Latham Was Represented

On May 19,2009, individuals and staff members attended a rally at the State House along with over 1500 others to let our legislators know how devastating proposed state cutbacks would be. Peter and Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary led advocates in protesting the Senate Ways and Means Budget which eliminates service for over 23,000 citizens with disabilities

Pam, Lois, Justin and Kevin along with staff members Bill, Rob, and Brenda made the trek to Boston to make sure our voices were heard. The streets were packed as people expressed their concerns about the proposed cuts.

"In union there is strength."
~Aesop

Latham Girl Scouts Blaze a New Trail

Latham is excited to announce that they are in the early stages of forming their own Girl Scout troop! The Girl Scouts offer many life experiences that all young girls need to be exposed to. Through Scouting, girls learn independence, self reliance, leadership and cooperation. They also get to enjoy the fun and laughter that is part of any troop.

For the initial meeting last week, 14 girls came out to participate. All were active in introducing themselves, singing songs, playing Girl Scout games and creating “Friendship Bracelets” out of beads. The first meeting lasted about an hour and a half and each girl left the meeting happy, positive and eager to come back for more.

Where this Girl Scout troop will end up is still unknown. The hope is to develop the troop to a point where we can incorporate more activities, gain more community involvement and make the troop a fixture at Latham for years to come. It is a wonderful way to help our students participate in peer mentorship.

Presently, we will have troop meetings every two weeks. This format will last through the summer and everyone involved will evaluate the troop in the fall. Just like the Girl Scout motto of “Be Prepared”, Latham always strives to bring more richness to the students we serve.

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself."
~Henry Ford

L.A.S.A.R. Group News

The Latham Adult Services Althletic and Recreation (L.A.S.A.R.) group continues to sell soft and cuddly teddy bears dressed up as motorcyclists, basketball players, karate experts, cowboys, kings, and princesses. The money raised will be used to support various activities, including camping and Special Olympics.

Bears are available in the Adult Supervisors' office for $10. For further information, call Jen Bauer on campus at 508-896-5776 ext 200.

"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet."
~Colette

Bring to Light Candles..."Candles for a Cause"

Latham Centers would like highlight Bring to Light Candles, a business being run by individuals with PWS. Latham administrators had the opportunity to visit this growing business and chat with the employees who create a beautiful product in a variety of sizes and scents. Please be sure to visit their website: BringtoLightCandles.com. They specialize in custom favors for weddings or special events. Look for them on: TheKnot.com, TheWeddingChannel.com and Partyspot.com.

"There are two ways of spreading light; 
to be the candle 
or the mirror that reflects it."
~Edith Wharton

Nursing News

The week of May 6 -12, 2009 was National Nurses Appreciation Week. To honor the incredible commitment of the nurses in the Adult & Children’s Programs of Latham Centers, Inc, the Director of Nursing hosted “High Tea” at a local restaurant. A great time was had by all as we ate scones, tea sandwiches and sugary confections. Creating and sustaining a program of excellence continues to be a focus for the nurses of Latham Centers.

"Nurses are angels in comfortable shoes."
~Author Unknown

Latham Students Learn About Massachusetts State Government

On Monday, April 27th, four students from the Latham School in Brewster visited the State House. They met with the Senate President, learned State House history from a well-informed tour guide, and watched our government in action. The group caught the feeling of political drama because it was a day when the Legislature was debating the raising of the sales tax.

After the students had their picture taken, Senate President Therese Murray, who is the first woman to hold this position, told them that the House of Representatives were debating the raising of the state sales tax. When asked how they felt about raising the tax on candy, all four Latham students were firmly opposed. One observed that, “This would really ruin Halloween.”

Students also experienced first hand the rights of citizenship in a democracy as a group of protesters marched through the halls during their tour, loudly but peacefully. Although the protestors made it difficult at times for the students to hear the tour guide, they learned the importance of freedom of speech, as well as the responsibility of citizens to be aware and involved in the legislative process.

