Students and staff explore technology at local trade show

A small group of PACTT students and staff attended the Assistive Technology Industry Association trade show in Schaumburg last month. The group, including PACTT's Assistive Technology Coordinator Robert Mann, were able to interact with representatives from technology companies, and test out the newest Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. 

Lead Transition Teacher Lauren Mucha and transition team member Laura Kinkley accompanied two of their students on the trip. Students used a wall-sized version of the DynaVox touch screen, saw updated versions of their current devices, and explored alternative communication systems.

Read the Chicago Tribune article about the conference.

For information on ATIA, visit their website at www.atia.org.

   

PACTT-Parker partnership continues

Today, PACTT school, transition, and adult programs welcomed a new group of volunteers from Francis W Parker High School. The 17 high school juniors will spend eight scheduled days with PACTT students over the course of the school year. Some days will be on site at PACTT, and some will be on Francis Parker's campus -- including our May Field Day. 

The Parker juniors' visits are part of a community-based class, focused on autism and other disabilities. As they work with PACTT folks, they'll get some hands-on experience in an area with which many of them are completely unfamiliar (for now!). PACTT students get a chance to make new friends, build social skills, and experience visits to a more typical high school.

It's an incredible program, all-around, and we look forward to getting to know our new Parker friends this year!

- Paula

Welcome to a new school year!

This year brings with it two big additions for us here at PACTT:

  •  Three new students and their families have joined our school program!
  • Our Transition Program is up and running in its new space - across from the current adult vocational site. The Transition students and staff have been incredibly flexible as we grow into the space, slowly but surely. (We'll have pics of the new space soon!)

This Thursday, Sept. 16th, is our School and Transition Open House for current families. Staff members will be available at both sites from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. to meet and talk with families. We'll also have some fun goodies for you to take home!

Transition Parents -- You can go straight to the new center (1544 W. Morse) to meet with Lauren, Shaun and the gang.

School Parents -- If you'd like to check out the center, we plan to lead a group over there around 7:30 p.m.

Yearbooks are here!!

Our 2009-2010 school yearbooks have arrived! Each student will receive one copy of the yearbook, which you can pick up at Open House. Additional copies will be available Thursday night for $15. If you can't make it to Open House, and still want an extra copy or two, let me know.

You'll also have the opportunity to order prints of your students' individual portraits. We certainly have some good looking kiddos 'round here! Order forms will be distributed with the yearbooks, and photos will arrive in time for holiday gifts.

Speaking of holiday gifts ... we are once again selling Entertainment Books. We earn money for each book we sell, but we need to sell at least 40. Each book costs $25, and has hundreds of dollars worth of savings inside.

Order forms and books will be available at Open House, or the info will be sent home / mailed on Friday. Please remember to specify whether you want the Chicago North/Northwest or Chicago South/Southwest editions.

Thanks to Kathleen Falco for coordinating our Entertainment Book sale! If you have questions, you can email her at tkfalco@yahoo.com or call her at 847-581-1168.

Last but not least -- it's time for another round of Boxtops for Education. Check your Cheerios, Ziplock bags, Pillsbury products, and more for the pink Boxtops logo. We get 10 cents for each one collected (that may seem small, but it certainly adds up!). Send any boxtops you have to school by Friday, Sept. 17th, or bring them to Open House. (Feel free to send them along at any point throughout the school year, also -- but I'll let you know when the official collection dates roll around).

As always, if you have questions, comments, concerns, or happy thoughts (my personal favorite!), feel free to call or email.

Thank you all for your support as we jump into this new school year!

- Paula

PACTT teachers present at national conference

Last week, PACTT teachers Sarah Aldrich and Lauren Mucha presented a poster session at the national Council for Exceptional Children conference in Nashville, TN.

The topic of the session was "Community Employment for Students with Severe Autism," and discussed the components of a successful transition program with an emphasis on community employment.

Congratulations, Lauren and Sarah, on a successful presentation!

Folks we know: A parent's perspective hits the shelves

From the Gravity Pulls You In publisher's website:

"View the universe of autism--its marvels, chaos, and life-changing impacts--through the eyes of the contributors to Gravity Pulls You In. In 33 essays and poems, mothers and fathers raising children on the autism spectrum explore their lives in the context of autism's gravity, discovering what's important and what they find centering."

Flip through Gravity Pulls You In: Perspectives on Parenting Children on the Autism Spectrum, and one of the contributors' stories might start to sound familiar - that's because it's the voice of Ellen Pinkham, a member of our PACTT family. In her essay, and throughout the book, parents of children across the spectrum share common (and uncommon) struggles - but most importantly, showcase the uniqueness of the experience of each of our children and families.

The collection, edited by Kyra Anderson and Vicki Forman, is available on amazon.com and (for a discounted price) through the Woodbine House website.

Congratulations, Ellen!

Q: When is a plate of cheesy nachos more than a tasty snack?

American Red CrossA: When the sale benefits the American Red Cross and its disaster relief efforts in Haiti.

Today PACTT's student community service club hosted a nacho sale, in the hopes that we could do our part to help the earthquake surviors and disaster relief in Haiti. Students helped make signs to advertise the sale, and manned the nacho table this afternoon.

After all the classes filed through the kitchen, and the donations were totaled, we celebrated -- our small nacho sale will send $300 to the Red Cross!

Thank you to everyone who participated in today's sale! 

Additional donations to the Red Cross efforts can be made through the American Red Cross website.

 

Jewel Shop-and-Share Days - update!

Click to download the Dec. 28-29-30 shop-and-share coupons!First, thanks to everyone who supported us on our first Jewel shop-and-share in October -- more than $2800 was spent to help PACTT. We received nearly $140 from that week! We'll keep you posted about our November success as soon as we find out.

In the meantime, start planning -- our December Jewel Shop-and-Share dates are Dec. 28-29-30. Simply give the coupon to the clerk at checkout. They'll fill in how much you spent, and ask you to sign it. Then PACTT gets 5% of your purchase total.

It's as easy as that!

 

Vote for PACTT!

Chase Community Giving is giving away $5 million to local charities. Top vote-getters can win $25,000.

Click the "Vote for us" picture and we could be one of those winners!

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AND U.S. Cellular's "Calling all Communities" program is giving away $100,000 to 10 top vote-getting schools. Visit your local U.S. Cellular store, to get your voting code, then vote online.

For more information, visit U.S.Cellular.