Fall News

 

SCALE UPDATES

The volunteer sites available to SCALE students are growing!  Sunbridge Nursing home and the EPIC preschool have been added as options for vocational experiences  as well as Hannah Dustin Nursing Home.  Some clerical tasks from our central office also have been added to the training experiences available to the trainees.

The Annual Food drive for Lazarus House was a great success again this year with the students collecting and delivering 10 full boxes for food to the Lawrence shelter. 

An excerpt from a letter from H. Bridget Shaheen the Director of Lazarus House:

"Thank you for taking the time to remember these wonderful men, women, and children who can rest just a little bit easier because you chose to care."

The SCALE class continues to work very hard on applying, in the community, all the practical academics that they are learning in the classroom. The students continue to do paid work at the Wyndham Hotel in Andover, Vicor Corporation in Andover, Skyworks in Woburn, and Polycom in Andover. They have also been practicing their budgeting, money management, banking, cooking, doing laundry and a variety of other independent living skills.

Missy delivering mail at Skyworks, Woburn, MA

Steven in cooking class at SCALE

 

Robert in Social Studies class at SCALE

 

 

We get letters.....

Excerpts from a letter to a SCALE trainee, Leon Krupnik... from a SKYWORKS employee, Wanda E. Cipollo, who has been a great support to our program:

"...I would like to present Leon with two theatre tickets as a small token of thanks on behalf of Skyworks Solutions, Inc......he came across a piece of paper lying on the floor...and brought it to me....this piece of paper was very, very, important to another employee within our facility and would have caused this employee a tremendous problem if not found.....Thank you Leon for acting in such a responsible manner...."

Kudos to our volunteers

Excerpts from letters received at SCALE regarding our hard working volunteers:

From assistant gift shop manager at Holy Family Hospital:

" ...I thought you might be interested to hear about the wonderful work ethics of two of your volunteers that come to the C.H.F.H. Brett Shimer and Gail O'Brien are the most pleasant, well-mannered and hard working volunteers I've seen at this hospital: they are always smiling and busy. They are a credit to your organization."

From a MSPCA volunteer:

"It is truly the pleasure of my week to see this group on Monday afternoon. Their dedication to happily taking care of housekeeping needs combined with their clear love of the animals in our care, shown by both walking and spending quality time with the animals, is precious. Their time spent at the MSPCA warms the soul of this animal lover!"

Vocational Transition Programs Overview

The SCALE and VISIONS Programs are experiential transition/vocational programs serving students with special needs and young adults. These programs are based on the belief that community experience is an effective means of increasing self-esteem, vocational maturity and employment skills. Each person is an individual with unique skills and motivation who has the right and responsibility to develop and use strategies that will enable him or her to achieve a realistic, fulfilling adult lifestyle.

The VISIONS and SCALE Programs strive:

• To provide individuals, regardless of disability, with a foundation of knowledge, skills, and behaviors that will enable a successful transition to competitive employment and adult life
• To develop a range of opportunities for integrated employment so that individuals can make choices about where and under what circumstances they will work.
• To enable private sector employment by developing marketable entry-level job skills.

Mission Statement

The SCALE and VISIONS Programs are composed of people dedicated to creating, in cooperation with others, innovative and genuine transitional and vocational experiences for individuals with disabilities. These experiences will assist the individual in achieving a fulfilling adult lifestyle and in becoming a contributing, participating member of their community.

For additional information about the SCALE Program, contact:

Mary Ellen Dixon, Program Director