SAVE THE DATE !!!

CLASS Fall Art Auction and Craft Fair on November 8, 2007

Open House 6 PM to 8 PM
Live art auction begins at 7 PM - One Parker Street, Lawrence MA

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Think of all the "simple pleasures" we have in life...talking to friends 24/7 from virtually anywhere thanks to the technology of cell phones…flipping through 150 channels quickly with our remote control from the comfort of our favorite chair…typing an e-mail to 10 friends at the same time without having to say a word. Technology has changed the way society lives in a large way.

But while many of us take for granted these simple things, people with disabilities by and large don't benefit from this technology. If you can't push a small button on a remote control or physically open a cell phone and dial or if you are unable to coordinate the fine motor skills necessary to type an e-mail, the world of technology is not available to you.

CLASS' Assistive Technology Solutions (ATS) Program has been embarking on a mission to remove these technological barriers for people with disabilities, offering adaptation in technology based on need, and as a result, a voice to the inner spirit.

To be able to effectively change people's lives through the use of assistive technology, the ATS program has a team of dedicated leaders, working to advance the ATS mission.

Julie Herget is the Director of Clinical Services and oversees the ATS program. Julie has 25 years of experience working with adults and children with disabilities.

Stacie Selfridge is the Assistive Technology Manager and has managed this department for more than two years. In addition, she has more than six years experience as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and eleven years working in the disability field.

Stacie is responsible for coordinating the efforts of the AT team, which includes a pool of consultants from a variety of disciplines including occupational therapy, speech and language, information technology, and electrical and mechanical engineering. She also oversees CLASS' contract with Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission to provide AT services to assist people in obtaining their independent living and vocational rehabilitation goals.

Jim Francis, M.S., is the Senior Assistive Technology Specialist and has an educational foundation in engineering, and progressive experience in assistive technology. Jim is responsible for providing the spectrum of program services to the disabled community through the selection, acquisition and use of assistive technology devices.

One focus for the team this year is to begin assisting special education programs in school systems across Northeastern Massachusetts. "Bringing assistive technology into the school system is a large need. A lot of school systems don't have the resources available to adequately meet this need," said Stacie Selfridge. "Our goal is to help them find solutions to this problem and offer greater opportunities to their students."

"Through assistive technology, we have the tools to open up not only students' worlds, but the world of all people with disabilities," said Stacie. "We hope to bring this technology to as many people as possible."

If you would like more information about Assistive Technology Services, please contact Julie Herget, Director of Clinical Services, at 978-975-8587 ext. 1220 or jherget@classinc.org.

Ambar Paulino, IDS Specialist, hadn't been working at CLASS long before she was inspired to start a new project in the Integrated Day Services (IDS) program room she was working in. After completing a Human Rights Project with her group, during which they learned about the rights people have or don't have in other countries, it got Ambar thinking about differences in cultures around the world. This thought led her to create the "Diversity Project."

Ambar wanted to do something new with her group to educate them about different cultures, and incorporated this idea into their daily activities. Through the project they were able to learn where countries were located, languages spoken in those countries, lifestyles, the food they eat, the meaning of their flags and how their governments are structured. Two times a week the group would go to the computer room to research on the internet. During cooking group, they would make food such as enchiladas from Mexico, crab rangoons from China and raviolis from Italy. Ambar and the individuals in her room would discuss the differences between the way we live here and how people live in other parts of the world.

"The individuals enjoyed the project because it was something different," says Ambar. "They were excited to learn about other cultures and were disappointed if there was a day we weren't able to work on the project."

Why did Ambar feel that learning about diversity was important? "A lot of people don't know about cultures other than their own and there is a lot we can learn from people who live in other countries," says Ambar. "It's important for the individuals to be exposed to this because we are a diverse population at CLASS."

A by-product of the Diversity Project is that staff, visitors and individuals from other programs can see posters on the walls of CLASS celebrating diversity with pictures and flags.

"It's great to have someone like Ambar who is motivated to come up with creative ideas." said Carol Martin, IDS Manager and Ambar's supervisor. " The individuals in her program have learned a lot because of her initiative."

It is Ambar's hope that the Diversity Project is just the beginning of continued efforts to educate the individuals served by CLASS about the many facets of the world we live in.

General Mills is dedicated to their consumers and to providing innovative new products. General Mills is also committed to making a difference in the community.

One way they have accomplished this is by providing a worksite for individuals with disabilities in CLASS' Employment Services Program. A primary goal for this program is to find jobs for individuals in the community. The staff at General Mills has been very easy to work with and the supervisor goes out of his way to have personal relationships with the individuals from CLASS. CLASS appreciates the partnership we share and the consistent work General Mills has provided as our largest worksite location. Thank you General Mills for being a Community Partner!

CLASS is very pleased to recognize the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center as a Community Partner in our Department of Public Health funded Obesity Reduction Project. GLFHC provides primary health care to 38,000 patients from Lawrence and neighboring communities. GLFHC operates four neighborhood clinics in Lawrence, two school-based health centers, and the only federally funded Health Care for the Homeless program in the Merrimack Valley.

In the spring of 2005, CLASS began working with Bob Ingala, CEO, and Dr. Jeff Geller of GLFHC to establish a first of its kind program intended to address rising obesity concerns amongst individuals with developmental disabilities. The program has enrolled 20 individuals with developmental disabilities into the established and respected Alternative Medicine Group Programs at GLFHC head by Dr.Geller. The program includes a combination of exercise and health education and is located at the GLFHC.

The Department of Public Health is so satisfied with the results of the program that they have continued funding for year two. CLASS appreciates the willingness of GLFHC to host and lead this ground breaking program that is demonstrating tangible improvements in the health and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Community Development at Sovereign Bank is committed and dedicated to serving the financial needs of the community by investing the Bank's resources and by employee participation. Sovereign Bank has accomplished both of these goals at CLASS.

One way Sovereign contributes to CLASS is through Jim Warren, Vice President of Business Lending, who is a dedicated member of our Board of Directors. Jim serves on our Finance Committee and provides valuable insight and instruction. Also, this year Sovereign presented CLASS with a generous $10,000 grant in support of the Arc of Greater Lawrence. In addition, Sovereign Bank has donated items for our annual golf tournament and supported our annual Ad Book. We are grateful to Sovereign Bank for their support of our programs. Thank you for being one of our Community Partners for 2006!

The Frank C. Meyer Company is a packaging company located in Lawrence. The company began in the early 1900's and now has locations in five states across the country. In June of 2005, they set up a contract with CLASS to produce envelope boxes that supply their New England customers. We appreciate the initiative of the FC Meyer Company to set up a workshop with their machinery in our facility. This job has provided several individuals with consistent work and the opportunity to learn something new. These individuals have enjoyed running these machines and the opportunity to work in a smaller workshop setting. Thank you Frank C. Meyer Company for being one of our Community Partners for 2006!