RAK magazine August 2017

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

THE JOURNEY TO JULIA

HOW PHOENIX MOM AND PUPPETEER STACEY GORDON GOT TO SESAME STREET

Special Needs Resource Fair BACK-TO-SCHOOL TIPS

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august 2017

CONTENTS

FEATURES 24

The journey to Julia

Looking back, it’s clear Phoenix mom and puppeteer Stacey Gordon was destined to get to Sesame Street.

26

Dyslexia: The elephant in the classroom

22

A new state law helps Arizona schools identify, aid students.

28

Lice happens

How one family got over the heebee jeebees and got rid of head lice.

DEPARTMENTS 4

dialogue

Tears and goosebumps

6

azgrown

• More choices as Valley districts, schools expand.

• Picture books about storytelling.

• What to do when your child isn’t night trained.

• The value (and practice) of teaching kindness.

• Fidget spinners: Is this fad friend or foe?

• School lunches: Brown-bagging that isn’t boring.

• How to keep kids from drowning.

• Programs offer job skills for those with autism.

• The Welcome to America Project.

32

family time!

• Top August family events • Around Arizona • Onstage

40

behind the ’zine

Generations of gratitude and giving back

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

26 COVER PHOTO SHOOT Sesame Street puppeteer Stacey Gordon in her Phoenix shop Puppet Pie. Hair and make-up by Stevie Rosalie.

PHOTOS BY RICK D’ELIA

16

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dialogue

TEARS and GOOSEBUMPS THIS MONTH, I’ll be that mom gushing tears when I help my 5-year-old put on her backpack and send her off to her first day of kindergarten.

When our nephew started school, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law admitted they sobbed so hard a friend thought there had been a death in the family. “No, Hayden just started kindergarten!” Lisa explained.

It’s a bittersweet rite of passage. She’s no longer my baby (although she always will be).

She’ll be gaining independence and navigating a whole new world, learning to read, testing out friendships and finding her place.

Tears aside, I am looking forward to being part of a community of parents supporting the teachers and administrators who hold the future in their hands. My mom taught for more than 30 years, and I know that to most who teach, it’s a calling. I hope my daughter finds that gem of a teacher who turns on a light, a curiosity and a lifelong love of learning in her students.

There’s a lot for parents to learn, too.

Arizona is unique it its many education options, and the prospect of choosing a school where your child will thrive can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re already gearing up for our second annual Education Fair AZ, so parents can talk with teachers and administrators from more than 75 Valley school districts and charter and private schools.

Save the date: Saturday, Nov. 4 at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort in Phoenix.

This month, we’re also celebrating our third annual Special Needs Resource Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Halle

Heart Children’s Museum, 2929 S. 48th St., Tempe. Last year was my introduction to this free event for families, and it was amazing to see more than 600 people attend our sessions, meet with vendors, enjoy the museum and take home valuable information.

We were hoping to rope in Phoenix’s own Stacey Gordon, who is the puppeteer behind Julia, a muppet with autism that Sesame Street unveiled this spring. Gordon has a travel conflict and is unable to attend our fair, but she did share her amazing story with staff writer Margaret Beardsley. An “autism mom,” Gordon feels so much of her journey prepared her for bringing Julia “to life.” And yes, it’s a complete coincidence that both Gordon and Julia are green-eyed redheads; the puppet was designed years before Gordon got involved.

That fact gave us goosebumps.

Writer Shari Smith this month shares news about a new law that could help many children with dyslexia who struggle in Arizona schools.

Staff writer Dani Horn unravels the mystery of the ever-popular fidget spinner, and explores whether it’s a friend or foe to teachers.

One of the downsides of a new school year is having to deal with head lice, which often makes the rounds. Calendar editor Liz Petroff shares a story that made me feel I will know what to do if/when faced with this, er, head-scratcher.

And writer Mary Anne Duggan explains how to teach kindness — something we all can use a reminder about in these crazy times.

On that note, we wish you the best for a great and stress-free school year.

August 2017 | Vol 28 | No 5 Publisher Karen Davis Barr Editor Kara G. Morrison Calendar Editor Liz Petroff Copy Editor Debra Citron Staff Writers Margaret Beardsley, Dani Horn Contributors Anna Arbel, Debra Citron, Mary Anne Duggan, Karen Fernau, Sheri Smith, Elaine Verhoff Art Director Michèlle-Renée Adams Photographer Rick D’Elia Operations Manager Tina Gerami-Bynum Sales & Marketing Manager Brandy Collet Sales Representatives Shannon Cornall, Kate Greene Marketing Coordinator Cristina Palmerin

Contact Us: editorial@RAKmagazine.com familytime@RAKmagazine.com advertising@RAKmagazine.com subscriptions@RAKmagazine.com 5229 N. Seventh Ave. #102 Phoenix, AZ 85013-1974 P: 480–991–KIDS (5437) • F: 480–991–5460 raisingarizonakids.com

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Kara G. Morrison, Editor kara@RAKmagazine.com

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

R aising A rizona K ids magazine (ISSN 1051-4295) was created to connect Valley families to local resources and share real-life stories about the challenges and joys of raising children. Copy­right © 2017 by R aising A rizona K ids, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Subscription price is $20 for one year or $35 for two years. Back issues are $6 per copy.

The Post Office will not automatically forward in the event of a move. Make address changes on our website or mail changes to our office. Original, locally generated articles, illustrations and photographs are welcome. Guide­lines are avail­able at raisingarizonakids.com.

Horizontal Discover, learn and have fun with us!

RESOURCE FAIR 2017 Sat, Aug 26, 2017 9am - 1pm Halle Heart Children’s Museum 2929 S 48th St, Tempe

RESOURCE FAIR 2017

• Dozens of local organizations that support families with special needs • Informative speakers and demonstrations • Free admission and family fun for all ages in the Halle Heart Children’s Museum

Register online: RaisingArizonaKids.com This annual event is sponsored by:

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

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az grown education

MORE CHOICE AS VALLEY DISTRICTS, SCHOOLS EXPAND As the RAK team begins research for the 21st annual “Schools, etc.” education guide (to be published in November) we’re discovering new additions to the school-choice landscape. Here are some openings we’ve learned about recently.

RICK D’ELIA

EAST VALLEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (EVIT) is opening a fourth campus in Fountain Hills. The campus will offer a new cyber security programming track in addition to programs in anatomy and physiology, digital photography, graphic design, nursing assistant and video production. EVIT is a network of public high schools offering career and college preparatory training. The new campus is located at 17300 E. Calaveras Ave., Fountain Hills. 480-461-4000 or evit.com.

PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT, the state’s largest high-school-only district, is opening two new schools this fall.

Gifted and Talented Academy will open on the campus of Maryvale High School, according to district communications director Craig Pletenik. The “micro” school will enroll 40 freshmen its first year.

The district also will open Wilson College Prep, “the world’s first 100 percent AVID school,” in partnership with the Wilson Elementary School District, Pletenik says. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is offered at many schools Valleywide, but usually as an elective course. The program prepares students — especially those traditionally underrepresented in higher education — for success in high school, college and careers. The Wilson district offers AVID programming in its elementary and middle schools and many Wilson students will be among approximately 120 students who enter the new high school, to be housed in a formerly vacant Wilson district building. Enrollment eventually will grow to about 400 students.

Phoenix Union High School District also operates 10 comprehensive (traditional) high schools along with seven specialty schools: Phoenix Coding Academy, Bioscience, Camelback Montessori, Franklin Police & Fire, Metro Tech, and Betty Fairfax and North (both are International Baccalaureate World Schools). For more information, visit phoenixunion.org.

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is opening a new K-6 campus in south Gilbert.

The charter school network operates 12 schools in Arizona and is opening a Nevada campus this month. ALA promotes leadership, with weekly lessons and daily exercises assembled from the works of authors like Stephen R. Covey, Jim Collins and John Maxwell. 480-344-9894 or alaschools.org.

FACEBOOK.COM/GREATHEARTSACADEMIES

GREAT HEARTS ACADEMIES, a nonprofit charter-school management organization, recently announced a number of changes to its greater Phoenix-area portfolio of schools.

• Archway Classical Academy North Phoenix is moving from its original location within the sprawling Dream City Church campus to a stand-alone site at 14100 N. 32nd St. in Phoenix.

Like all Archway Academy sites Valleywide, it will expand its enrollment from grades K-5 to K-6.

• All Veritas Prep campuses, which have until now spanned grades 6-12, have converted to grades 7-12.

• Maryvale Preparatory Academy, a Title I campus, is expanding to include a freestanding upper school that eventually will encompass all middle and high-school grade levels.

Great Hearts operates 23 schools in the metro-Phoenix area and four in Texas. Its collegepreparatory curriculum emphasizes classical education in the humanities, sciences and fine arts. greatheartsacademies.org.

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AAEC EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL is opening its sixth location this fall at Mesa Community College. The new campus will admit 300 freshman through senior students who are serious about earning college credits — up to and including an associate’s degree — while they are still in high school.

Founded as Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center High School, AAEC also prepares students for careers in various aspects of agribusiness, medicine and healthcare. AAEC Mesa will hold classes in the MCC library while a new high school is built adjacent to MCC. Classes begin Aug. 7.

To register, call 480-222-3999 or email lschneider@aaechighschools.com.

For more information about AAEC, call 602-297-8500 or visit aaechighschools.com.

BASIS CHARTER SCHOOLS this month will open a new south Phoenix elementary school at 2002 W. Southern Ave. (at 19th Avenue) to serve grades K-2. Classes start on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The school will grow by one grade per school year and offer grades K-5 by 2020-21.

“The new school building will have 10 classrooms, including separate kindergarten rooms, an art room a music room, an engineering room, and a ‘connections’ room — named for the innovative course that Basis.ed offers to students in grades 1-4,” Basis.ed CEO Peter Bezanson said in a statement. Basis now operates 14 charter schools in metro Phoenix.

480-447-1795 or basisphoenixsouthprimary.org

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

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az grown books

PICTURE BOOKS ABOUT STORYTELLING*

(*Our civilization may depend on us teaching this one little thing)

By Debra Citron

“If I had a little book, I would name it Friend.

Friend would go wherever I went, our story would never end.”

— from “If I Had a Little Dream,” by Nina Laden

NEVER MIND the whole multiverse thing. Our particular universe is complicated enough. It operates on a multitude of scales simultaneously, from the incomprehensible immensity of black holes, galaxies and superclusters to the inconceivable tininess of quantum particles.

