School achieves integration of disabled students

Dozens of new faces dot the halls of St. Helen's School in Niskayuna; they belong to the students, teachers and parents of the Achievements program.

Achievements is a Latham-based agency that provides educational and therapeutic services for pre-schoolers and children with developmental disabilities and delays.

At the beginning of this semester, seven students from the Achievements program were integrated with pre-K and day-care students at St. Helen's School, the first Catholic school to offer such an arrangement.

Parental input

Achievements came to St. Helen's thanks to the actions of concerned parents.

Late last year, explained Tami Callister, Achievements' owner, the organization was looking to move an existing classroom to a new location. A St. Helen's parishioner whose child was in the program suggested the school, which responded enthusiastically.

Achievements' philosophy is that children with special needs learn faster and better when they work with peers, said Ms. Callister, who is a catechist and a member of St. Ambrose parish in Latham. "Children learn best from their peers and through play. Our children need a lot of help and support in those areas."

All together

The Achievements students mix with St. Helen's pupils throughout the day, playing games, learning lessons, going to gym class, engaging in art projects and listening to stories.

A day at the St. Helen's integrated classroom "looks very much like any other pre-school, with circle times, [learning] centers, and large and small motor times," explained Ms. Callister. "We also eat lunch together."

St. Helen's principal, Sister Anne Marie Glenn, PBVM, noted that the relationship has been beneficial for all.

"It helps our children to see children with special needs, and learn to be open and tolerant of them," she said. "It has also helped our teachers" through classroom teaching partnerships, staff development and the sharing of ideas.

Collaboration

Achievements teachers have been helpful in answering questions that St. Helen's teachers have about specialized topics within child development and vice-versa, said Sister Anne Marie.

"Our staff absolutely benefits from the collaboration," Ms. Callister said. "It's a partnership. The whole goal of integration is so that children with any type of disability can be allowed to be with their typical peers instead of in a setting off by themselves. The children really get to learn more about differences, and accept and embrace them, and that's a positive."

"We're looking into other opportunities within the Catholic-based community," said Ms. Callister. "It's been incredible -- the amount of warmth and support we've received there."

(Integrated classrooms are available at two Head Start sites in Albany, at a day-care center in Latham and at Watervliet's Seton Family Resource Center, which is a program of Catholic Charities of Albany and Rensselaer Counties. Achievements also runs toddler groups and programs for older children.)

(4/14/05)