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Our campers need you more than ever

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“In every challenge lives a greater opportunity.”

That is how I started my letter to you about a month ago.  These words continue to come to life every day at Pine Tree Camp.  Why?  Because Maine people with disabilities need us more than ever.  I want to tell you about one of those families.

“It was perfect.  It was just what he needed.”

That’s how David’s mother, Michelle, described their family’s experience at Pine Tree Camp’s Adventure Day Pass.

You see, David is eight years old and was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age two. 

“He’s such a happy, sweet kid and you can’t tell by looking at him that he has a disability,” she recently told me. “The bottom line is that we can’t do the stuff other people can do even though it looks like we can.”

Her whole family has been very cautious about COVID-19 and, before coming to Pine Tree Camp for a day, hadn’t done anything outside their neighborhood since early March.

Pine Tree Camp launched Adventure Day Pass in July for families just like David’s.  The aspect of offering Pine Tree Camp to the whole family is new for us – and it has been incredible.  The response has been so positive that we will continue to offer the program through the end of the fall.

Adventure Day Pass is designed to provide safe day use of Pine Tree Camp’s fully accessible 285-acre campus.  All of Pine Tree Camp’s signature outdoor activities are available – hiking on accessible nature trails, kayaking, fishing, swimming and archery – all provided in a physically distanced manner supported by experienced staff.  David even had the chance to steer the pontoon boat – something he will not soon forget!

“As a family with a child with a disability, you feel like you miss a lot of rites of passage,” Michelle told me.  “To be able to do stuff that other families take for granted is incredible.” 

You can help.  In fact, we need you more than ever.  Your gift now will help us connect with every Maine child and adult who needs us.  You can make a difference at this challenging time. 

We thank you for your continued support.  Words cannot express our gratitude to you.

Sincerely,

 

 

Noel Sullivan
President and CEO

P.S.  Your gift today will make a difference.  Please give today.

 

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips from Pine Tree Society

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

Pine Tree Society is a leader in distance learning for students with special needs.  From early intervention for preschoolers to maintaining speech and language skills in high school, Pine Tree Society is expert at meeting the individual needs of students of all ages.

“Our expertise and infrastructure sets us apart and allows us to respond quickly,” said Terry Berkowitz, chief operating officer of Pine Tree Society. “For example, after the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly put an end to in-person classrooms and services for Maine people with disabilities, within one week’s time, we started supporting students and clients through distance learning.”

Pine Tree Society is invested in the success of distance learning for people with disabilities and is committed to making a positive impact in students’ lives.

Here are our top tips for making distance learning a success.

TIP #1

Motivate and engage. Keep the philosophy that YES this child can participate and be successful to the best of their ability in distance learning and telepractice sessions.  Keep in mind that just because you are in front of a computer screen, it doesn’t mean you have to sit for the whole session.  If needed, build in movement activities too!

TIP #2

Be creative. Look for blogs, ask or follow fellow colleagues, and, if you have social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram, look for groups that are posting tips and ideas. Search “distance learning” on TeachersPayTeachers.com for free resources every week!

TIP #3

Be flexible. Look for activities that can meet multiple goal areas rather than worrying about one activity for each goal.  Remind yourself and others that it won’t look the same and it won’t always be perfect, but we are in this together, and together we can succeed!

TIP #4

For Deaf students:  Share materials, lesson plans and lesson goals with the interpreter in advance of the lesson.  This allows the interpreter to support the short and long-term goals of each assignment.

TIP #5

For Deaf students:  Do a test run on technology before the student is present.  Video interpreting requires a stronger connection than video meetings that use spoken language.  Hard wired connections are best.

TIP #6  

For Deaf students:  Consider the strengths and learning style of the student and be creative and flexible.  Remember, when the Deaf student isn’t looking at the screen they can’t “hear” what is being taught.  Also, interpreters need to be able to hear all the conversations in the room.

TIP #7

Start small and work your way up. Start with one session a week, co-treat with another therapist if possible, and slowly build up as appropriate for all involved. We don’t want the children to become overwhelmed and refuse altogether. One is better than none!

TIP #8

Remember that there may be multiple learners in the home and a limited number of devices. Work with families to schedule times that work best for everyone and try to ensure that everyone gets a break from the screen.