But our normal scale of reference is based on the unaided eye, ear, voice and hand; we humans can’t even properly grasp the incredible, invisible busyness of our own cells. To make sense of the world, our brains take our limited sensory inputs and create networks, frameworks and hierarchies; we organize categories, find patterns, compare and contrast similarities and differences, note sequence and duration, inject emotion, then shape these elements into coherent narratives we tell ourselves. For us, as the poet Muriel Rukeyser writes, “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”

We tell stories: It’s what we do. Every question and every answer is a story. The connections made in our brains create the stories that connect us to the world and, more importantly, connect us to each other. Our remarkable human culture is nothing more, and nothing less, than a compilation of stories — stories, first oral, then written, shared across the world and down the ages.

Stories have consequences — the kinds of stories we learn shape our characters and our civilizations. To preserve our humanity in this vast and lonely universe, we need to teach our children to value great stories that inspire them to make great stories of their lives. Hence a first step: picture books about storytelling.

“The Incredible Book Eating Boy,” written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. Ages 4-8. The benefits of reading stories.

“A Squiggly Story,” written by Andrew Larsen and illustrated by Mike Lowery. Ages 4-7. Making your own stories.

“I Am a Story,” written and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino.

Ages 4-8. The history of stories.

“How This Book Was Made,” written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Adam Rex. Ages 3-6. How a story gets made into a book. (Note: Rex, an Arizonan, wrote “The True Meaning of Smekday,” the basis for the DreamWorks animated film “Home.”)

“A Child of Books,” written by Oliver Jeffers and illustrated by Jeffers and Sam Winston. Ages 4 and older. The joy of reading stories.

“Ralph Tells a Story,” written and illustrated

by Abby Hanlon. Ages 6-8. Where stories really come from.

Debra Citron of Phoenix is a writer and lifelong supporter of children’s literature and literacy.

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

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az grown parenting

NOT NIGHT TRAINED? NOT A PROBLEM — YET

Q:

My 5-year-old is still wearing a Pull-Up at night. I tried for a week to put him to bed without training pants, but he’s such a sound sleeper that he woke up on soggy sheets the next morning, which was frustrating for both of us. How can we make this transition, and how “normal” is it to not be night trained at this age?

A:

Don’t be surprised if your child is dry all day but still wets the bed at night. Learning to be dry during the day and at night are two completely different things.

For a child to be dry at night, the nerve pathways between the bladder and the brain have to become better developed. This also means that your child must be motivated enough to climb out of a cozy, warm bed and venture out to a dark bathroom. And his/her body may not have developed the slowdown in urine production that naturally develops between ages 2 and 7. This may be genetic, and often takes longer for kids who are deep sleepers.

Many parents feel and believe that having their child off Pull-Ups is a major developmental milestone. While it’s certainly something to look forward to, and a skill that many children develop by the time they turn 5, not all kids do. Twenty percent of 5-yearolds are still wetting their beds at night.

The good news is that they usually don’t need any treatment. But it is always a good idea to check with your pediatrician if: • Your child has been dry at night for a while,

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

but then begins to wet at night again and must go back to wearing training pants.

• Your child is 5 and is consistently wetting the bed.

• Your child is completely toilet trained for at least six months and suddenly begins to have many accidents during the day or at night.

After a trip to the doctor, you may want to consider backing off for awhile. Some patience and understanding (two things in short supply in the middle of the night) are keys to helping you figure out how best to support your child. The most important thing to consider is figuring out if your child is motivated to become dry and if he/she is ready to work on it.

There are five signs to look for: • Your child starts to notice that he is wet in the morning and doesn’t like it.

• Your child doesn’t want to wear Pull-Ups anymore.

• Your child says he wants to be dry at night.

• Your child asks if any family members wet the bed when they were children.

• Your child doesn’t want to go on sleepovers because he is wet at night.

Keep in mind that bedwetting is a process that is not under voluntary control. Children do not wet the bed on purpose, and most pediatricians do not consider bedwetting to be a problem until a child is at least 6 years old.

How to create a supportive environment for learning, and reduce the stress associated with bedwetting: • Remind your child that it’s not his/her fault.

• Let your child know that many children at his/her age are also wetting the bed at night.

• Don’t punish or shame your child.

• Make sure the child’s siblings don’t tease him/her about wetting the bed.

• Let your child know if anyone in the family wet the bed growing up.

• Praise your child if he/she wakes up at night to use the bathroom, has smaller wet spots or has a dry night.

• Let your child decide whether to wear a Pull-Up or not each night.

• Handle accidents without anger or shaming.

• Avoid punishment for wet nights or too much praise for nights without accidents (this can make children feel bad when they aren’t successful).

• Limit fluids before bedtime.

• Make sure the path between your child’s bed and the bathroom is lighted.

• Let your child be in charge of the process as much as possible.

Dry nights come with time and patience.

When parents are matter-of-fact about “potty learning” and don’t make a big deal about it, children are more likely to follow their own internal desire to reach this important milestone.

IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS about potty learning or other developmental concerns about your child, contact the free Birth to Five Helpline at 877-705-KIDS (5437) or visit birthtofivehelpline.org.

Ana Arbel, MSEd, is a senior program manager for the Birth to Five Helpline and Fussy Baby programs at Southwest Human Development.

ISTOCK

BIRTH TO 5 Q&A:

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

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az grown parenting

The value of teaching

“If we help to improve kindness and foster empathy in children, we are likely to reduce some of the problem behaviors that concern parents and teachers,” Spinrad adds.

She says research indicates children who show sympathy and helping behaviors are more liked by their peers, more socially competent and less likely to develop problem behaviors.

So, in this polarized world, both the faith and science communities squarely line up behind the value of teaching kindness. But what’s the best way to do it? Here are some concrete steps toward raising a kind child.

KINDNESS

By Mary Anne Duggan

“A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference.”

MODELING

“I didn’t come here to make friends.”

CTR PHOTOS

— A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh

— Virtually every reality-show contestant ever

IT’S FAIR TO say our current cultural landscape is no Hundred Acre Wood.

Divisiveness abounds on cable news, with party lines deepening. The New Jersey Housewives toss tables at each other. And now, with one click of the mouse, we might face an internet troll who makes a sport of being hurtful. What effect might all this have on our children?

To rise against the tide of incivility, many parents and teachers are explicitly teaching kindness to children. Jilly Njaa Ressler and her husband see kindness as one of many character traits they want to instill in their five daughters, ages 9-25.

“I think we realized early on if we were just aiming our kids toward ‘success,’ we would be aiming them to something that wasn’t lasting,” says the Scottsdale mom. Instead, the Resslers seek to orient their children to something bigger.

Ressler, who previously worked as a licensed clinical social worker, connects the importance of kindness to her faith. Part of that faith is helping children understand their own value and recognizing the value of others.

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

She cites “love your neighbor as yourself” and the golden rule of “do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” as important motivations for teaching kindness.

Researchers in Arizona State University’s Project K.I.D. (Kindness in Development) also have a great interest in promoting kindness. Project K.I.D. spent the last year gathering data on more than 100 Arizona K-2 students and their positive social behaviors.

One of the goals of the project is to learn more about what motivates children to be caring — whether toward similar peers or larger groups.

Dr. Tracy Spinrad, principal investigator for Project K.I.D. and a professor in the Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at ASU, is excited about the project’s positive framework. She looks at many forms of kindness, such as helping others, sharing, donating and comforting others who are distressed.

“We also focus on kind emotions, such as sympathy — feeling concern for another, and empathy — feeling similar to what another person is feeling,” says Spinrad.

When my son Sean was 6 years old, he caught his first fish. Instead of dancing with elation, he gently tried to reassure the fish wriggling on the line by petting it and saying, “It’s going to be OK, Buddy.” (We let “Buddy” go!)

At this point, he was likely influenced by what the adults in his life did when, say, he fell off his bike or lost his Power Ranger figure.

Children learn more by watching than listening, which is why modeling is a powerful force.

Ressler sees the special value in modeling during everyday moments. “Sure, it’s great to volunteer at soup kitchens,” says Ressler, “but our children are watching us all the time, every single day. How do we treat the waiter who serves us? How do we treat the new person who moves into the neighborhood?”

Ressler feels if, for example, we are kind to our dog but nasty to the elderly person blocking our way in the grocery store, kids will notice.

“They particularly are observant about how we treat people where it serves no personal benefit to ourselves,” she says.

PRACTICE Spinrad believes interactions between parents and children can set the stage for kindness. She cites four tips for promoting kindness through interactions: 1. Be warm and supportive.

2. Respond to children’s emotions in appropriate ways that are not harsh or punitive.

3. Talk about others’ feelings in ways that draws attention to others’ perspectives.

4. Encourage children to participate in helpful activities.

Ressler witnessed firsthand the power of the kindness of strangers. “When our youngest daughter, Anabel, was very sick with leukemia

some years ago, we pointed out repeatedly how touched we were by all the kindness we received, and our children really noticed,” Ressler says. She notes that her children were especially moved when people they didn’t even know were so kind.

“We talked a great deal about the need to listen in your heart to ways that you can extend yourself to people around you, and then act on it,” Ressler shares. “Don’t just think about it; DO it.”

REINFORCEMENT Of course, we want to strengthen our child’s kindness muscle. But, Spinrad shares some caution.

“One thing we know is that giving children small prizes for being kind can actually be detrimental to children’s helpful behaviors in future situations when there is no reward,” she says.

The thinking is that such rewards take away the inner motivation for being kind.

Some children will think of ways to be kind on their own, and others might need a little support to get started. Suggest small steps to your child, such as sitting with someone in the cafeteria who is eating alone or helping someone with a classroom chore.

Another idea is to start a “kindness box.”

At the start of the month, put a box in your house where your child can jot down moments of kindness, either demonstrated by the child or observed. At the end of the month, read the box’s entries and discuss the effects of such acts.

The power lies in the shared conversations on the value of being kind.

Ressler sums up the importance of raising a kind child: “The thing with kindness is that it moves our children from being innately selfcentered toward being other-centered, which in the long run brings more lasting joy than short-term success.”

Spinrad adds about the process of learning to be kind: “I’ll bet that children are not just learning from their parents, but parents might just learn something about kindness from their kids, too!”

Mary Anne Duggan, PhD, is an educational psychologist and parent of two kind adult children. Reach her at mary. duggan@asu.edu

AUGUST IS DROWNING IMPACT AWARENESS MONTH! Learn the ABC's of WATER SAFETY = Adult Supervision Supervise children and adults around all water. The caregiver should be sober and know how to swim.

