Oregon daily emerald., August 03, 1978, Page 3, Image 3

School for handicapped reopens
Government grant bolsters
local mainstreaming efforts
By TODD ADAMS
Of the Emerald
Although an anticipated expansion
of services may not be forthcoming, a
model preschool program for hand
icapped children will again offer its
services to Eugene-area parents
next school year.
Bolstered by a $105,000 grant
from the U.S. Office of Education, the
preschool program will again provide
classroom and outreach training to
help handicapped children prepare
for introduction into public schools.
“The program is designed to pro
vide early introductory services for
multihandicapped children,” says
program director Bill Fink. “The chil
dren range in age from one to five
years."
A summer session of the pre
school program ends Thursday,
marking the completion of the
program’s first year under expanded
funding, the bulk of the money com
ing from the Oregon State Mental
Health Division and from federal
grants.
r ...v, ^innjieii wno nave ueen
ready for integration into public
schools have successfully made the
adjustment from the preschool pro
gram in the past two years.
“There is no charge to the parent
for our service,” says Fink, whose
office is housed in the Clinical Ser
vices building on 18th Avenue, just
west of the School of Music.
“Our referral service is pretty
casual,” adds Fink. "All a parent has
to do is talk to me, and if I can deter
mine in one conversation whether the
child might qualify, then I refer them
(parents and child) to the Crippled
Children's Division, also housed in
Clinical Services.”
After an examination with the Crip
pled Children's Division, the child is
admitted to the program if there is a
vacancy, otherwise the child is added
to a waiting list.
“We had just one or two class
rooms before this year,” says Fink,
adding that there are now five in the
program.
But there are several funding con
tracts still pending for the coming
year, and an anticipated expansion of
services may not be forthcoming
from the Lane Educational Services
District.
“This past year we had 48 kids,
and we had about 20 or 25 in our
outreach program," adds Fink. “We
now have five certified teachers and
five aids.”
There are six teachers including an
OlltrPSf'h trainor n/hn a 5 nart of tho
outreach program, enters the home
of the handicapped child and works
with the parents to prepare the child
for introduction into public schools.
Parents played a crucial role this
summer in getting an additional class
started through donations. Another
class was sponsored by the College
of Education, making four class
rooms available for the summer ses
sions.
More specifics about the preschool
program are available from Fink by
calling his office at 686-3575.
W
Emerald Photo
A more than $100,000 federal grant will keep the preschool program for handicapped
children solvent for another year, at no charge to the parents. The services may not
expand, but classroom and outreach training still helps the children gear up for
introduction to public schools. This summer marks the first time the school, which is
funded in part by the U. S. Office of Education, has enjoyed expanded funding from the
Oregon State Mental Health Division and other federal grants.
Sidewalk Sale...Books by the Pound
Old edition hardcover and paperback textbooks.
Some new, some used, for
Only 150 per pound
Today and Tomorrow
August 3-August 4
On the sidewalk in front of the store.
13th & Kincaid 686-4331 Open. Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30
BOOKSTORE