Inspirational
Frankie started at The Victory School at the age of 6. He had little to no discernable vocals and no sign language. Over the past 6 years Frankie has transitioned from a 1:1 student teacher ratio to a 2:1 student teacher ratio. He has also acquired many life skills that will expand his independence such as preparing his favorite tuna sandwich, watering a garden or dialing his mother’s phone number on the telephone. Frankie’s vocals and sign language repertoire has also expanded. Frankie now has over 30 signs and 5 words with which he can communicate his wants as well as comment on his environment. Frankie continues to excel in his daily living skills and functional academics
Parker G. was only 3 years old when he joined TVS in 2008. At his evaluation he only spoke one or two words. He was very cautious of his environment and needed a lot help with transitions. The Verbal behavior techniques used at The Victory School emphasize the learner as a speaker not just a listener, Parker quickly became a chatter box. He even made friends and enjoyed playing chase on the playground. Parker has left our school for an inclusive program that includes children with disabilities and their typically developing peers. He is doing wonderfully and had a smooth transition. The Victory School is very proud of Parkers success.
Amazing
Some success stories from the narratives of The Making Friends Aftercare and Summer Camp Programs’ submitted over the past year of 2010…
Month of April 2010
At the “Making Friends” After School Program for the Victory School there have been many successful moments for each of our students this year. They have all shown great progress and enhanced many different life skills at our program. During our busy afternoon, we teachers have found that for this last quarter of the school year, our students have shown most improvement during Art and Sensory time. Art and Sensory comes right after Culinary Arts. Early on in the school year, the students lingered after Culinary Arts needing much prompting to move onto the next task of Art and Sensory. Now, they are engaged and excited for Art and Sensory time. The students help pick up their food and place mats, wipe down the table with antibacterial wipes and help set up for Art. With little prompting, some of our students follow through with the directions given by their teachers such as “let’s get the markers and crayons” or “let’s get the chalk for chalk time”. The students at our program have developed individually as well as a group. They use their sharing and social skills, asking nicely to borrow art tools from their peers. Most of the students have learned the concept of personal space, now being able to all work together at one table without complaining and instead embracing having each other’s company. Each day, our students surprise us with a different achievement.
Month of August 2010
The “Making Friends” Summer Camp Program experienced several success stories during the Summer of 2010. One of the success stories that must be shared involves a 9 year old boy, with Autism, and a group of boys his age that he became really good friends with this summer.
According to the parents of the 9 year old boy, he has had difficulty interacting and building relationships with children his age due to the fact that he is unable to speak, has limited communication skills (child uses 3-4 signs for making basic requests), and displays behavior difficulties that often interfere with appropriate socialization.
While attending the “Making Friends Summer Camp”, the 9 year old boy accomplished (what the name of the camp illustrates) “making friends.” With the support of his summer camp teachers, he was able to learn to join his peers in all of the scheduled activities.
By mid way through the summer, he required minimal prompting to interact/engage in activities with his new friends. By the end of the summer, he would independently join his friends in playing kickball, musical chairs, miniature bowling and freeze tag. He made a lot of friends this summer and made extraordinary progress with his social skills and fitness programs. In addition, he acquired several new signs, including the sign for break, which enabled this boy to appropriately mand for a break when necessary, resulting in a decrease of maladaptive escape behaviors and increase of appropriate social and communication skills.
Month of September 2010
I have to begin by saying that my son Julian is now 10 years old. He is autistic and he is non-verbal. He is a lovely child. He absolutely loves the victory school and its staff. Every morning during the summer, my husband I can see in his face and by his actions how excited and enthusiastic he is about heading over the victory center campus. Julian has attended the summer and after care program for two years in a row. He gets along with Will and all the other teachers. Because there is a 2 to 1 student to teacher ratio, I am confident that my son receives the right attention. I have seen progress in my son. Julian is obsessed with water: When he goes to the beach or a pool, he would put water in his mouth and play with it like a fountain. Well, not anymore, thanks to Will and Joey from the Victory School. On the first fieldtrip to the beach the staff of the school realized what Julian was doing. By putting salty water in his mouth, it damages Julian’s stomach, so he would have to constantly go to the bathroom after he came back from the beach. But not anymore, thanks to the victory school. One other thing that Julian learned while attending the program was to button and unbutton his clothes. This is a simple thing to us, but for autistic children is not. The trained professionals at the school just know how to teach our special children. As you all might be aware, unfortunately having a child with autism is very expensive. The generosity of The Children’s Trust and its funding makes it affordable for the parents to send their special children to this excellent program which has the proper trained professionals who know how to teach our special children in a special way.
Month of September 2010
Our family would like to express our sincere and profound gratitude to The Children’s Trust and the entire staff at The Victory Center for the wonderful experience our son Nick had at the “Making Friends” summer camp this year. He had a chance to be with his peers and caring and knowledgeable adults. Social impairment has been difficult for him to overcome. The physical activities and fieldtrips are nothing short of miraculous. We never thought we would be able to sit together as a family and watch a movie. Nick has developed more patience in the summer program. He also learned many facial expressions which really help a non-verbal person. Nick has also learned to do things independently. Everything from brushing his teeth to opening containers, The Victory School staff helped him with these important tasks to help him gain dignity and pride in his daily activities. My son depends on this program to thrive. I truly believe this is helping to save his life and enrich the lives of those around him who love him so much.