= Barriers Block children from unexpectedly getting into water. Make sure drain covers meet standards.

Coast-Guard Approved = Life Vests and Classes Take classes to learn how to swim and be able to perform mouth-to-mouth CPR. Wear a life vest while learning to swim.

For more information, visit

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raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

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az grown back-to-school

FIDGET SPINNERS: Is this

fad a friend or foe?

By Dani Horn

IT IS THE YEAR of the fidget spinner — that pervasive, handheld toy making appearances in children’s backpacks, on playgrounds and in classrooms (or locked away in teacher’s desks) across the country.

The flat, disc-like toy with weighted paddles centered around a small, heavy center spool spins. And spins. And spins.

And that’s about it.

While most adults don’t get the appeal of the simple rotating toys, which sell for about $5-$10 each, kids go absolutely nuts for them.

Fidget spinners are a bit different from other passing fads and kids collectibles (like Beanie Babies). They began as a therapeutic tool for those with sensory issues, such as attention deficit disorder, attention deficit/ hyperactive disorder and autism.

Lauren DuBois, a high school English teacher and director of engagement at New Way Academy, a K-12 Phoenix school that caters to students with learning differences such as ADD and dyslexia, allows her students full access to fidget spinners as needed.

“For many of our students, the ​ mainstream expectation of ​sitting quietly at a desk for the duration of the school day does not work,” says DuBois.

“In our classrooms, we infuse as many opportunities to engage with the curriculum in multi-sensory ways as possible. However, there are still times when students are expected to attend or work independently,” she explains. “Fidgets help tremendously with this. By providing a sensory outlet that can be manipulated ​quietly, students are able to relax, refocus their minds and more readily process the information being given.”

For children without sensory challenges, the collectible appeal remains. Hundreds of different styles and colors can be found and sell everywhere from the corner convenience store

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

to memorabilia, toy and video game shops.

Their popularity has only grown from YouTube videos of fidget-spinning flips and tricks.

As for what kids actually look for in a fidget, experts say it’s all about the spin.

“The length of the spin is always a big thing for kids,” says Sue Engdahl, co-owner of Rocket Fizz, a Scottsdale soda and candy shop that hosts weekly “Fidget Fests” and sells numerous styles of fidgets. “So they want one that spins for awhile, and then there are some that are smoother than others, so they make less noise. They also want something that fits in the palm of their hand.”

“And if it wobbles?” adds Rocket Fizz co-owner Michael Paul. “It’s totally unacceptable.”

Because fidget spinners are often touted as stress-relieving tools that can help with mild bouts of nervousness, anxiety and focusing, many kids and even adults have turned to the gadgets for everyday use in the classroom and at the office. Like the repeated clicks of a pen during a big test or mindless doodling during a business meeting, fidgets are supposed to help one to relax and refocus. So why not just do one of those things?

“I think the obvious [answer] is that fidgets are meant to be virtually silent and can be manipulated under the desk,” says DuBois.

“For adults, I think mindfulness is a great strategy, so if they needed a physical token to remind them to refocus their brain, I don’t see why they wouldn’t benefit as well.”

The fad isn’t welcomed at all Valley schools. Some have banned them altogether to prevent kids from getting distracted by fidgets and their less-popular cousin, the fidget cube — a small square device with buttons, levers, toggle switches and roller balls that can be pressed, pushed and manipulated.

“I myself and my school do not buy into

NOTE: Concerns have been raised about lead in some fidget spinners, so ask questions about materials before purchasing a fidget. it at all,” says Renee Jurado, a second-grade teacher at Nevitt Elementary School.

“We started seeing them around the end of last year, and at that point it was already acknowledged that these were toys, not coping mechanisms. And they were not allowed on campus,” she explained. “Then this year, all of a sudden, we have parents telling us that their kids need it because they are anxious or nervous or have issues. Parents did try to sell it, but for our principal and for a lot of the teachers, they became just another annoying thing that the kids got way too into, and they became a distraction rather than helping anyone to focus.”

There’s no telling exactly if or when the fidget spinner will begin to wane in popularity.

Until then, one thing is certain. Each parent, teacher and child will need to evaluate how best to utilize the twirling trinkets in and out of the classroom.

“I can understand why teachers would become frustrated with the sudden popularity of these devices and their use as toys in their classrooms,” says DuBois. “I hope that they will consider certain students who might benefit from them and teach proper usage rather than banning them altogether or suggest an alternative fidget for those students to use within their classrooms.”

Staff writer Dani Horn is the mother of Victoria (11) and Remy (7).

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raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

15

az grown back-to-school

Justin Beckett prepares healthy school lunches for his sons, from left: Greyson (10) left and Tobin (8).

CREATIVE SCHOOL LUNCHES

HEALTHFUL BROWN-BAGGING THAT ISN’T BORING

By Karen Fernau • Photos by Rick D’Elia

CHEF JUSTIN BECKETT spends most evenings cooking pork osso buco confit and smoked chicken with grilled andouille gumbo for diners at his two Phoenix eateries.

Most mornings, the chef known for his bold flavors is at home with wife, Michelle, packing kid-friendly sushi and nut-butter sandwiches shaped like animals for their two boys. They pack made-from-scratch lunches not because they own restaurants, but because they are parents who believe their kids deserve no less.

“I’m a restaurant chef who is passionate about feeding children flavorful, healthy foods,” says Beckett. “It’s important for our family, and should be for every family.”

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine bolsters his point, noting nearly 13 percent of children in the U.S. are obese, up from 5 percent in 1980.

Like so many families, the Becketts live life at full speed, juggling the herculean task of running restaurants with raising 10-year-old Greyson and 8-year-old Tobin.

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But they still take the time to avoid packing the dietary no-nos blamed for increasing childhood obesity: prepackaged, processed foods that are high in heart-clogging fats, sugar and calories.

Instead, they assemble lunches that are creative, colorful and wholesome, midday meals that end up in their children’s stomachs — not in the trash or on the trading block.

“We keep lunches simple, but interesting,” Michelle Beckett says. “We aim for a protein, vegetable and fruit.”

Nutritionists agree, saying lunch should power children through the afternoon. Brown bags should include protein for muscles, carbohydrates for energy and the brain, and vitamins and minerals for overall health.

The Becketts plan a week’s worth of lunches before shopping — a move that eliminates late-night dashes to the grocery.

They estimate they spend about half an hour each week on school lunches. They also frequently turn leftovers from dinner into lunch — from cold pizza to sweet-potato slices.

A few of their helpful tips: • Include the kids in grocery shopping and deciding what to pack. This increases the chances of kids polishing off their lunches.

• Use cookie cutters to shape sandwiches.

Dinosaurs or bunnies beat out traditional squares.

• Be environmentally smart by packing lunches in reusable containers rather than throwaway plastic bags.

• Think food safety. Add a cooling pack to keep food safe. Or pack warm pasta, chili, stew, soups or stir-fries in a Thermos.

• Substitute air-popped popcorn — a whole grain — for potato chips.

• Make sliced vegetables with fruit yogurt dip or salad dressing a staple. Encourage children to select new veggies to add to their lunch boxes.

• Include a note. A Beckett family staple is a daily note tucked in the lunch box, from words of encouragement to a quick puzzle to solve.

Karen Fernau is a longtime journalist and former food writer at The Arizona Republic.

COLORFUL, FLAVORFUL AND HEALTHFUL LUNCHES Cold packs Make your own frozen-yogurt packets. They will be soft, but still cold by lunchtime. For eight packets, combine 2½ cups plain Greek yogurt, 1 ripe banana, 1 cup strawberries, blueberries, peaches or any other fruit in a blender. Puree, pour into sealable packets and freeze. These go-packs are extremely forgiving. Add a splash of juice for more flavor. For additional nutrients, add protein powder or crushed vitamins.

Breakfast for lunch Pack granola, diced berries and yogurt for a quick-to-assemble parfait; or fruit and milk for a meal in a bowl. Hard-boiled eggs are another easy, protein-packed entrée. When packing sandwiches, opt for whole-grain breads or tortillas. Garnish with sliced cucumbers, slivered carrots, pickled vegetables, sprouts or chutney.

The new PB & J Substitute almond, sesame or cashew butter for peanut butter, and top with fresh sliced strawberries or other fresh fruit.

Chopped salad in a jar

Kid-friendly sushi Wrap cheese, veggies and more in a slice of deli turkey, beef or ham. Opt for low-sodium and low-fat options.

To assemble, place a slice or two of meat on a clean surface. Top with a slice of cheese and celery sticks.

Roll into a cylinder and cut into sushi-sized pieces.

Serve with a dipping mustard. For variety, make with a spinach tortillas as the base, incorporate different cheeses. For the filling, use slivered carrots, olives, pickled vegetables, guacamole or sun-dried tomatoes.

Fill a canning jar with layers of diced avocados, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, squash, sunflower seeds or trail mix, shredded cheese and olives. Drizzle with a vinaigrette. Shake and eat.

Go Mediterranean Pack hummus, whole wheat pita bread, nuts and dried fruit.

Rotisserie salad Dice and toss chicken with mayo, sliced grapes and celery for a filling salad served with whole wheat crackers.

No-heat noodles Pack cold, whole-grain soba noodles in olive oil and garlic salt. Top with cold sliced chicken, pork or beef, edamame, or — for a hearty vegetarian option — steamed vegetables. A Beckett family topping favorite is leftover turkey meatballs.

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

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az grown safety

DROWNING PREVENTION:

How to keep kids SAFE AS PRESIDENT OF the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, Melissa Sutton has comforted too many families who have lost loved ones to drowning. It’s her mission to make parents and caregivers understand the many “layers of protection” that go into preventing such tragedies.

August is Drowning Impact Awareness Month, and a good time to review those layers, which include proper adult supervision, adequate (and legally required) pool barriers and swim lessons that can give toddlers the extra seconds that make a difference between life and death.

“We never know which layer is going to save someone’s life until it does,” says Sutton, who recalls talking to families who didn’t realize a 9-month-old baby could crawl through a doggie door or that an 18-month-old toddler could use his high chair to climb over a pool fence.

Why are you so passionate about water safety? I grew up on Lake Michigan, joined the swimming and diving team in 10th grade and went on to dive in college. My first job was lifeguarding. My mother never learned to swim, and I would see the tension in her face when she took us to the lakes in the summer. She made sure we all learned to swim and made us all wear life jackets. That made a huge impression on me.

Now, it’s the families I have met who have lost (loved ones to drowning). I must do everything I can to not let this happen to another family.

