Monthly themed activities provide safe, fun social outlet
(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com 1/14)
By Mike Lauterborn
© 2011. All Rights Reserved.
1/14/11
Fairfield, CT – They came, they saw, they ate and they socialized.
The participants were young adults with special needs age 18+ and the attraction was Movie Night held early Friday evening at Casey’s Place, a space in Wakeman Hall at the First Church Congregational, 148 Beach Road. The featured film was the popular animated “Up” and various snack food supplemented the showing. The event attracted over two dozen people, including a few parent and professional chaperones.
“We started this program in Fall 2006 in honor of my daughter Casey,” said Jan Laster, a member of First Church. “She passed in July 2004 of brain cancer. She was sick for nine years. I know what parents of some of our program participants are going through. It’s a tough thing to see your child in distress.”
Laster said the program meets a very simple need. “People in any walk of life need to have outlets where they can socialize in a safe environment. Our attendees have a whole range of disabilities including autism, blindness, learning difficulties, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc.”
For Laster, the program presented a healthy diversion. “It was a way of dealing with my grieving process and gave me something to do as well. I need to do, do, do.”
Providing some program background, co-event coordinator Cathy Lambert said, “We meet October through May on the second Friday of each month, from 6:30 to 8. We have a theme and different activity every time. Last month it was survival cooking and a holiday party. Next month will be a Valentine’s dance. We usually have about 22 young adults attend.”
Lambert is a special education teacher in Fairfield Public Schools and taught many of the attendees when they were children. Supporting Lambert and Laster with event coordination is a small team of professionals including an occupational therapist, retired teachers, a paraprofessional and a speech therapist.
Of the team, Lambert said, “They were very helpful in the beginning with building social skills and continue to be helpful in engaging attendees in conversation or helping with a project like December’s cooking event.”
While the program is held at the church, it is not church funded. All funding is awarded through a grant process and SEPTA (Special Education PTA of Fairfield), as well as through individual contributions.
Parents and staff also pitch in with food. “Sometimes people come with baked cookies, soda and water,” said Laster. “At our cookouts in May, they will bring side dishes to augment hamburgers and hot dogs.”
The community has also been very supportive of the program. “One time, we took the group to a Bluefish game and the team supplied the tickets,” said Laster.
The program goes beyond just offering a social outlet. “We’re working on not only social skills but life skills like cooking, summer safety and more, better preparing these young adults to be independent.”
The program has truly had an impact on participants. Said Deena Deitz, 23, who has cerebral palsy, “I’ve been coming since the beginning. I like to come to see my friends, get to hang out a little bit and see what’s going on. We remind each other about events through Facebook. One of my favorite past events was dancing. I can keep my own pace, which is important as the right side of my body doesn’t work so well. I can let my guard down.”
Parents have been equally impressed. “This is just fantastic, a great social outlet for these young people,” said Dianne Baxter. “We used to have to facilitate to get them to socialize but now they get together on their own. I didn’t expect it to leave Casey’s Place and it did. It’s a blessing. You just want to be here.”
The program has also fostered a relationship or two. Baxter’s son Jeff, 25, who is intellectually disabled, had the fortune to meet Melissa Gennari, 21, who has cerebral palsy, and they have been dating for almost a year.
“I never expected to meet someone here,” said Gennari. “It’s been really great. We go out to dinner, movies, bowling, each other’s houses.”
Laster officially commenced the evening by ringing a set of chimes to get everyone’s attention and gather in a circle. Each person introduced themselves to the group and then collected a snack and sat in a one of several rows of chairs that had been set up in front of a portable movie screen.
“Here we go!” said Amanda Fleita, 31, a smile of great delight spreading across her face.
For upcoming events and more information, email Cathy Lambert at clambert@fairfield.k12.ct.us or call her at 203-259-2241.
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