave a legacy to Oak Hill?
Please contact Ruth Hayes at
860.769.3834 or visit
OakHillCT.org.
120 Holcomb Street • Hartford, CT 06112 • 860.242.2274 • info@OakHillCT.org