Is drowning more of a problem in Arizona?

The No. 1 killer of children in the U.S. between the ages of 1 and 4 is drowning; Arizona is consistently in the top four states for drownings.

Twice as many adults (32 in 2016) drown in the state than children (16 in 2016) each year.

What’s the most important thing you can teach a child about water safety? No. 1: Always have an

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

ISTOCK

By Kara G. Morrison

adult with you when you’re in or near water. No. 2: Don’t jump in until you learn to swim. No. 3: Wear a life jacket.

Can you explain the Water Smart Babies program? The program enlists the help of pediatricians to educate caregivers about water safety. When a child goes in for either the 9-month or 12-month well visit, the pediatrician hands the family the Water Smart Babies booklet and discusses swim lessons along with the layers of protection (against drowning). The booklet has a Water Safety Checklist and information on fencing, alarms, supervision, life jackets, learning CPR and some statistics about the benefits of early swim lessons. The National Institutes of Health found that formal swim lessons reduced the risk of drowning for ages 1 to 4 by 88 percent.

At what age should children should be taught to swim? Certified Water Smart Babies programs teach swimming to infants as young as 2 months. The lessons must be held at a state-permitted facility, be taught in warm water (90 to 92 degrees), include parents in the water with their infants, offer low instructor-to-parent/child ratios, teach in

a loving, nurturing manner, teach water-safety skills (not just water acclimation) and have a certified lifeguard present. All children need to be in lessons by the age of 1. It’s important that children continue to get as much exposure (as possible) to lessons and water until well into their teenage years, and even into adulthood.

You’ve said even kids who are good swimmers should wear life jackets if they’re out of a parent’s reach. Children need to be in a Coast Guard-approved life jacket until they’re proficient swimmers — not in “floaties” or “water wings.” Those items are toys, not lifesaving devices. Life jackets are required by law on boats until age 12. We (recommend) everyone wear life jackets when on a boat. We know that 84 percent of (adult) boaters who drowned were not wearing a life vest. That’s a pretty staggering statistic. Life jackets are also a good choice in open water — especially if there are currents and rip currents. The purpose of a life jacket is it to keep your head buoyant and above the water line so you can breath and call for help.

What’s the proper way to supervise kids in water? When caregivers take children near or

around water, they need to be hyper-vigilant and avoid distractions. Only bring the phone to call for help in an emergency — not to scroll on Facebook or answer emails. Don’t bring a magazine or book! Either be in the pool with the kids or at least have your feet in the pool. This will help with awareness.

Through its partners, the DPCA also provides water-watcher wrist tags or lanyards (for the designated lifeguard) to help with vigilance and awareness. It reminds the adult that he/she is in charge until placing another responsible adult in charge. Take turns; no more than 15 minutes at a time. This will make time at the pool more enjoyable for all. We also recommend hiring a lifeguard for any pool party — for children or adults.

What physical barriers are needed around a pool to protect kids? A four-sided fence with a minimum height of 5 feet, properly maintained with properly working latches.

(Pool owners should also) have a pool or spa cover that doesn’t pool standing water and alarms on any doors that lead outside. Lock doggie doors that lead out to the pool.

What’s the biggest challenge to educating the public on water safety? Drowning is silent, but there are many people who think it looks like the Hollywood version with a big splash and calls for help. Drowning can happen to anyone, making it challenging to reach everyone with the message they need to hear the most for their situation. Drowning takes lives from all types of people. It looks different depending on your race, gender (more males die from drowning than females), poverty vs. wealth, generational choices (we know that there is only a 13 percent chance a child will learn to swim if their parent did not), access to water, etc.

and front yard is searched first before the pool.

Between 30 to 60 seconds, a child without air will go unconscious, and the clock starts ticking as to their chance of survival. If they are found in under four minutes, they stand a chance, but with varied levels of morbidity. If the caregiver is able to start CPR with breaths, their chance of survival increases. If CPR isn’t started until EMS arrives, the chance of survival quickly diminishes with each passing second.

I’ve read that children with autism are drawn to water and therefore at greater risk for drowning. We’re not talking about this enough. The highest group at risk of drowning is the autism community. With 1 in 68 children (in the U.S.) being diagnosed on the spectrum, this is a huge concern.

What else do you want parents to know? In less than one minute, lives are devastated and change forever. Drowning is 100 percent preventable.

The DPCA exists to never have another family experience the needless tragedy of drowning.

We understand this is a lofty goal, but if we can reduce this epidemic by even one family, it’s worth everything we do. We encourage people to invite us to speak at parenting and social groups, churches, schools, etc. United, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning.

What’s one tip that could help parents? If a child goes missing, people need to search nearby bodies of water first. Typically, the house, garage

Kara G. Morrison is the editor of R aising A rizona K ids and the mother of Sofia (4). Reach her at kara@rakmagazine.com.

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az grown community

Programs offer job skills for those with autism

By Margaret Beardsley

THE FOLKS AT Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center are pouring more than cups of coffee with the latest addition to Burton Barr Library; they’re serving up hope.

This spring, SARRC opened a Beneficial Beans Café at the downtown Phoenix public library as part of its efforts to provide opportunities for people with autism and to help the community better understand the developmental disorder.

Now, both the Beneficial Beans at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library and Burton Barr locations offer internships for people with autism who are hoping to gain job skills and join the workforce.

“A lot of people with autism don’t have job experience,” says Kate Thoene, director of social services for SARRC. “It’s not that they don’t have any skills; they just don’t have experience, and they’ve never practiced. They are nervous, and they’re scared, so this is just a really good safe, positive environment for them to get all of those things before they go out and land a new job.”

The program pairs a teen or young adult with autism (or even an older person) with a typical worker who does nothing more than work alongside them.

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“The key to the program’s success is that clinicians will evaluate the intern’s strengths and weaknesses. So they know what they need to work on to succeed,” Thoene explains. “A clinician who works for SARRC is trained in applied behavior analysis and observes and takes data to come up with interventions that will help interns be more successful.”

Interns do everything from sweeping the floor to manning the cash register to checking inventory. These are not paid positions, but as Thoene explains, the experience is priceless.

According to national statistics, as many as 90 percent of adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed. SARRC boasts that of its clients looking for work, 73 percent have found jobs. SARRC does charge for its clinical services, but in addition to the evaluations, customized internship programs, support and even resume-writing is all part game plan.

Thoene recalls hearing from one mother that the program was life changing. Her then 19-year-old son went through two internships.

His mother told Thoene on a recent visit to the new Beneficial Beans that her son had spent most of his time at home playing video games.

Today he has a full-time job.

Learn more According to Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, about one in 64 Arizonans is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder — a pervasive developmental disorder that affects every age, ethnic and socioeconomic group. Autism can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination, sensory processing and attention, as well as physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances.

To learn more about SARRC and its Beneficial Beans and CommunityWorks programs visit autismcenter.org.

SARRC

Volunteer, Mathilde Rispoli (17) at the Burton Barr Library.

“She was just overjoyed just telling us about what a huge difference it made in his life. Now he has co-workers that are friends, he has a little bit of a social life, and he’s earning an income and contributing to his family. He has that sense of pride and worth and dignity that he was lacking before the internships,” Thoene says.

Autism CommunityWorks is another program SARRC runs at Burton Barr. This was one of SARRC’s first efforts to help teens with autism find a path to employment. Similar programs are also in place at the Phoenix Herpetological Society and Hospice of the Valley.

CommunityWorks pairs teens with autism with typical teens in a peer-to-peer program. Mathilde Rispoli, a 17-year-old senior at Arizona School for the Arts, has been volunteering since eighth grade.

“It’s not just like putting food into boxes,” she says. “Mentor volunteering is different, because you create a kind of friendship with autistic peers, and we learn (we have) common ground and common interests.”

Rispoli’s experience reflects the broader goal of SARRC to promote a better understanding of autism and compassion for those with autism in the community.

CommunityWorks jobs can be anything from sorting and shelving books at the library to making soup at Hospice of the Valley.

“From the first week to the last week, you can see so much progression in the peers who

have autism,” Rispoli says, adding she has grown through the program as well. “I was really shy when I started in eighth grade, and it’s given me so much confidence. When you are talking to people who have severe autism, you can be talking to them and they won’t respond. But it’s because they can’t always. Now, I just recognize … when (people) are harsh or evasive, they may have other things going on, and I don’t need to take it personally.”

Rispoli says it’s also made her more compassionate. “I have so much admiration and respect — not just for people with autism. I’d never thought about things that I’ve been doing since kindergarten that I’ve taken for granted. It was amazing to see all the complexities that go into social interaction and conversation. That was something I’d never thought about before, especially not in eighth grade!”

Margaret Beardsley of Phoenix is a staff writer and former television news executive producer. She is the mother of two adult children.

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raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

21

az grown community

From left: Abdallah Muya (8) reads to Roland (4), Kalani Anderson, and his brother Sharifu (5).

Inset: Roland plays with Sharifu Muya (5) (far left) and his brother Nurru (6).

Even tiny volunteers learn big truths at the

WELCOME TO

AMERICA PROJECT

By Elaina Verhoff • Photos by Rick D’Elia

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

ROLAND ANDERSON isn’t your typical ambassador. For one thing, he’s 3 years old.

And while he’s met people from countries around the world, he’s done it all from Phoenix.

Roland’s mini ambassadorship comes through his volunteer experience with the Welcome to America Project, a Valley nonprofit that provides a warm welcome to refugee families settling here.

The organization was founded in the wake of September 11 by Carolyn Manning — an Arizona mom who saw a newspaper article about a local refugee family from Afghanistan who had lost a family member at the hands of terrorists, just as she had lost her brother-in-law in the World Trade Center attack.

“She tracked down the Afghani family of six in their Phoenix apartment and saw that they had almost nothing,” explains Collin Cunningham, executive director of the Welcome to America Project.

Manning began collecting household items

like furniture, lamps, pots and pans to help provide basic necessities, along with a warm welcome. The effort expanded to provide help to additional refugee families, and soon the organization was born.

Roland’s dad, Kalani Anderson, discovered the Welcome to America Project organization at a transitional period in his life. He was completing an MBA and moving into his new role as full-time dad.

“I wanted to volunteer somewhere that could help me develop some of the skills I learned during my education,” he explains.

“I wanted it to be something I could do with my son that would help him develop an appreciation for the things he has, and a determination to help people around him when they need help.”

Kalani started bringing Roland along on volunteer outings when he was a baby, so Roland has been serving as part of the Phoenix refugee welcoming committee for as

long as he can remember.