TIP #9

Use virtual backgrounds to keep children engaged. Children struggle to maintain attention during distance learning, so keep your screen exciting and fresh. Change your background as needed to keep their attention. You can also match backgrounds to themes or stories!

TIP #10

Don’t be too hard on yourself.  As professionals, we want to be able to connect with every child, every day.  We all have days that are challenging. We just need to accept that and try again the next day.

Through strategic use of technology, Pine Tree Society meet the needs of students statewide; bringing much needed services to rural parts of the state where access would otherwise be limited.  To find out how Pine Tree Society can support your school, please contact Terry Berkowitz, Chief Operating Officer at 207-443-3341 or tberkowitz@pinetreesociety.org.

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips – Part Four

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways through a series of blog posts over the next few days. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

Dawn Willard Robinson is the director of Pine Tree Camp. She and her team are committed to keeping campers connected, active and outdoors and have fully embraced all aspects of technology to bring Pine Tree Camp virtually to Maine people with disabilities through the innovative, new Pine Tree Camp to You.

“It boils down to one word: connection,” she said.  “Our campers are at great risk for social isolation and we want to fill that need for connection in whatever way we can, even if that means we’re connecting virtually through a screen.  Keeping people connected is the very essence of what we do, and, during this time of physical distancing, that’s more important than ever.”

Dawn offers her top motivational tip to help educators make distance learning a success.

TIP #10 

Don’t be too hard on yourself.  As professionals, we want to be able to connect with every child, every day.  We all have days that are challenging. We just need to accept that and try again the next day.

BONUS TIP

Have Fun! If you’re enjoying it, your audience will have fun as well. Think outside the box. Teach in a different location, use a new background, costume or hat.

Learn more about Pine Tree Camp to You and Pine Tree Camp Adventure Day Pass at www.pinetreesociety.org or by contacting us at 207-386-5990 or ptcamp@pinetreesociety.org.

Top 10 Distance Learning Tips

Introduction: Distance Learning — Pine Tree Society’s Expertise

Tips 1 – 3:  Distance Learning — Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways

Tips 4 – 6:  Distance Learning — Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services

Tips 7 – 9:  Distance Learning — Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Early Learning Center

Tip 10:  Distance Learning — Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips – Part Three

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways through a series of blog posts over the next few days. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

Karen McClure-Richard is the director of Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center in Auburn.  The Early Learning Center is a specialized preschool for children with significant disabilities; providing critical early intervention and consistent skill building.

“Our children have the highest level of need and without consistent access to our classroom and educators, they would not only lose momentum, they would regress,” said Karen. “An unexpected benefit of distance learning is we have the opportunity to work with parents and their children at the same time.  In our virtual sessions, we’re coaching parents around how their child learns through play and helping them think about learning in a different way. We provide simple, every day activities they can repeat at home that encourage development in their child.”

Karen offers these three tips to help make distance learning a success for preschoolers.

TIP #7
Start small and work your way up. Start with one session a week, co-treat with another therapist if possible, and slowly build up as appropriate for all involved. We don’t want the children to become overwhelmed and refuse altogether. One is better than none!

TIP #8
Remember that there may be multiple learners in the home and a limited number of devices. Work with families to schedule times that work best for everyone and try to ensure that everyone gets a break from the screen.

TIP #9
Use virtual backgrounds to keep children engaged. Children struggle to maintain attention during distance learning, so keep your screen exciting and fresh. Change your background as needed to keep their attention. You can also match backgrounds to themes or stories!

For more information about Pine Tree Society’s Early Learning Center, contact Karen McClure-Richard at 207-386-5943 or kmcclure@pinetreesociety.org.

Top 10 Distance Learning Tips

Introduction: Distance Learning — Pine Tree Society’s Expertise

Tips 1 – 3:  Distance Learning — Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways

Tips 4 – 6:  Distance Learning — Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services

Tips 7 – 9:  Distance Learning — Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Early Learning Center

Tip 10:  Distance Learning — Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips – Part Two

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways through a series of blog posts over the next few days. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

Maura Nolin is the Director of Interpreting Services at Pine Tree Society where she and her staff provide interpreting and consultation to Deaf students and their teams; offering distance learning resources specific to Deaf learners to help the team provide effective instruction.

