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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1979)
Friends YWCA Friendship Program warms lives of disabled children By MARY FORAN Of the Emerald “Jay’s a ham,” says University freshman Cindy Lima as her 8-year-old exceptional friend grins broadly, stuffing marshmallows into his mouth between smiles. He excitedly gives the sign for ‘awe some" as he dances around the room in perfect time to Cindy’s guitar strums. Jay Taylor plops down on the floor to exchange Christmas pre sents with Cindy because they haven't had a chance to fce to gether since last term. Cindy gets woolly gloves and a bear hug, and Jay gets Rowlf — a Muppet hand-puppet — which Cindy hopes to use to develop Jay’s ver bal skills. An exceptional child in many ways. Jay is loving, cheerful — and has cerebral palsy, a disorder of movement and posture caused by brain damage that can affect a child’s ability to walk, talk, and sit up straight, and depending on the extent of damage, may involve hearing and vision as well. Through a careful screening process, Kristy Bennett, director of the YMCA’s Exceptional Friend ship Proyam, ' matches’’ volun teers with exceptional chicken in a program designed to bong stu dents and community people into the lives of physically and emo tionally disabled youths/ages 4 to 18. SEARCH credits are available through the University's Special Education Department, and vol unteers are given tips on working with the handicapped at weekly program meetings. However, Bennett says the main emphasis of the program is to develop the independence and individuality of the exceptional child through the long-term friendship of someone who cares. “Its excellent work experi ence," Bennett adds, saying that persons interested in special edu cation careers can use the pro gram to "feel out” whether they re ally want to work with the hand icapped. There are 27 active vol unteers so far, says Bennett, with 26 children still on a waiting list "And we're always getting new re ferrals from the Easter Seal School and the Eugene public schools.'' “We could really use more men in the program," says Bennett. Only two of the 27 volunteers are male. ‘‘There are quite a few Ptato ty P*rick S^van Jay Taylor, who suffers from cerebral patsy, spends a late Christmas with his ‘excepdonaf friend, Cindy Lima. Lima, a University freshman and volunteer in the YWCA Exceptional Friendship Program, says she has become very close to Jay, often spends seven or eight of her weekend hours with him beyond the weekly minimum of three required in the program. single parent families where the child's only contacts are female. They need a male role model in their life," says Bennett, adding that some parents specifically ask for a male volunteer for their child. Bennett says her personal goal is to make the experience positive enough so that the volunteer’s re lationship with the child continues beyond the minimum six-month commitmenf."■*One volunteer has been in the program for three years,” Bennett says. The exceptional chad s need for a long-term, caring friendship is essential, says Bennett. ‘‘If the volunteer cannot continue seeing the chad we urge them to keep in touch by phone or letter so that it is not another refection for the child.' The program commitment may soon be extended to nine months TOMORROW Banana Split Sale at Dairy Queen Buy one at regular price get the second one for ^ C 13th ft Milyartf HAIR TODAY NATURAL HAIR DESIGN FOR WOMEN & MEN DRY CUT designed for your hair and you. For those on a tight schedule. $8.50 WET HAM CUT AIM STYLE designed for you and your hair for easy care and the air-waved style. A completed style to go anywhere $9.00 COMPUTE STYLE includes shampoo, moisturizing conditioner, blow dry and hair cut designed for you. A completed easy care style. $12.00 Reromter «e carry me finest of professional hair care products tor your use 561 E. 13th Ave Across from Max s 485-4422 (Downstairs in the EMU dose to the Recreation Center 687-1347 40 E 10th Ave Downtown 484-1200 to further emphasize the need for a growing relationship. “W always keep in touch with Jay,” says Lima. “I really care about him.’’ AII the girls in Cindy’s dorm know Jay and he loves to visit, she says. “I think anybody would have a good time doing this. We've become so close — he’s my special little brother in Oregon.” Her own little brother in California watches her with in terest when she practices sign language, she says. “The experience is good for both people,” says Lima, adding that most people are uninformed about the handicapped. Once people are pushed into coming close to the handicapped, they realize there are no barriers there, she says. It's a lot of fun." “ ‘Normal’ kids have a tendency to took,” says Lima, who ap • proaches the problem directly by explaining the situation to the chS dren so they won't back off. “Adults are almost worse than children. They’ll pull their kids away.” Lima says the time commitment is not a burden, adding that she sometimes spends seven or eight hours with Jay over a weekend far beyond the minimum three-hour weekly activity commitment “I look forward to spending the time with him — I think of it as my fun time,” says Lima. The pro gram isn't forced on you, she says, and you have a long time to de cide. The volunteer first observes the chid in a classroom setting before making any commitment. For more information on the Ex ceptional Friendship Program, call director Kristy Bennett at 686-4439, or come to the informa tion table in the EMU from 9 am. to 5 p.m. today. 0 Adelphe House The Shiloh House has recently been purchased to meet the needs of cooperative interdenominational Christian housing for women students. Located at 1910 University Street Winter Term: Capacity for 25 women students - $60/month; with kitchen privileges. By Spring Term: Completely remodeled capacity for 50 women students - full service room and board. For information and application call Lois - 683-2904