“He sat with refugee children from the Democratic Republic of Congo as a volunteer read to them all from ‘The Little Engine That Could,’ ” says Kalani. “He helped set up a car track and then (took) turns racing it around with refugees from Somalia, (and) cried when we had to go home.

“When my wife was able to go with us one weekend, she told me how he played with a playdough set with some children from Somalia. They were taking turns pressing the playdough into the molds and laughing about the different shapes they were making.

The interesting thing is that I realized he is just playing with them as peers, while I had started thinking of them as people in need.”

Even at 3, Roland knows more than many about what it means to be a refugee.

He understands that the moms, dads and kids he meets on “delivery day” are moving to Phoenix because it is not safe for them to stay in their home countries. His dad says they have had countless discussions about the refugee situations in the world.

“Many of his questions have required me to do my own homework first,” says Kalani, who is currently chairing the communications committee for the Welcome to America Project. “We have learned about other nations.

We have learned about other cultures. We have learned about some of the deeper aspects of life and death. We have deepened our sense of compassion for the refugees in the world and in our community. And we have increased our appreciation for the security and opportunities we have in our country.”

As the refugee crisis started to expand in late 2015 and early 2016, Kalani says, the topic of refugees was everywhere — in the news, in presidential stump speeches, in church, in conversations with friends and family. As national conversations continue, Kalani is grateful his son understands the subject on a more personal level.

“He (understands) these refugees as peers and playmates. He knew that they were in a sad and difficult time in their lives, but he could see that, more than anything else we could bring on one of those deliveries, the item of greatest value and meaning that could be brought was friendship.”

We teach comfort & confidence

SPLASH, PLAY & LEARN Roland delivers a toy to the Muya family.

In the words of young Roland, “We should be nice to refugees.”

More than 4,000 refugees were resettled in Arizona in fiscal year 2015, according to the Arizona Department of Economic Security.

(The number of refugees has plummeted locally and nationally so far this year due to new government policies.) When they arrive in Phoenix, refugees receive basic services such as employment help and temporary medical insurance coverage. However, it is organizations like the Welcome to America Project that truly help them feel like they have friends in their new home.

The capacity of government-contracted service agencies is being depleted, yet the international need for resettlement continues to be great, Cunningham explains. “The community support services of organizations like Welcome to America Project are more important than ever, both for filling capacity gaps and for reassuring refugees that they are safe and welcome.”

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HOW TO HELP: Families can volunteer with the Welcome to America Project by holding a donation drive, taking a tour or participating in a Saturday delivery. Call 602-490-0088 or visit wtap.org.

Elaina Verhoff is a Phoenix writer, blogger, traveler and the mother of Riley (13) and Lily (11).

raisingarizonakids.com AUGUST 2017

23

The journey to

Julia

Looking back, it’s clear this Phoenix mom was destined to help bring to life Sesame Street’s puppet with autism.

By Margaret Beardsley

Learn more Visit puppetpie.com to learn more about Stacey Gordon’s puppets and workshops.

Visit azpuppets.org to learn about Gordon’s puppet slam performances (for adult audiences) this fall at Great Arizona Puppet Theater.

Visit autism.sesamestreet.org to learn more about Julia.

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S tacey Gordon

knows how to get to Sesame Street.

Gordon is the Phoenix mom/puppeteer behind Julia, the Muppet with autism who debuted on Sesame Street this spring. It’s a convergence of all her worlds as a professional puppeteer and the mother of a son with autism.

“I cried when I read the script, because as a parent of a child with autism, it was exactly what I wished he’d had growing up,” she says.

Gordon, 39, comes by her love of puppets naturally. Back in Ripon, California, where she grew up, her grandfather carved marionettes and her aunt knitted puppets. Gordon was given her first puppet as a toddler.

Later, a field trip to Children’s Fairyland, the storybook theme park in Oakland, California, where one of the original Sesame Street puppeteers got his start, left a huge impression. Gordon’s mother made teddy bears and porcelain dolls and helped Gordon make her first set of puppets when she was just 14.

In high school, Gordon began doing puppet performances with her church youth group. While studying for a degree in early childhood education, she realized what she really wanted to do: become a professional puppeteer.

That goal took some time. When she moved to Arizona from Colorado as a newlywed in 2001, she interviewed to be a nanny. Gordon spent three years with the family, whose child had autism, and underwent training as a habilitator for autism.

When her own son was born, Gordon saw signs of autism, and kept asking her pediatrician. Even friends and family assumed her work in the field made her overthink some of her son’s developmental delays. His diagnosis of high-functioning autism took time.

In the meantime, Gordon started performing with the Great Arizona Puppet Theater. In 2006, she launched Puppet Pie, where she crafts her own puppets and hosts puppetry and puppet-making workshops for kids and adults.

Last year, friends who were already performing on Sesame Street landed Gordon her big chance at being part of the show.

“They knew Sesame Street was looking for a puppeteer with a strong connection to autism,” says Gordon.

In the beginning, Gordon thought she was just going to make recommendations for the Julia character. The producers had other ideas, and were soon asking for videos of her work. In March 2016, she got a job offer. Two weeks later, she flew to New York for filming.

Julia the Muppet has big green eyes, and loves to play tag and sing.

Gordon, who is 5-foot-2 and petite, has the same green eyes and red hair as 4-year-old Julia, and can produce a photo of herself at age 4 with a strikingly similar bob and bangs. It’s completely coincidental, because Julia was designed years before Gordon got involved, but it was yet another sign that this seemed meant to be.

“I know that it was really important to Sesame Street to have a puppeteer with a connection to autism so Julia could be performed from a place of authenticity” — and compassion, she says. Sesame Street writer Christine Ferraro also has a son with autism, and both women say their experiences help them bring Julia to life in a meaningful way. The character was first launched in 2015 in a video and voiced by a child with autism.

In the United States, about one in 68 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sesame Street says children with

autism are also five times more likely to be bullied — a sad fact Sesame Street hopes to change. Sesame Workshop surveyed 1,000 families, including those affected and not affected by autism, to see how the character impacted them.

Gordon says what struck her about the study was that, “It left parents and kids with autism hope. For typical kids and adults, it’s teaching them compassion and acceptance. For kids with autism, it offers them representations. I think they recognize that; I know my son does.

“Think if you were a kid who never saw anyone behave like you in the media, and then all of a sudden you see Julia,” she explains. “And while she is not just like you, because autism is different for everyone, she does some things like you. It would certainly make you feel like you belong.”

One story Gordon likes to relay is about a mother whose son who has autism and claps his hands. The mother told Gordon her son was so delighted when he saw Julia doing the same thing. It meant so much to her and her son. Hearing from such families has been emotional.

“I’ve been in tears more in the last year than I think I have ever been,” admits Gordon, whose son is now 13. While she doesn’t share his name or where he attends school, she’s happy to talk about his many talents.

“My son is quite verbal. He’s brilliant at the piano; he can improvise.

“For kids with autism, it

offers them representations.”

He’s very mathematical, filling out multiplication tables since he was in kindergarten,” she says. “And he’s very funny!”

When it comes to the areas where autism impacts his life, Gordon explains her son has extreme anxiety, sensory issues (loud noises and bright lights bother him), and it’s still hard for him to put certain textures in his mouth.

At school, he uses a computer, because handwriting is difficult for him. It caused her a great deal of frustration when it came to his taking standardized tests, since his school had not made the transition to computerized testing.

Gordon says her son is aware he has autism, and in her house, that’s a good thing. Every April, they do something together for Autism Awareness Month. Last year, they put together a video as their contribution.

Gordon once asked her son if he’d ever wished he didn’t have autism.

His answer was an emphatic, “No.” He says autism is part of him and makes him who he is.

Gordon, who spends about a month of the year taping Sesame Street episodes in New York, admits the opportunity to be Julia’s puppeteer would have been difficult when her son was younger. But she wishes her son had been able to grow up knowing Julia.

“I wish that this had come around 13 — even 20 years ago,” she says, “so that (my son) would already have been growing up in an environment where everyone accepted him and his behaviors from the get go.”

Margaret Beardsley of Phoenix is a staff writer and former television-news executive producer. She is the mother of two adult children.

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From left: Kate Witt, Ava Lopez, Zane Coggins, Charlie LeVinus and Rep. Jill Norgaard.

All pushed to pass a new law that helps schools identify and aid those with dyslexia.

DYSLEXIA: The elephant in the classroom New Arizona law helps schools identify, aid students

By Sheri Smith

W

ALK INTO A TYPICAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and what do you see? Besides tiny desks and crayons, you’ll find posters with inspirational messages about learning to read: “Reading is thinking.” “Readers are leaders.” And my personal favorite: “Reading takes you places.”

The philosophy is this: First you learn to read. Then you read to learn.

In first through third grades, educators focus on developing the basic skills of reading: recognizing the alphabet, memorizing sight words and establishing phonemic awareness.

By fourth grade, the strategy shifts.

Students are expected to have mastered the skills necessary for reading independently, and they are expected to use these talents to gather information through research and demonstrate knowledge through writing.

Sounds great. Especially to those of us who are avid readers and proficient writers. As a

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child, I felt like the entire universe opened up to me when I could finally read a book “all by myself.” And writing became such a passion that today I’m a journalist.

But what about the kids who are not mastering these skills? What happens to them in first, second and third grades when the concepts necessary for literacy simply do not click? Or in fourth grade when basic elements are no longer being taught, and the work they are supposed to be doing independently is now beyond their reach?

What messages are they receiving? Are they not “thinkers”? Or “leaders”? Are they not “going places”?

One in five?

The truth is that many children in Arizona are not learning to read. Politicians and school administrators have described the situation as a

“literacy crisis.”

According to Read Better Be Better, which formed in 2014 to address the state’s literacy problem, 72 percent of Arizona’s third graders could not read at grade level.

This is a serious problem, because there is a direct correlation between illiteracy and societal issues. According to The Literacy Project Foundation, three out of five people in American prisons can’t read, and nearly 85 percent of juveniles who face trial are functionally illiterate.

The reasons for the high illiteracy rate in Arizona are many and include poverty, English as a second language, developmental delays, low attendance rates, lack of funding, family issues and a profound teacher shortage. But there’s another substantial reason that is often ignored: dyslexia.

Exact statistics are difficult to pinpoint,

RESOURCES but the scientific community estimates as high as 15-20 percent of the population experiences dyslexia to some degree.

According to the International Dyslexia Association, dyslexia is “a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/ or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.”