There’s a lot to consider when planning remote instruction for Deaf students. Pine Tree Society’s sign language interpreters are trained on video interpreting and have secure systems that meet the standards for HIPAA and education confidentiality.

Pine Tree Society’s relationship with the student, partnership with teams and expertise in video relay interpreting all contribute to the success of distance learning in school districts statewide.  Interpreters are proficient at in-person and video interpreting and provide Teacher of the Deaf consultation services.

Maura offers these three tips to help make distance learning a success for Deaf students.

Tip #4
Share materials, lesson plans and lesson goals with the interpreter in advance of the lesson.  This allows the interpreter to support the short and long-term goals of each assignment.

Tip #5
Do a test run on technology before the student is present.  Video interpreting requires a stronger connection than video meetings that use spoken language.  Hard wired connections are best.

Tip #6
Consider the strengths and learning style of the student and be creative and flexible.  Remember, when the Deaf student isn’t looking at the screen they can’t “hear” what is being taught.  Also, interpreters need to be able to hear all the conversations in the room.

Learn more about how Pine Tree Society can partner with your school to meet the needs of Deaf students.  Contact Maura Nolin at 207-386-5971 or mnolin@pinetreesociety.org.

Top 10 Distance Learning Tips

Introduction: Distance Learning — Pine Tree Society’s Expertise

Tips 1 – 3:  Distance Learning — Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways

Tips 4 – 6:  Distance Learning — Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services

Tips 7 – 9:  Distance Learning — Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Early Learning Center

Tip 10:  Distance Learning — Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp

Pine Tree Society’s Community Support: Let’s be together in a safe way

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COVID-19 has had a significant impact on the way in which services are delivered to adults with disabilities.  Just five months ago, Pine Tree Society’s Community Support program sites in Auburn and Scarborough would be bustling centers of activity with close to 75 people gathering each morning and then departing to access group activities designed to provide immersion in the community.

In March, our team launched telepractice Community Support services to clients designed to keep them engaged and active during the time of social distancing.

Recently, our program has begun opening back up for in-person services on a small group basis.  These services are highly individualized, offering in-person social connection, accessible recreation and access to the outdoors. This is taking a challenge and turning it into an opportunity in action.

Watch this short video to hear and see more of what is being offered at Pine Tree Society’s Community Support programs in Auburn and Scarborough.

Interested in joining us?  Want to hear more?  Contact Shelley Zielinski at 207-386-5927 or szielinski@pinetreesociety.org.

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips – Part One

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways through a series of blog posts over the next few days. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

Linda Bonnar is the director of Communication Pathways at Pine Tree Society.  She and her team of speech language pathologists partner on distance learning with school districts statewide to support students with the greatest challenges.

They are always thinking outside the box and strategizing how to best meet the needs of the students they serve.

Linda offers these three tips to help make distance learning a success. 

TIP #1

Motivate and engage. Keep the philosophy that YES this child can participate and be successful to the best of their ability in distance learning and telepractice sessions.  Keep in mind that just because you are in front of a computer screen, it doesn’t mean you have to sit for the whole session.  If needed, build in movement activities too!

TIP #2

Be creative. Look for blogs, ask or follow fellow colleagues, and, if you have social media accounts like Facebook and Instagram, look for groups that are posting tips and ideas. Search “distance learning” on TeachersPayTeachers.com for free resources every week!

TIP #3

Be flexible. Look for activities that can meet multiple goal areas rather than worrying about one activity for each goal.  Remind yourself and others that it won’t look the same and it won’t always be perfect, but we are in this together, and together we can succeed!

To find out how Pine Tree Society’s Speech Language Pathologists can support your students through telepractice speech/language therapy services, please contact Linda Bonnar at lbonnar@pinetreesociety.org or 207-386-5931.

Top 10 Distance Learning Tips

Introduction: Distance Learning — Pine Tree Society’s Expertise

Tips 1 – 3:  Distance Learning — Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways

Tips 4 – 6:  Distance Learning — Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services

Tips 7 – 9:  Distance Learning — Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Early Learning Center

Tip 10:  Distance Learning — Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp

Distance Learning: Top 10 Tips – Introduction

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The 2020/2021 school year is approaching and schools are preparing for multiple scenarios – one of which is distance learning. Pine Tree Society was able to jump in and support schools and their students with special needs during the spring shutdown. There’s no doubt about it, we learned a lot. Everyone did. We wanted to share our Top 10 distance learning takeaways through a series of blog posts over the next few days. Please know, we are here to support your school, your teachers and your students whatever comes this fall – distance learning, a hybrid model or in-person instruction.

