Lutheran Family Services of Virginia

A giant red cone, a weighted “lap” turtle, a yoga ball – these are

not just toys, they are important keys to learning and behavior.

These brightly colored items are part of the sensory toolkit

that teachers at LFSVA Minnick Schools use to help their

students with sensory processing challenges.

For some children, especially those on the autism spectrum,

the input from one, two or even all of their five senses gets

tangled up, explains Mary Wilson, autism coordinator for

LFSVA. “Neurologists liken it to a nervous system traffic

jam that makes it hard for the brain to interpret what is

going on and figure out the right response,” she says. The

result can be an overwhelmed child who can have difficulty

with motor skills, communication, learning, or behavior.

“Sensory equipment helps kids tamp down their anxiety,”

says Wilson. “When kids feel better, they can refocus and

be more successful in the classroom.”

What makes figuring out

how to help children with

sensory processing issues

so challenging, she says, is

that every child’s needs are

different, and some may not

be able to express what it is

they need. “A lot of the time

it is trial and error,” she

adds. “We have to be very

creative.”

For students in Amy Lane’s class at the LFSVA Wytheville

Minnick School, sensory tools are incredibly important. Her

students, aged nine and older, often need a sensory experience

when they are overstimulated or stressed out.

continued inside...

Making sense of the worldwith toys that clear the way for learning

Shaun takes a spin in the sensory cone

“Every day these children do something that amazes me. From small triumphs can come great things.”

—Amy Lane, LFSVA Wytheville Minnick School Teacher

FALL 2014

Lane uses PECs or Picture Exchange

Communication System cards so that her

students can point to or show her the card that

indicates what they need. For many students

“deep pressure”—a hard back rub, hard high

fives, or time with a weighted vest or blankets

is calming. Lane says that her students love

large bean bags and the sensation of being

covered up. Squishy balls in different sizes

with lots of texture are also a favorite.

But a sensory tool can be as low-tech as a hair

brush.

Last year the only word 10-year-old Henry

could say was “yes.” Lane says, “We felt that his

frustration with his school work and at mealtime

was hampering his ability to make progress.”

Learning from his mother that Henry liked

the sensation of bring brushed on his arm,

Lane got a brush and set up a system of

communication with the PEC cards so he

could “ask” for the brush when he needed it.

The result was nothing short of astonishing,

says Lane. “Henry calmed down to the point

that he was able to participate fully in the

class with almost no meltdowns.”

And best of all, Henry’s breakthrough has led

to increased use of language. “We had no idea

he didn’t like muffins for breakfast. One day

he just looked up at us and said, ‘waffles,.’”

says Lane. “When he didn’t like what we were

having for lunch he said clear as day ‘peanut

butter sandwich.’”

This year Henry continues to make progress

because his sensory needs are being met, says

Lane. “Every day these children do something

that amazes me,” says Lane. “From small

triumphs can come great things.”

Cozy new homes in BedfordFour new side-by-side cottages in Bedford will be home for a dozen adults with disabilities in the LFSVA group home program. The open, one-floor, specially modified spaces with backyards and patios will make living and socializing easier and more enjoyable, says Elizabeth Maghsoodi, LFSVA group home manager. One resident’s favorite feature? An in-the-door ice dispenser. “Now Marquita doesn’t have to ask anyone to get ice,” says Maghsoodi. “Such a small thing really means independence and abundance for her.”

• Would you like to help? If you would like to

designate your donation for these valuable

sensory items, please do so on the enclosed

remittance form. We give heartfelt thanks

for your gifts, which help us create lives of

abundance for the people we serve.

•Wouldyouliketohelp?Pleaseseethewishlistonthebackpage.

Making sense of the world... continued

Making a difference is easy with workplace givingWorkplace giving campaigns are in full swing through the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), and the United Way. You can designate LFSVA in all of these campaigns. Use these numbers to designate us: CVC #3706; CFC #75391, and for the United Way, just enter Lutheran Family Services of VA on the form.

Another giving opportunity is the Thrivent Choice® program, which lets eligible members direct Choice Dollars® from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ charitable outreach funds to selected charities.

•For more info on workplace giving, planned giving or Thrivent Choice,

contact Ellen Bushman at ebushman@lfsva.org or call 757.722.4707,

ext. 1302. Be sure to ask if your employer matches donations!

LFS foster parents Casey and Annie Gasway share their story at militarynews.com.

Putting the pieces together to help a little girl thrive Meet Anna – “a giggly, loveable, running-around-all-the-time

ham,” according to her adoring mother, Melinda LeVan.

