July 2, 2018, Hartford (CT) Courant: Pine Grove School Receives Grant For Sensory Toolboxes http://www.courant.com/community/avon/hc-va-avon-pine-grove-elementary-sensory-grant-0705-20180702-story.html In Lori Maniatis' second grade classroom at Pine Grove Elementary School in Avon , a space called the "peace place" is reserved for students who need a little time to themselves. A colored curtain falls to the floor and inside, a student can fidget with a variety of objects designed specifically for that purpose. When they feel better, they can exit and rejoin the class. This is just the start of what Pine Grove is providing its teachers and second grade students to better equip them for these kinds of moments. The Avon Education Foundation recently awarded the entire second grade a grant worth nearly $3,400 that will be used to purchase sensory toolboxes that they said promotes engagement attention and behavior…. The grant will purchase six sets of these items that will make up the sensory toolboxes for all of the school's second grade classrooms. Inside them are weighted lap pads, chair bands, desk bands, sensory seating cushions, visual timers, stress ball fidgets, squidget fidgets, desk buddies, and anywhere chairs….
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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