Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Job coach strives to help teenagers with special needs

By Janie Southard
ST. MARYS - A New Knoxville woman is working to keep special needs students from being "simply shoved out into the world" after high school graduation.
"Social skills is the first area I concentrate on ... It begins with animals," said Marilyn Newman, the job coach for Auglaize County Special Needs School, a program of the county's Educational Service Center. Newman and program director Nancy Mauter were guests on Wednesday at St. Marys Rotary Club's weekly luncheon at the St. Marys Eagles facility.
Newman's first job for these students hoping to join the workaday world is the Humane Society of Auglaize County.
"The atmosphere there is more informal and laid back ... There's no pressure and these kids and the animals just relate so well to each other," she told The Daily Standard following the luncheon meeting.
The jobs they are assigned include sweeping floors, cleaning cages, walking the dogs, and so forth - jobs that are really necessary at the society's animal shelter in Wapakoneta and give the kids a sense of accomplishment.
They work only 90 minutes one day a week, but Newman said it's "amazing" that they go back the next week and remember what they're to do and how to do it.
But often the most amazed are the area business people who later employ the students.
"One big thing about these kids is that they are almost never down and complaining. They come in with a smile and are sincerely happy to be there. You know it's not easy to find that kind of employee," said Newman, who provides one-on-one assistance for the student on the job site.  
Presently there are 69 students at various stages of the program.
At first a student may not understand that the boss is not Newman, who often reminds them she's on the job to assist them, but they must follow directions from the employer. She focuses on areas such as not talking loud and laughing or jumping around.
"They catch on pretty quick, but it's a very different environment for them," she said. "It seems simple, but it's really a big, big thing for these kids. Our goal is independence and raising their maturity level."
And, for the most part the program is successful.
Newman begins the process with younger high school students so they have every opportunity to learn personal hygiene, career path options, how to be attentive to their task and other skills. As well, the overall program develops other social skills such as reading for pleasure, interacting with the community and establishing lifelong hobbies.
"I never knew a program like this existed until I was approached to help out a couple years ago. I actually had no formal training. I read a lot of books and kind of educated myself at first," she said.
Did Newman ever imagine herself in this role? "No, and certainly I didn't think anything like this would happen in my 60s ... But, you know, these kids keep me young," she said.
Additional online story on this date
LIMA - It didn't take long for St. Marys to determine the outcome of its tournament opener.
The Roughriders took 23 shots in the first half, scoring eight times, en route to a 13-0 rout over Lima Central Catholic at the Division II girl's soccer sectional on Wednesday at Bath High School. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Motorists may be getting bad deal based on speculation
The dictionary defines speculation as "reasoning based on inconclusive evidence; conjecture; supposition."
Motorists might call it a bogus reason to raise gas prices.
Dr. Sylvia Rimm says kids are growing up too fast these days
ST. HENRY - Children today are growing up too fast, a New York Times best selling author and psychologist told a group of parents on Wednesday evening.
Five are in the running for three seats on the Celina City Schools board of education for a term of four years.
Three are incumbents, Ken Fetters, Amy Hoyng and Tom Rable, who will face challengers Connie Paulus and Matt Shindeldecker.
A Fort Recovery man is seeking to unseat one of two incumbents in a three-way race for the Mercer County Educational Service Center (ESC) governing board at the polls in November.
A Celina woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to multiple charges stemming from the drug-related death of an Auglaize County man at her residence earlier this year.
Only two weeks are left in the Ohio high school football regular season, and the postseason situation is now a little easier to project (but not that much easier).
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
In a season where they have come up with wins in big games, the Marion Local Flyers have one more big game before they can really begin preparing for the playoffs.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Celina Stadium
Last Game: The Titans maintained a share of the Western Buckeye League on Friday in shutting out Van Wert 41-0 at Eggress Stadium. ... Celina survive
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Cavalier Stadium
Last Game: The Indians reached the five-win plateau for the second time since 1994 in a 35-21 win over New Bremen. ... Coldwater jumped out to a 42-0 lead at halftime and rolled to a 49-14 win at Versailles to go to 7-1 on the season.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Panthers Stadium
Last Game: Minster fell to 0-8 on the season despite a solid effort in a 27-13 loss to St. Henry in the home finale. ... Parkway greatly bettered its playoff chances in defeating fellow Region 20 dweller Anna 27-21 to ensure a winning season.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Wally Post Ath. Complex
Last Game: Versailles gave up 42 points in the first half to drop to 2-6 with a 49-14 loss to Coldwater. ... St. Henry snapped back from a loss to Parkway to beat Minster 27-13 at Memorial Field.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Robinson Field
Last Game: The Roughriders had several chances to tie the game on their final drive of the game, but a sack on fourth-and-goal ended the drive to give Shawnee a 14-7 win at Baughman Stadium. ... Kenton kept a share of the WBL lead in beating Wapakoneta 44-21 at Harmon Field.
Friday, 7:30 p.m. Cardinals Stadium
Last Game: The Blue Jays became another stop on the Marion Local buzzsaw tour as the Flyers went to 8-0 with a 44-13 win at Stadium Park. ... New Bremen suffered its second loss in 13 meetings to Fort Recovery, falling 35-21 at Barrenbrugge Field.