In many ways, Anna is a typical 6-year-old. She loves

Dora the Explorer, dressing up, and her newly acquired

skill—swimming. She has a best friend and is in first grade

at the elementary school where her mother is the reading

specialist. Anna’s father, Kevin, an army veteran, works as a

federal sales manager for CommScope.

But the future wasn’t as bright last fall, before LeVan first

discovered Essential Pieces (EP), a free educational program

in Winchester sponsored by Lutheran Family Services of

Virginia for families with children who are diagnosed on the

autism spectrum.

After Anna’s diagnosis at age 2 1/2, the couple struggled to

find and pay for the broad range of services Anna needed.

Sometimes the simplest things were the most challenging,

like finding a dentist or hairstylist who would be patient

enough to work with their active daughter, says LeVan.

“With autism, families are in completely new territory,”

says Cassie Phipps Purtlebaugh, the director of Community-

Based Services at LFSVA. “Essential Pieces helps parents

better understand their options.”

At Essential Pieces families can share resources and talk to

the many speakers who donate their time to the program.

Programs are held weekly for eight weeks three to four times

a year. Topics range from the financial stress of having a child

with special needs to working with the public school system,

setting up a trust for your child, or trying out the latest autism

iPhone app. There is also a social group for children on the

spectrum and their siblings held concurrently with EP sessions.

During the first session, LeVan learned about something

that would change everything: the Medicaid Elderly and/

or Disabled Consumer Directed (EDCD) waiver, which

makes needed services affordable. “We didn’t know about

the waiver. We thought because we had jobs we wouldn’t

be eligible for any assistance,” says LeVan.

“Applying for the waiver isn’t

about the parents’ ability

to pay,” says Purtlebaugh.

“It’s about getting necessary

services to make their child’s

life better.”

The waiver came through,

and with it Anna is getting

the intensive services she

needs, including home-based

Behavioral Therapy Services

(BTS) provided by Lutheran

Family Services. BTS uses

the principles of Applied

Behavioral Analysis to help

children communicate and

to increase their day-to-day

functional skills. “It has been a

godsend,” says LeVan.

“I tell everyone about EP,” says LeVan, “because I don’t want

anyone to go for years not knowing what is available as we did.”

Life in the LeVan household continues full tilt. LeVan laughs as she

says, “It becomes your normal. With children you take joy in the

simple things,” says LeVan. “Every positive thing is such a victory.”

•Would you like more info? Visit lfsva.org or call 1-800-359-3834.

New vocational lab is up and running.

Thanks to funding from the Richard and Carolyn T. Gwathmey

Memorial Trust and matching funds from LFSVA and the Wythe

County Public Schools, the new Practical Assessment Exploration

System (PAES) Lab at the Wythe County Technology Center is

ready for students. The Lab is a mini-work environment that helps

students learn basic career, vocational and life skills and is shared

by Wytheville Minnick and Wythe County students.

The irrepressible Anna

PAESLab

promise, restored2609 McVitty Road, Roanoke, VA 24018

Specialized counseling for adoptive families. When adoptive families run into difficulties, they need knowledgeable

professionals who understand the unique nature and challenges of building a family through adoption. LFSVA is offering

“adoption competent” mental health services in Southwestern Virginia to help adoptive families cope with the trauma and

loss that can be part of adoption. This service is available at no

charge through a grant to LFSVA from the Center for Adoption

Support and Education. Email Emily Webb at ewebb@lfsva.org

or call her at (540) 774-7100, ext. 1015, for more information.

In-school program expands. Lutheran Family Services

of Virginia has expanded an already successful Therapeutic

Day Treatment (TDT) program into seven Frederick County

elementary schools. TDT is a blend of services that helps

children manage their behavior so they can take full

advantage of classroom learning. “For teachers, it means

another set of hands and ears to help children succeed,

and for students it means immediate feedback about the

problem behavior,” says Christina Coleman, the agency’s

TDT program manager. “Everybody benefits.”

y mission moments

Our MissionWorks is published by LFSVA, 1.800.359.3834, lfsva.org. Editor: Carole Todd, 434.981.9952, ctodd@lfsva.org.

Bedford Cottages for Adults with Disabilities:

y Patio furniturey Front porch furniturey Floor lampsy Kitchen towelsy Potholders

y Washcloths

For more information about donating items to our group homes, please contact emaghsoodi@lfsva.org or call 1.800.359.3834.

Wish list

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