On October 11, 2011 Frontier Options, an adult center sponsored by Frontier Community Services,  celebrated with Linda Higgins, Beulah Nommay, Gladys Holycross, and Lavern Davis as they graduated from the Being Safe Class sponsored by Pioneer Center/Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities. These ladies participated in a nine week class, which consisted of a one hour class per week. 

They learned specifics on the topics of: knowing and recognizing basic abuse, misappropriation, neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. Each year when individuals are given their Bill of Rights for People with Developmental Disabilities, they typically have no questions. They are given this information annually by Pioneer Center Service and Support Administrator, but there may or may not be alot of conversation at that point. 

Howver, the Being Safe class gives them a visual example of what their rights are, and demonstrates what it means to have those rights violated. It is an intensive and extensive discussion. It is a tool we use to teach our individuals to be more independent and to empower them to speak out, and advocate for their rights. 

Something that is shown on the videos or discussed in the class may just be what an individual remembers if there is ever a situation in their life. The class also aides each participant to indentify and establish a “Safe Person”. This is a person that the individual identifies whom they feel they could talk to about anything that could potentially happen. Once this person is established each individual will notify their safe person, and let them know about the classes they are taking, and that they have identified them as their safe person. 

If the person is receptive, then they give the individual their contact information and accept that role. This helps complete what has been learned throughout the course, and ties everything together so that,  no matter what happens, there is someone specific for the individuals to turn to in the time of need, or crisis. 

On the last class there is a special Graduation Ceremony, where each participate is acknowledged individually and receives a certificate of participation. The  class shown  enjoyed breakfast together as a celebration of a job well done! 

In the photo, left to right standing, are Kathy Smith, MUI Coordinator and Being Safe trainer, Linda Higgins, Lavern Davis, and Laurie Martin, Lead Service and Support Administrator and Being Safe trainer. Seated are Gladys Holycross and Beulah Nommay.  

If you are interested in taking this course please call the SSA office at 740-775-7044 and ask to speak to Kathy Smith or Laura K. Martin.

PIONEER AND CCI TEAM UP TO HELP THE KIDS!

Chillicothe Correctional Institute deserves a huge thanks from Pioneer School for its generosity in building picnic tables to sit inside the Pioneer Track and Field complex shelter house. Under the direction of supervisor Frank Tackett, and officers Jim Brown and Joe Stevenson (with some help from Pioneer staff and students) the extremely durable tables were carried to the shelter house. Up until then, only minimal seating existed there. The shelter house is used for parents, staff and visitors for T-Ball games and other track and field activities, and is extra valuable for students who cannot tolerate the sun or heat for extended periods of time. 

CCI and Pioneer would also like to thank the CCI Carpentry School teachers Dwight Walls and Terry Pritchard, and the three inmates who spent 110 hours of labor time on the tables. We also thank Tony Fultz, Supervisor of Ohio Penal Industries, and Deputy Warden of Operations Brian Wittrup.

Shown in the photo are: several Pioneer students, staff member Ben Caine, CCI officers Frank Tackett, Jim Brown, and Joe Stevenson.

As our county agencies and divisions seek partnerships in order to run efficiently, CCI provided an example of just how it’s done. Thank you!

Bell Choir performances, under the direction of Music Therapist Kris Ramsey, have been in full swing with several community invitations. They recently performed at the Pickaway-Ross Vocational School for the Kenworth Retirees luncheon and at the Tyler United Methodist Church for the Daughters of Revolution Christmas luncheon.

Sing-Along Groups, from the school age students, are traveling to Heartland, Westmoreland, and Frontier Options this month.

Christmas Program-Everyone is invited to the Pioneer School for the annual Christmas program on Dec. 14^that 1:00 p.m.

Smart Board-Josh Zickafoose, our new Autism Specialist has already started to add to the Sensory Room with a new idea. He suggested getting a Smart board (a 77 inch, interactive, touch screen) to offer additional sensory stimulation with sights and sounds produced by the Internet. The donations from our local Moose Lodge covered the cost of the purchase. Josh and Chita Lewis will be working with staff on how to use this interactive tool to enhance the learning and climate for the students at Pioneer.

Sign Language Professional Development-All communication specialists from our EI and School-age depts. (Abby White, Nell LaRock, Maria Dudzinski, Susan Anderson, Josh Tripp, Kris Ramsey) have been meeting to create additional opportunities for promoting sign language so we can use it all throughout the school environment with our students, staff and in the home environment with families. The intent is to increase the interactions among students because of so many of our students needing an alternative communication mode.

The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio has begun local support group meetings for families with children with Down Syndrome. The meetings cover Ross and Pickaway Counties, and will be held from 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. at Tyler United Methodist Church, 260 Mill St., Chillicothe, OH.

Each meeting will feature a speaker beginning at 7:00 P.M. Pioneer's Certified Music Therapist Kris Ramsey will be the featured speaker for February.

For more information contact representative Kim Kuehnle at (740) 412-8548, or kimberly.turtle@gmail.com.