But this, too, is controversial, because that definition focuses on the weaknesses of the condition rather than on the inherent strengths.

There is ample evidence to suggest that the dyslexic brain is wired differently, but it is not necessarily an inferior wiring. In fact, the dyslexic mind can be adept at higher-level thinking.

With dyslexia, the proclivity for abstract reasoning and visual-spatial awareness is accompanied by difficulties in the areas of decoding, processing speeds and working memory — the very functions directly related to learning to read and write.

It’s not that dyslexics can’t learn to read or write. It’s just that they need to receive instruction in a way that works for the unique construction of their dyslexic minds.

If the appropriate methods are not provided, dyslexics will experience high levels of anxiety, frustration and shame.

In fact, one of the first indicators in a classroom that a child may be dyslexic is often behavioral, not academic.

Unfortunately, teachers and school administrators often do not realize that dyslexia is the underlying issue for a child’s avoidance behaviors or outbursts, so children will often be punished for what are legitimate emotional reactions to difficult situations.

Punishment and fear of punishment increase the emotional stress a child experiences. This in turn will affect performance and ability to learn, creating a vicious circle in a child’s life.

It’s important to realize that most children will do just about anything to avoid looking stupid in front of their peers. They will act disinterested, become the class clown or even act out.

The student labeled the “problem child” in the classroom may actually be struggling with dyslexia. Attention issues also can be dyslexia related. Dyslexia is actually more common than ADHD, and many children experience both.

Yet schools are much more likely to recognize

ADHD, and will often miss or even deny signs of dyslexia. Without identification and help, the dyslexic child will continue to flounder, and behavioral issues will most likely worsen.

Facing failure Phoenix mom Courtney LeVinus says she was caught off guard when she received a phone call from her son Charlie’s first grade teacher.

“They wanted to know if something was going on at home. Were there any abnormal stresses?” says LeVinus.“I told them no. Nothing was different.”

The teacher explained that Charlie’s behavior at school had changed significantly: He wouldn’t make eye contact, and he was practically hiding under his desk. The teacher said Charlie was quickly becoming a different kid.

Luckily for the LeVinuses, it was the teacher who recognized that Charlie’s issues might be due to a problem with reading.

“It was an eye-opening experience for me and my husband,” says LeVinus. “We feel fortunate that we are at a great school.

A reading specialist directed us to the right doctor who helped us find the appropriate interventions. It’s been financially difficult for us, but we were able to help Charlie. Other kids are not as lucky.”

Charlie attends St. Thomas the Apostle, a private school in Phoenix, which LeVinus says has become a magnet for dyslexic kids because of the school’s willingness to identify the condition and provide appropriate supports.

She recognizes that her experience is atypical. Most kids are left to struggle with dyslexia on their own. She has a special awareness of this, because she has come to realize that she, too, is dyslexic.

Because dyslexia is an inherited trait, it is not unusual for parents to identify their own dyslexia at the same time their children are being diagnosed. When LeVinus reflects on her childhood, she remembers painful experiences of teachers giving her books to read that she couldn’t understand and kids making fun of her. Even in high school, her mom would often have to read the textbooks to her.

She also recalls the inordinate amounts of time she spent on homework.

“I was an articulate kid, but I didn’t feel smart. That’s what I saw happening with Charlie, and it was like I was re-experiencing the pain, but worse, because it was through my child,” LeVinus says.

Read the Arizona Department of Education’s new dyslexia handbook at azed.gov/mowr/dyslexia

She realizes now that her feelings of failure as a child were actually a result of the school’s failure to help. Feeling compelled to reach the kids who are left to struggle with dyslexia on their own, LeVinus joined the IDA and now serves on the board.

As owner and operator of her own lobbying firm, Capitol Consulting, LeVinus began to work for legislation so that schools would finally recognize dyslexia. Until recently, the term dyslexia had all but been banished from public education, referred to only as a subset of SLD, or Specific Learning Disability. Many had started to call it “The D-word.”

Fighting for change Rep. Jill Norgaard, R-Phoenix, became aware of the need to address dyslexia issues after visiting schools in her area and seeing for herself the difficulties that literacy problems were presenting the classroom.

With the combined efforts of various organizations — including the Arizona Department of Education, the WellingtonAlexander Center, First Things First, Decoding Dyslexia Arizona and several parents (including LeVinus) — Norgaard was able to get a dyslexia bill (HB 2202) passed and signed into law this year.

The components of the law are: early identification and intervention, a refined definition for dyslexia (and permission to specify dyslexia rather than SLD) and a helpful handbook for parents and educators. An earlier bill passed in 2015 prevents dyslexic students from being denied promotion to the next grade because of their reading difficulties.

Norgaard says the initiative passed in large part becuse of the children who testified.

“The kids were the most persuasive part of getting the bill passed,” she says, adding “we’re going to keep looking at new initiatives. We’re not just going to walk away.”

Freelance writer Sheri Smith, of Scottsdale, is the mother of Aidan (17) and Sarah (13). She homeschools her daughter, who has dyslexia.

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ISTOCK

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LICE HAPPENS How one family got over the heebee jeebees and got rid of head lice (HOPEFULLY) for good

By Liz Petroff

MY HUSBAND was the first to notice.

Early one morning, Chris saw our 7-year-old daughter vigorously scratching her head. Upon inspection, he pulled out something the size of a sesame seed: a louse.

We panicked.

Neither my husband nor I had ever had lice, and we had no idea what to do. Chris started pacing, convinced we’d have to shave off Lucy’s beautiful long, curly blonde hair. I did what any modern parent does in a crisis: I Googled “lice treatment Phoenix.”

I clicked on the first option, and before I knew it, I was on the phone with the LiceDoctors (licedoctors.com) national call center.

They were sending a technician to our home ASAP. In the meantime, I called the kids’ elementary school to report them absent. I fibbed about why they were missing class. I was mortified.

Lice are dirty, gross and pretty much every heebee-jeebee moment you could imagine. And we were embarrassed.

I later joked we were sure the technician would pull up to our house, lights flashing, with a “LICE EMERGENCY” wrap on the vehicle, spreading a firestorm of gossip around the neighborhood.

While we waited, we got busy stripping beds and throwing any and all linens into the wash — scratching phantom itches anytime we remembered why we were doing this.

When our technician, Deborah, arrived a few hours later — thankfully, in an unmarked car — we instantly felt a sense of hope. Her humor put us at ease. When she first inspected Lucy, she informed us the lice were so big and full grown, it would be rude of us not to include them in our family Christmas photo.

Deborah quickly set up her equipment in our kitchen and began

full inspections on every family member except our dog. (Lice can only live on human scalps, she said). She used a nit comb and olive oil (to submerge and suffocate the lice and eggs) and a fancy lamp to magnify the scalp.

Complicating matters, Chris was supposed to be hopping a plane for a work trip, and we were certain he’d be spreading an epidemic. He was quickly inspected and given an “all clear,” and he was able to head to the airport.

That left me with the kids and the lice. The entire time Deborah treated Lucy’s hair, she was educating me on everything I needed to know — the life cycle of lice, how and why hair needs to be combed out, why disinfecting the house from top to bottom is unnecessary (lice need a human scalp to stay alive), and why it is important to continue a lice-treatment regimen for days or weeks.

Although the upfront cost of having a technician come to our home was pricey (a little more than $300 for our family of four to be checked and one to be treated), the expense was worth it for the knowledge and peace of mind we gained. We were reimbursed for the expense through our health spending account.

As directed, we continued treatment for three weeks to ensure every louse — at any stage in its life cycle — was eliminated from Lucy’s hair.

Fast forward a year to a new grade, and a new classroom of kids.

We noticed Lucy scratching some of the “hot zones” near her ears and at the nape of her neck. We quickly threw ourselves into “lice patrol.”

Chris and Jack stripped beds and linens. Lucy prepared for the comb-out by grabbing her homework and a coloring book to keep herself busy during the time-consuming process: drenching the hair

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Lice prevention and early detection • Check hair weekly.

• Buy a nit comb ($4-$20). Combing hair with a nit comb breaks and destroys lice eggs.

• Keep longer hair in braids or buns to make it harder for lice to attach.

• Over-the-counter (pesticide free) lice shampoos with dimethicone can suffocate lice.

• OTC sprays and oils, hairspray and gel can make it harder for lice to stick to hair.

Lice facts: • Eggs (nits) hatch in 7-10 days.

• Nymph (baby lice) grow for about 10 days.

• Lice (louse is singular) are older than 10 days and about the size of a sesame seed.

• It is nearly impossible to see an egg on the hair shaft.

Lice are usually detected when they are full grown and have most likely already laid eggs.

• Lice can lay up to 6-10 eggs per day. Eggs do not grow or move. If broken before the nymph hatches, the egg is destroyed.

Housekeeping: • Don’t panic. Lice feed on blood from a human scalp; most die within 15-24 hours of coming off the head.

• Throw pillows, stuffed animals and other linens in the dryer on high heat.

• Put brushes, combs and hair accessories in a plastic bag and place in the freezer for 12-24 hours.

School: Check your school’s lice policy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that schools drop “no nit” policies, because lice are not a health hazard (they do not spread diseases) and children were missing too much school. Once active bugs have been removed, children are usually allowed back in class.

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in olive oil, and section by section, combing each hair strand with a nit comb.

This time, we didn’t find big bugs, but we did find a couple of nits. After treating the whole family, I began making the rounds, texting family, friends and Lucy’s teacher to give them all a heads up to be on the lookout.

This is probably the trickiest step of the process.

After the first week of treating Lucy’s hair, I was no longer embarrassed to tell people she had had lice. I actually started to tell everyone, because I was damn sure we didn’t want to get it back. All of the work that goes into ridding lice from the scalp and hair is a process, and if it is not done correctly, lice spreads.

During courtesy calls to parents, I pleaded with them to check for lice, treat it (if necessary) and continue the checking process. I even offered to check other people’s kids!

I was taken aback by the number of families that claimed to have dealt with lice, but who did not treat it correctly. The term “super lice” has become a common expression lately, describing lice that are resistant to pesticides — mostly those in over-the-counter lice shampoos. While most parents claim they got rid of the live bugs, experts say OTC shampoos do not kill nits, and the lifecycle of the lice can begin all over again.

I was also curious about other types of treatment.

As I prepared to share my story with other parents, I decided to visit Lice Clinics of America, which has several Valley locations. Staff there use words like “cure” and “guarantee,” which were music to my ears. Their AirAllè is an FDA-cleared medical device that can kill lice and eggs, without pesticides, in a single treatment.

