Programs aid children
Services match
disability needs
By JIM ROTH
Of the Emerald
Over 50 Eugene families with handicap
ped children are taking advantage of the
Lane County Direction Service, a project
which helps find special programs for chil
dren of all ages with a variety of handicaps.
The service first provides families with
information about local programs, then de
termines the child’s needs and places the
child in the program.
The service, which covers a broad scope
of programs including educational pro
grams, tutorial services, recreational and vo
cational opportunities and child care, is
funded by the Bureau of Education for the
Handicapped — part of the Department of
Health, Education and Welfare. All services
are free.
Project coordinator Wendy Marmont and
case coordinator Marshall Peter feel there
are enough services in the Eugene area to
provide for all the area’s handicapped chil
dren, but selecting the right one is difficult
for parents. The coordinators at the sen/ice
are familiar with local special programs and
can match each child’s personal needs
with a particular program.
“We don’t tell the parents that they
should go to this program as opposed to
that program: the ultimate decision is up to
the parents,’’ said Marmont. “We also try to
help families take a look at future planning
since we do work with children up to 21
years old.”
The coordinators of the direction service
are professionals with experience in special
education. The service also maintains two
part-time paraprofessiona’s who are par
ents of handicapped children to help make
the service more personal and less of a
strain for new clients.
“We can help people understand what is
going on and give general support and
some counseling, especially to new
families,” said Peter. “Sometimes we go
with the children when they begin their spe
cial programs to make sure everything is
right.”
The service began in January as the re
sult of studies by the Rand Corporation
which found that many parents and
specialized professionals are unable to
cope with the large number of special ser
vices, some of which are limited to specific
handicaps. The service is one of 17 like it in
the United States and is a model for other
direction services. The Lane County ser
vice is also, compiling data to determine
what additional programs may be neces
sary in Lane County.
“We handle all types of handicapped
children — physically, mentally, emotion
ally disturbed, behavior disoriented, blind
and deaf,” said Marmont. “We are working
with over 50 families now but we are capa
ble of helping many more. Right now we are
interested in getting the word out to people
who need help.”
Any person aware of a handicapped child
in need of services is encouraged to contact
Direction Sen/ice, as long as the child is 21
or under, is not already enrolled in special
programs and is in school. The service is
located at 17361/2 Moss St. and is open
weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wendy Marmont, project coordinator of the Lane County Direction Service, plays with a
handicapped child. Through the service, children with special needs are matched up
with supportive programs.
Advantages seen
in summer session
By STEVE BELL
Of the Emerald
Most students think of summer as a time to travel, enjoy the sun or
work. For many, however, summer is a time to make-up classroom
credits.
The University offers an extensive summer session program that
Clarence Schminke, summer session director, calls “a mini-academic
year.” In addition to the basic eight-week courses, students may enroll
in weekend seminars, workshops or classes with a duration from one to
four weeks.
“The classes usually meet only Monday through Thursday so there
are almost always three-day weekends," says Schminke. Since the
student body is only half the size of the academic year, there are no
crowds around all the time and this can be pleasant.
An attractive feature of the summer session for non-residents is
that all students enrolling pay in-state tuition fees based on the last
academic year. In addition, no formal application for enrollment is
required of any students.
Schminke’s goal for summer session has been to eliminate many
high-cost, low-enrollment courses. “We have a very tight budget which
we have to stick to, so we have eliminated many luxury courses to better
meet the needs of students attending the session to pick up necessary
credits," says Schminke. “Many of the students attending class in the
summer want to graduate sooner than the normal four years so we try to
accommodate these students through our course offerings.
Film programs and other campus activities will continue in the
summer. Foreign study excursions are also available to students, in
cluding a trip for romance language students to several foreign coun
tries. 1
Students planning to attend the summer session should fill out a
registration request card and return it to the summer session office in 64
PLC in order to insure that registration packets will be available at
registration. The packets will not be ready for anyone who does not fill
out a card, even if the student is enrolled at the University this term.
Registration for summer session will be June 20, with classes
scheduled to begin June 21.
NEED A LITTLE
DIRECTION?
EUGENE TRAVEL
831 E. 13th
687-2823
Get your life
Oregon-tzed
The. Ohiversitv s Summer Session is the.
time to put. some "Oregon-ization into
' your life. You can- probable pick up those
extra course? you've been wanting to take
but couldn't find time for during the regular
academic year. Classes begin June 21. All
students pay resident tuition.
Visit the Summer Sessit^a Office for your
free copy of the Summembession Catalog .
and advice on "Oregon-izing" your life
Call extension T475 or drop by Room 64.
FLC for more information.