"Information is the currency of democracy."
~Thomas Jefferson

Come On Out and See the Parade!

Every spring, the town of Brewster hosts an event called Brewster in Bloom. This is a time for the community to enjoy the pre-summer quiet and hopefully some beautiful spring weather to go along with it. There are events, festivals, open houses, a running race and several parties. Brewster in Bloom is a wonderful small town celebration and is one of the reasons why Brewster is such a special town to experience.

Along with all of the other events, there is also the Brewster in Bloom parade. Once again, The Latham School will be entering a float. This years entry is entitled “We are Blossoming at Latham." The parade is one of the times during the year that our small community is able to connect with the larger community in which we exist.

Latham would not be able to be as great as it is if it was not in such a wonderful town as Brewster. Our kids are supported, helped and cared for by many in this small town. From citizens, to emergency personnel and town officers, Brewster takes very good care of Latham.

Brewster in Bloom will take place May 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Please click HERE for additional details. See you at the parade!

"Earth laughs in flowers."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring Begins with a Running, Jumping, Throwing Start

It is rare to have a spring on Cape Cod that isn't a wet, dreary mess until June, but this year we have enjoyed a semblance of one. This spring has brought along the beginning of our Special Olympics track and field season. Coaches Jessica Majewski, Deb Carroll and Danielle Kinder are leading a full squad to the South Sectional Assessment Round on May 2 at Barnstable High School. We have a number of returning team members, but it is even more exciting to see a high number of first time athletes joining the team. Please support our Latham Hawks as they compete against Special Olympians from around the Cape.

Special Olympics is a very important part of life on the Latham campus. It is our goal to involve as many students as possible in Special Olympics because athletics possess so many potential lessons. It is important for all kids, but especially our kids here, to be active, engaged and running around. The staff at Latham are the backbone of the program and the kids would never have all of the wonderful opportunities they have unless it was for the tireless work of our coaching volunteers.

"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream."
~Author Unknown

From the Diet and Menu Group

The Diet and Menu group has met three times since Dr. Forster’s visit in February. We are currently working on upgrading the menu to make it more “user friendly” for both the staff and the individuals. We are also in the process of color coding the sheets, so that it is more apparent what types of foods the individuals are eating. This will assist the staff in preparing the meals, but can also be a teaching tool for the individuals in proper nutrition and eating a balanced diet.

Another goal of the group is to increase consistency in how the menu is used. Our next meeting is on April 21st in the kitchen of the former administration building. Please come and join us and share your ideas!

"The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement."
~Author Unknown

A Report From the Behavior Group

One of the biggest areas of concern when our group first met was the lack of sexual education for the PWS adults. This has been an issue we have discussed for a while and have consulted with both Dr. BJ Goff and Dr. Forster about. Both doctors agreed that sex education has to be handled very delicately since all that is taught will be put into practice by our clients, and many with PWS will not understand the potential consequences of those actions. It was decided that all sex education will be handled on an individual basis and will be dealt with as issues come up.

Prior to Dr. Forster’s visit this fall, there were a number of regular behavior problems in Children's Services. In order to address this more effectively, we put schedules up in the dorms and began planning lots of activities. The students rely on the schedules now. We have seen a dramatic decrease in anxiety for students since the consistency and predictability of their day is in a highly visible location. Our Adult Services staff also pays very close attention to the level of structure and has seen similar benefits.

Another area of concern was how to help our students and adults organize their rooms. After much discussion one of the staff from the Adult Program shared how they deal with this issue. He said, “When things start seeming crowded or overwhelming, staff go and help weed out and sort through the mess.” Children’s Services adopted this technique and staff worked together to weed out and neaten the boys rooms. When they returned from school they were told that every morning when they leave for school nothing should be on their floors. We did this a month and a half ago and their rooms are still looking as neat and clean as the day staff did the clean up.

"Part of courage is simple consistency." 
~Peggy Noonan