“Our expertise and infrastructure sets us apart and allows us to respond quickly,” said Terry Berkowitz, Chief Operations Officer of Pine Tree Society. “For example, after the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly put an end to in-person classrooms and services for Maine people with disabilities, within one week’s time, we started supporting students and clients through distance learning.”

Through strategic use of technology, Pine Tree Society is working to meet the needs of students statewide; bringing much needed services to rural parts of the state where access would otherwise be limited, including: 

  • A team of Speech/Language Pathologists partnering with education teams to meet the needs of students with multiple disabilities;
  • Expertise in Assistive Technology and Augmentative Communication to ensure access to curriculum;
  • Certified Teachers of the Deaf available to support teams in designing and implementing programs for students who are Deaf;
  • A specialized and supportive Early Learning Center for students ages three to six who need early intervention services; and
  • Maine’s only ACA accredited camp program for individuals with special needs which began offering remote programming in March to keep people with disabilities connected, engaged and active during the time of physical distancing.

Pine Tree Society is invested in the success of distance learning for people with disabilities and is committed to making a positive impact in students’ lives.

To find out how Pine Tree Society can support your school, your student or your family, please contact Terry Berkowitz, Chief Operating Officer at 207-443-3341 or tberkowitz@pinetreesociety.org.

Top 10 Distance Learning Tips

Introduction: Distance Learning — Pine Tree Society’s Expertise

Tips 1 – 3:  Distance Learning — Linda Bonnar, Director of Communication Pathways

Tips 4 – 6:  Distance Learning — Maura Nolin, Director of Interpreting Services

Tips 7 – 9:  Distance Learning — Karen McClure-Richard, Director of Early Learning Center

Tip 10:  Distance Learning — Dawn Willard-Robinson, Director of Pine Tree Camp

Pine Tree Society partners with schools to meet the needs of Deaf students

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Sign Language InterpretingWe know school districts around the state are actively engaged in planning for the 2020-2021 school year. Remote learning may be an important piece in the puzzle of delivering education to students.

Designing accessible curriculum for students who are Deaf requires a team approach. One essential member of the team is the Deaf student themselves. Each student is an individual and there is no one–size-fits-all solution. For students who have on-site interpreters, being able to use the same provider whether the education is delivered in-person or online is a plus. Consistency will support the student.

The National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes also recommends partnering with providers not only for the instruction but also for the instructional planning.

Pine Tree Society’s team includes an on staff native language specialist, a certified teacher of the Deaf, expertise in educational settings and expertise with video remote interpreting (VRI).

According to Maura Nolin, director of Interpreting and a certified teacher of the deaf, a strong team for a student may include both a special education teacher and a teacher of the Deaf.

“A special education teacher is a generalist with a broad knowledge base to ensure success for students with a wide range of disabilities,” she said.  “A teacher of the Deaf is a specialist whose training emphasized strategies for children who are Deaf. Together they round out a team.”

Pine Tree Society was a pioneer in the field of video relay interpreting in Maine. More than 20 years ago, Pine Tree Society was part of the Maine Telehealth Grant, a federally funded grant to ensure access to rural residents.

“We have always seen technology as playing an important role in meeting the needs of people in rural parts of our state,” said Teresa Berkowitz, Chief Operation Officer of Pine Tree Society.  “We were quickly able to apply our knowledge and capacity to provide high quality services via video during the COVID pandemic.”

There’s a lot to consider when planning remote instruction for Deaf students. Pine Tree Society’s sign language interpreters are trained on video interpreting and have secure systems that meet the standards for HIPAA and education confidentiality.

Our ease of shifting from in-person to video-remote benefits students and education teams because there is one less thing to worry about.  We want to share our expertise.

Learn more about how Pine Tree Society can partner with you to meet the needs of Deaf students.  Contact Maura Nolin at 207-386-5971 or mnolin@pinetreesociety.org.  We are happy to customize a program to meet the needs of your students with the flexibility that may be needed the 20/21 school year.