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FARMINGTON – In celebration of books, of bringing the community together and appreciating individual differences, Cascade Brook School is holding a week-long series of events called a Community Read.
Beginning on Monday, May 3, nationally-recognized author Cynthia Lord of Topsham, will present discussions of her book, Rules with students. Rules, which won the John Newbery Honor in 2007 as well as seven other national awards, focuses on a 12-year-old girl named Catherine who is simultaneously challenged and envious of her autistic brother, David. Catherine teaches her brother David rules she’s made up to help him cope with potentially embarrassing moments.
Lord, a former sixth- and first-grade teacher who has a child that is autistic, will be signing books for purchase before school, from 8 to 8:30 a.m. and at the end of the school day, from 2:30 to 3 p.m.
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Following discussions with the author, students on Tuesday, May 4 will have small group discussions on the book, Rules and create their own rule books for their lives. On Wednesday, May 5, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., members of the community are invited to participate in small book discussion groups with students about Lord’s book. Extra copies of Rules are currently available for the public at the Farmington Public Library and at the Cascade Brook School library.
On Thursday, May 6 students will be engaging activities that simulate a variety of disabilities. Some of the activities include students who will be asked to line up in alphabetical order without talking, having to perform fine motor skills, such as writing, while wearing gloves; wearing “blindness” goggles, taping thumbs to their hands while they try to do everyday skills.
In the evening of May 6, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the public is invited to a panel discussion with Dr. Iris Silverstein and parents of handicapped children at Cascade Brook School. Silverstein of Franklin Health Child & Adolescent Developmental Pediatrics provides evaluation and treatment services for children and teens with developmental delays, autism spectrum disorders, attentional difficulties and attention deficit disorder, anxiety disorders, and school and behavior problems.
On Friday, a sibling and student panel will invite more discussion surrounding the issue of disabilities and, at the end of the school day, a presentation of a picnic table built and donated by the Farmington Rotary Club to the school will take place from 2:15 to 2:55 p.m. The table will provide an outdoor venue for various hands-on activities the school’s special education students will be engaging in with other students.
The Community Read is in large part thanks to the Farmington Rotary Club and the New England regional Rotarians which each donated a $1,000 grant for the project. The idea for the event came about after Kenny Brechner, a volunteer at the school, mentioned the Community Read at Messalonkee school, in which activities that involve the greater community revolve around a book.
The project is important say Community Read organizers Patricia Flint, the school’s librarian and the district’s volunteer coordinator Pauline Rodrigue.
“Seeing adults reading and discussing with the students what they’ve all read is important,” Rodrigue said. “It crosses age differences and brings in different viewpoints,” Flint added. Focusing on autism with a subtext of honoring individual differences helps promote an open and accepting community at a young age.
“It’s a combination of how we treat each other and creating a positive atmosphere. It’s respect for each other and the community,” Flint said.