We arrived at the Lice Clinics of America in Gilbert, and the scenario looked all too familiar. This time, however, it wasn’t taking place at my house, but at what looked like a clean, sterile, minimally furnished hair salon. Every family is taken into a private room to be treated.

The technicians checked both Lucy and me for any signs of bugs. (To fully guarantee lice-free hair through Lice Clinics of America, the entire household must be present and treated). Then came the big daddy: the AirAllé device. It looked like a handheld blow dryer. Section by section, with the combination of high temperature and airflow, it aims to dehydrate and kill any bug or egg.

The technician offered Lucy a movie, then applied a non-toxic, pesticide-free active rinse to Lucy’s hair and combed it out with a nit comb.

All told, the treatment took about an hour.

Our experience at Lice Clinic of America was pleasant and reassuring.

Similar to the in-home service, this process can be pricey (treatments range from $45 to $200 per person). However, we appreciated the guarantees and thoroughness, and the AirAllé treatment eliminated follow-up treatment at home. Sold!

Martel Deines, owner of the Lice Clinics of America location in Gilbert, joked with us that if experiencing lice hasn’t traumatized you, you’re not doing it right. My family wholeheartedly concurs; we’re beyond traumatized. But lice happens. Now we know what to do at the first sign of a serious scalp itch.

Liz Petroff of Phoenix is the mother of Jack (9) and Lucy (7).

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family time!

GOLFLAND SUNSPLASH

TOP AUGUST EVENTS

By Liz Petroff

School days are sneaking back into our daily lives … but before you pack those backpacks, soak up a few more lazy days of summer with your kiddos.

The temps are still scorching, but these events will help you stay cool and enjoy some of Arizonan’s favorite spots.

Find more extensive day-by-day event listings at raisingarizonakids.com/calendar

AUG. 1 Safe Summer event at Golfland Sunsplash. Swim, take CPR lessons and see life jacket demos; music, refreshments and prizes also are part of this SRPsponsored event. 2-5 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 1 at Golfland Sunsplash, 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. Tickets are $9.83 per person with a coupon from srpnet.com/safesummer.

AUG. 4 AND 18

HEARD MUSEUM

Glow Paddle. Light up the night while you glow and glide across Tempe Town Lake in a kayak. In addition to all necessary kayaking equipment, participants get glowin-the-dark accessories. Glow-in-the-dark clothes are encouraged! 7:30-9:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 4 and 18. $35; $20 ages 10 and older. Tempe Town Lake, 80 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 480-350-8069 or tempe.gov

THROUGH AUG. 20

AUG. 4-6

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Heard Museum. Become one of Frida Kahlo’s Los Fridos at the “Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera” exhibit, which this month ends its only North American stop on an international tour. Many activities in the children’s gallery replicate the classes and techniques Frida used when teaching from her home, La Casa Azul. Children can write letters or poems, color, cut out and play with vintage-inspired Frida paper dolls, pretend they are in Frida’s kitchen or create a sunflower and plant a wish or promise along with it. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. $7 exhibit fee does not include general admission: $18; $7.50 ages 6-17. The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8840 or heard.org

Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival. Actors from FlagShakes perform Shakespeare’s classic tale of ambition, love and the supernatural. “Macbeth” is about fate; in striving to command it, the young and ambitious Macbeth becomes the tyrant we all fear. 7:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 4, 2 and 7 p.m Saturday Aug. 5 and 3 p.m. Sunday Aug. 6. $20; $14 students; $10 ages 6-14. Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff. flagshakes.com

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AUG. 5

VALLEY YOUTH THEATRE

Prowl and Play. Roar with the dinosaurs when they join the animals for a late night prowl at the Phoenix Zoo. Expect giant fun with dino-themed crafts, a foam pit, dance party, sandpit fossil dig and a chance to meet Raja, the Baby T-Rex. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. $8; free for ages 2 and younger. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Gavin Parkway, Phoenix. 602-273-1341 or phoenixzoo.org

DANCING WITH THE STARS TOUR

AUG. 11-27

AUG. 8

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/DISNEYMOANA

Dancing with the Stars Live! Summer is about to get hotter when the hottest dance show on TV shimmies into southern Arizona. “Dancing With the Stars: Live! - Hot Summer Nights” brings an all-new production of ballroom and modern dance, guests and group numbers to the stage. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 8. $46-$280. Tucson Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave, Tucson. dwtstour.com

AUG. 11 City Lights Movie Nights. On second Fridays, families can bring blankets and chairs to watch a kid-friendly movie on CityScape’s outdoor screen. This month’s City Lights Movie Nights feature is Disney’s “Moana.” 7 p.m. Free. Patriots Park in downtown Phoenix. cityscapephoenix.com

Shrek the Musical. Valley Youth Theatre brings the ogre, feisty princess and wisecracking donkey from the Oscar-winning Dreamworks film to life on the Herberger stage. Showtimes vary Friday-Sunday, Aug. 11-27. $17-$35. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. vyt.com

AUG. 12 National Bowling Day. Get a strike with this great deal! You and your family can enjoy the sport of bowling for free today. Participating bowling alleys include Brunswick Lanes and AMF locations. Hours vary Saturday Aug. 12. nationalbowlingday.com Learn Your Lizards Walk. Leaping lizards! Wind your way through Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park on a guided tour to learn about Arizona’s most common, charismatic reptiles. Be in the visitor center breezeway at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. $12; $5 ages 5-12; free for ages 4 and younger. 37615 U.S. 60, Superior. 520-689-2811 or cals.arizona.edu/bta Rock the Pink with the WNBA Phoenix Mercury. It’s breast health awareness night as the WNBA Phoenix Mercury takes on the Seattle Storm; 9,500 fans will get pink T-shirts. 7 p.m. $12 and up. Talking Stick Resort Arena, 201 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix 602-252-9622 or mercury.wnba.com World Hip Hop Dance Championship. More than 4,000 of the world’s best dancers from 50 countries will come to Phoenix for a week-long competition. Hip-hop icons and celebrity appearances are expected.

6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. $30-$65. Grand Canyon Arena, 3300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-639-8006 or gcuarena.com

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TOP SUMMER EVENTS Continued AUG. 12-13 Musical Icon: Elvis. August marks the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Join the MIM as it honors the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and celebrates his music, movies and legacy. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 12-13. $20; $15 ages 13-19; $10 ages 4-12; free for ages 3 and younger. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000 or mim.org Discount Tire Free Family Weekends. All ages get free access to the Phoenix Art Museum on the second weekend of each month. Activities include educational programming, scavenger hunts, live performances, storytimes and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. Free. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880 or phxart.org

AUG. 21 The Great American Eclipse at Lowell Observatory. Live streaming and astronomer talks from the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience in Madras, Oregon celebrate this total solar eclipse, which will be visible only from the United States. Enjoy family activities, crafts, solar viewing with solar telescopes and glasses, tours and more. While the full eclipse will not be visible from Flagstaff, visitors will be able to see the moon starting to cover the sun. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday Aug. 21. $15; $8 ages 5-17; free for ages 4 and younger.1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff. 928-774-3358 or lowell.edu

AUG. 22 National Tooth Fairy Day. Brush those teeth a little longer today; it’s National Tooth Fairy Day. Celebrate the fairy who works tirelessly, year-round, collecting pearly whites.

According to the Original Tooth Fairy Poll, sponsored by Delta Dental, the Tooth Fairy’s cash payouts have jumped to an average of $4.66 compared to $3.91 in 2015. theoriginaltoothfairypoll.com

AUG. 26 Special Needs Resource Fair. R aising A rizona K ids magazine hosts this third annual event, a free day for parents and caregivers of children with special healthcare and/ or educational needs to discover some of the Valley’s best resources. Learn about services, support and products from local organizations serving differentlyabled children and their families. Includes talks by professionals. Families also can explore the many hands-on exhibits at Halle Heart Children’s Museum. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 26. Free; registration requested. Halle Heart Children’s Museum, 2929 S. 48th St., Tempe. raisingarizonakids.com Teacher Appreciation at Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs are showing their appreciation for teachers with discounted suite-level Club Reserve tickets on Saturday, Aug. 26, when the Diamondbacks take on the San Francisco Giants. Teachers get a D-Backs cooler bag filled with back-to-school supplies. 5:10 p.m. Tickets start at $35 (use promo code TEACHER). Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix. dbacks.com Phoenix Rising Football Club. Soccer fans will come out and cheer Phoenix’s hottest team this summer when the Phoenix Rising FC takes on the Sacramento Republic.

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. $10-$55; free for ages 3 and younger (when sitting with an adult). Phoenix Rising Soccer Complex, 751 N. McClintock Drive, Scottsdale. phxrisingfc.com

AUG. 27 Free Summer Sundays at the Heard Museum. Admission is free on the fourth Sunday in August. See performances and artist demonstrations and enjoy family activities. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8840.

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AUGUST 2017 JUNE/JULY 2017 raisingarizonakids raisingarizonakids .com .com

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family time! around arizona free ages 4 and younger. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, 37615 US 60, Superior. 520-689-2811 or arboretum. ag.arizona.edu

Learn Your Lizards Walk (Sat Aug. 12 and Sept. 9) in Superior.

ISTOCK

TUCSON

FLAGSTAFF Movies on the Square (Saturdays through Sept. 2). Live entertainment, food vendors and a different movie screening each week. Aug. 5 is “Wall-E,” Aug. 12 is “Despicable Me 2,” Aug. 19 is “The Incredibles” and Aug. 26 is “Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone.” 5pm activities; movie at dusk. Free. Heritage Square, downtown Flagstaff. flagdba. com/movies-on-the-square Summer Concert Series (first Saturdays through Sept. 2). Musical performance under the shade of the pines. Bring blankets, concert chairs, food and non-alcoholic beverages; beer and wine available for purchase.

5:30pm. $18; free for ages 12 and younger. The Arboretum at Flagstaff, 4001 S. Woody Mountain Road, Flagstaff. 928-774-1442 or thearb.org Navajo Festival of the Arts and Culture (Sat-Sun Aug. 5-6). Spend your weekend in cooler weather and soak in the artistry and cultural traditions of Navajo artists, storytellers, hoop dancers, musicians and more.

9am-5pm $12; $8 youth; free for ages 10 and younger; $12-$18 weekend pass. Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff.

928-774-5213 or musnaz.org The Great American Eclipse at Lowell Observatory (Mon Aug. 21)

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

This total solar eclipse will be visible only from the United States. Activities include live streaming and astronomer talks from the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience in Madras, Oregon. Enjoy family activities, crafts, solar viewing with solar telescopes and glasses, tours and more. While the full eclipse will not be visible from Flagstaff, visitors will be able to see the moon starting to cover the sun.

8am-5pm. $15; $8 ages 5-17; free for ages 4 and younger.1400 W. Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff. 928-774-3358 or lowell.edu

Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary at night. Bring a flashlight. 8-9:30pm. $6. 1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott.

928-778-4242 or heritageparkzoo.org

PRESCOTT

Full Moon Hike at Red Rock State Park (Aug. 7) Enjoy the sunset and moonrise from a park overlook and return by the light of the moon. The hike starts at 6 p.m., lasts about 2 1/2 hours and covers about two miles. Wear closed-toed shoes and bring water and a flashlight.

Registration closes one day before the hike; $5 non-refundable reservation fee per person. Park entrance: $7 per person; $4 for ages 7-13. 928- 282-6907 or azstateparks.com

Fine Art & Crafts Festival (Sat-Sun Aug. 12-13). Nearly 140 artists and artisans, demonstrations and live entertainment. 9am-5pm Sat, 9am-4pm Sun. Free. Courthouse Plaza, 120 S Cortez St., Prescott. 928-445-2510 or cityofprescott.net Wet & Wild Water Day (Sat Aug 26). Water games, a splashy bounce house, wet attractions, special animal feedings, aquatic animal encounters, concessions and more. 9am-4pm. Free with paid admission. Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary. 1403 Heritage Park Road, Prescott. 928-778-4242 or heritageparkzoo.org Zoo by Moonlight (Mon Aug. 7).

Visit nocturnal residents of Prescott’s

SEDONA Sedona Community Farmers Market (Fridays through Sept. 29).

Farm fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, grass-fed beef, goat products, tamales, breads and pastries, handmade chocolates, live music. 8-11:30am.

Free. Tlaquepaque, Creekside, 336 State Route 179, Sedona. 928-8211133 or sedona-farmers-market.com.

SUPERIOR Learn Your Lizards Walk (Sat Aug. 12 and Sept. 9). A guided tour for kids and adults who enjoy Arizona’s most common, colorful and charismatic reptiles. Meet at the Arboretum breezeway at 8am. Included with admission: $12.50; $5 ages 5-12,

2nd Saturdays Downtown (through Nov. 11). Family-friendly music festival, vendors, street performers.

5-10:30pm. Free. Congress Street from Toole Avenue to Church Avenue, Tucson. 520-545-1102 or 2ndsaturdaysdowntown.com Cool Summer Nights (Saturdays through Sept. 2). Weekly themes, special programs, family activities and a chance to see the museum at night.

5-10pm. Included with admission: $15.50 (Arizona residents); $8 ages 3-12, free for ages 2 and younger.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N Kinney Road, Tucson. 520-883-3070 or desertmuseum.org Model Airplane Make ‘n Take (Sat Aug. 5). Ages 5 and older (with an adult).

Children build snap-together airplanes they can take home, and view models made by expert builders from Sonoran Desert Model Builders. 1-2:30pm. $15.50; $9 ages 5-12, free for ages 4 and younger. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E Valencia Road, Tucson. 520574-0462 or pimaair.org Night Wings (Sat Aug. 26). View the aircraft in the evening light and participate in aviation-related activity stations. 5-9pm. $10; free for ages 12 and younger. Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson.

520-574-0462 or pimaair.org

WILLCOX Peach Mania Festival (Sat-Sun Aug. 5-6, 12-13). Pick-your-own peaches and enjoy free samples, hayrides and more, including homemade peach pie and peach ice cream. “All You Can Eat” Peaches & Pancakes breakfast from 7:30-10:30am. 7:30am-5pm. Free admission. Apple Annie’s Orchard, 2081 W Hardy Road, Willcox. 520-3842084 or appleannies.com

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“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” (Thur-Sat July 7-Aug. 19) at Hale Centre Theatre.

Gerry Cullity’s Cinderella: A Ragtime Musical (Fri-Sun Aug. 18-Sept.

17). Desert Stages Theatre Founder Gerry Cullity puts a ragtime spin on the timeless tale of a long-suffering stepsister, a choosy prince and a glass slipper. Set in turn-of-last-century New York City during the height of immigration, these characters hope to start a new life in a foreign land.

7:30pm Fri-Sat, 2pm Sat-Sun. $15.

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road. 480-483-1664 or desertstages.org Rumpelstiltskin (Wed-Sun July 26-Aug. 13). A laugh-out-loud version of the classic tale about the strange little fellow with the hard-to-guess name. 10am Wed-Sat, 2pm Sat-Sun. $10; $7 ages 12 and younger.

Reservations recommended. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix. 602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org Shrek the Musical (Fri-Sun, Aug. 11-27). Valley Youth Theatre brings the irreverent, beloved characters from the Oscar-winning Dreamworks film to life at Herberger Theater Center. Shrek proves an unlikely hero can save a feisty princess with a wisecracking donkey by his side. Showtimes vary. $17-$35.

Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-253-8188 or vyt.com West Side Story (Thur-Sun, Aug. 17-20). Scottsdale Musical Theater

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brings one of Broadway’s timeless favorites back with a live 30-piece orchestra. The score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is widely regarded as one of the best.

7:30pm Thur-Sat, 2pm Sun. $32-$58.

Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 602-909-4215 or scottsdalemusicaltheater.com Saturday Night Fever (Fri-Sat July 21-Aug. 20). Based on the 1977 film that became a cultural phenomenon. Tony Manero — humble store clerk by day, dance king by night — lives for disco Saturday nights. Times and prices vary.

Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400 or azbroadway.org Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Thur-Sat July 7-Aug. 19). Dive into the sea and listen to the joyful music and treasured story of Ariel, who defies her father and wants to be a part of the world above the sea. Times vary. $20-$32 Hale Centre Theatre, 50 W. Page Ave., Gilbert. 480497-1181 or haletheatrearizona.com The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Wed-Sun Aug. 16-Sept. 3). The story of determined goats and a hungry troll, with lots of audience participation. 10am Wed-Fri, 10am and 2pm Sat, 2pm Sun. $10; $7 ages 12 and younger.

Reservations recommended. Great Arizona Puppet Theater, 302 W. Latham St., Phoenix.

602-262-2050 or azpuppets.org

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behind the ’zine

TWO GENERATIONS of GRATITUDE and GIVING BACK

By Karen Davis Barr

IT’S BEEN ABOUT a year since I joined the board for Raising Special Kids, a 38-year-old nonprofit that provides parent-to-parent support for families navigating disabilities and special healthcare needs in children from birth to age 26.

As a rare board member who doesn’t have a child with special needs, I’m learning a lot.

The most impactful lessons come from hanging around these amazing volunteers, many of whom have experienced more than their fair share of life challenges but somehow manage to show up and scrape together a little more energy to support this organization that does so much to ease the way for others.

When Karin Smith was installed as board president a few months ago, I learned her leadership was just the latest step in her family’s long and pivotal role in this organization — and part of a deeper family culture emphasizing community outreach.

Karin’s dad, Chuck Smith, was one of the early board members for this organization, then a grassroots effort known as Pilot Parents. For several years, he also served as its board president.

MORE THAN THREE decades ago, when Chuck and his wife Nancy learned their daughter Courtney had cerebral palsy, they knew just where to turn. Their neighbor, Betsy Trombino, was one of the founding members of Pilot Parents. The group often met around her kitchen table.

Betsy’s son Mark is a little person and Chuck was inspired by her determined advocacy for her son. He wanted to be that kind of parent for Courtney, whose physical and intellectual disabilities would require lifelong support and care.

“At that time, 30 or so years ago, there was nothing available to train parents,” Chuck says. He and Nancy got involved, learning communication and advocacy skills. They, too, began mentoring parents plunged into

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AUGUST 2017 raisingarizonakids.com

uncertainty because of a child’s diagnosis.

Sometimes Karin, who was then in elementary school, would tag along, though she usually ran off to play with Betsy’s daughter Lynn. Karin later participated in a Pilot Parent sibling support group.

I ask if it was difficult growing up with a sister who needed so much care and parental attention — a sister with whom she couldn’t even have a conversation.

“There were conversations,” she tells me gently, with the insight of a lifetime spent observing others’ misperceptions about her sister. Karin and her siblings learned to read Courtney’s every tone and pitch, even a squawking sound they playfully call her “pterodactyl cry.”

“She’s non-verbal, but she makes noises, she grabs you,” Karin says. “You can tell how she’s feeling based on her pull, or based on her cry.”

Karin had seven other siblings, so what she mostly remembers about growing up is that their household was busy. “There was always babysitting going on, always carpooling going on, always something being done for someone — Courtney just needed a little more of that,” she says.

Chuck and Nancy ran their family with lots of love and structure. All of the kids pitched in to help with everything from washing dishes and fixing lunches to bathing Courtney. In many ways, having a daughter with profound needs “brought our family closer,” Chuck says.

“She was the magnet.”

Karin’s path seemed destined toward increased involvement in the special needs community. After struggling in her freshman year at the University of Arizona, she discovered she had a learning disability caused by an auditory processing disorder. She found support at U of A’s Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques (SALT) Center. After graduation, she went on to earn three master’s degrees —

one at each of Arizona’s universities.

After seeing a documentary about a special-needs orphanage in Greece, she spent five summers working there, and the months in between recruiting money, supplies and more volunteers. Now a consultant for the Phoenix firm of Heinfeld Meech, Karin works to strengthen business practices at local school districts. She has embraced her volunteer work with Raising Special Kids, and the opportunity it has given her to “give back to this organization that provided so much to our family.”

“Giving back” is a phrase you hear a lot from both Karin and Chuck. “Incredibly blessed” is another one. They seek the positive, whether they’re talking about Courtney (who now lives in an adult group home), or Nancy’s breast cancer (she’s a 22-year survivor) or the wrenching tragedy their family endured two years ago, when the Smiths’ son Ryan and their daughter-in-law Katie were killed in a car accident, leaving three young children without their parents.

Chuck recently sold the trucking business that supported his family for so many years and had barely tipped his toe in the waters of retirement before he was recruited to serve as interim director at United Cerebral Palsy of Arizona, another organization that has been important to his family and for which he has boundless enthusiasm.

“I have been so incredibly blessed with my wife, my family, my kids,” says Chuck. “I owe it to him [he looks toward the sky], and to everyone else, to pay it back.”

Karen Davis Barr, Publisher karen@RAKmagazine.com

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