All About Autism

Nurses have always played an important role in my life. My grandfather was the first male nurse at St. Vincent Hospital, and went on to become a physician. My Aunt Marion (Dr. Barber’s sister) was the Director of Nursing by day at St. Vincent, and at night was the caregiver of neighbors in need on Erie’s East side (then known as “Kingtown.”)

Aunt Marion was certainly a mentor for my late sister JoAnne, who knew that she wanted to be a nurse even as a preteen. To my Dad, a nursing degree meant that JoAnne could not go to St. Mary’s College, but she could go to Georgetown. JoAnne loved being the Litchfield school nurse, and often shared stories of helping children and families.

And so, as we celebrate Nurses Appreciation Week, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the Elizabeth Lee Black School nurses, Keri Moore, Helen Boyer, and Etta Loreti. I know that we are fortunate to have such dedicated, caring nurses in our school. Keri, Helen, and Etta can always be counted on to respond to student’s medical needs calmly, with expert nursing care and a smile.

I thought that I would ask them a few questions to gain insight into their work at the Barber National Institute and the Elizabeth Lee Black School.

Keri started with us in August 2021 and had worked for Saint Vincent Hospital prior to her joining us. She says, “We have the most amazing staff!  Everyone here at ELBS has a heart of gold.  Watching the teachers and staff interact with these students every day is truly inspiring!  From top to bottom, everyone who works here goes above and beyond to care for and educate our students.  Administration does a great job making sure their employees feel valued and appreciated.  We really have a great team and I’m so blessed to be a part of it.”

Helen joined the Barber National Institute in 2005 where she worked in the Adult Program until coming to the school in May 2021, Helen says, “I love working with my coworkers. They are all very caring and patient people. Because I am relatively new, I found I can count on everyone here for accurate information, to best care for each child. And of course there’s the Children, I love caring for them; they are good for my soul. I will be here till I retire.”

Etta has been with the Barber National Institute for 6 year and the Elizabeth Lee Black School for 9 months. Before coming the the Barber National Institute, she worked at Perseus House and Sarah Reed Children’s Center. Etta enjoys the friendly staff, cheerful school environment and working with the children. She also likes helping people and seeing them improve.

On behalf of our students and faculty, thank you Keri, Helen, and Etta for everything you do to help make dreams come true for our children and their families.

The first week of May is full of moments created to celebrate and appreciate many people in our lives – teachers, nurses, therapists, paraeducators, behavior specialists and many, many support personnel.

We agree with former First Lady Michelle Obama, who aptly stated: “At a time when more and more jobs require a good education, teacher’s week couldn’t be more important.” A good teacher can change a student’s life, creating worlds of opportunity, shaping the future and inspiring dreams. I think back to a teacher who influenced me and remember Sister Eulalia from Villa Maria grade school. Sister Eulalia was an English scholar, who instilled in us the knowledge and importance of good grammar. I spent hours diagramming prayers as a means of understanding subject/verb agreement, the error in dangling participles, and sentence fragments. When I entered Sister’s classroom, my knees were shaking and my hands were trembling, I was so nervous that I would make a mistake! However, I survived and today I credit my writing skills to Sister Eulalia.

Of course, I also look back to the teachers who had such a positive impact on Ryan’s learning. The first that comes to mind is Mrs. T, a retired first grade teacher who tutored Ryan from first grade to fifth grade. Mrs. T’s guiding philosophy was that if a student isn’t learning, then we must change how we teach him – a sentiment that echoes throughout the Elizabeth Lee Black School.  

And of course, I cannot forget my aunt, Dr. Gertrude Barber, our founder. She considered herself first and foremost a teacher. She was President of a multi-million-dollar agency, but her greatest happiness was found in being with her children, her students.

I encourage you to think back over your education. Who were the shining lights? Who inspired your dreams? It’s never too late to reach out to those people who made an impact on your life to tell them “Thank You!”

The annual Art Show has been a Barber National Institute tradition since 2006. Initially, we wanted to have an event that would celebrate “April is Autism month”. As we discussed ideas, felt that it was important to recognize both children and adults with autism and other disabilities as well professional and amateur artists who support people with disabilities. And so began the first Art Show.

We were supported by the Erie Art Museum who loaned us their panels for the exhibit. There was an overwhelming response the first year. People wanted to participate, and the public responded with their interest in attending the show.

The show grew over the years until 2019 when we were forced by the pandemic to move to a virtual platform.  Yet the show continued to grow as persons across the country could participate since it was virtual.

This year, we have nearly 300 paintings, photography, and scriptures from youth, adult, adult amateur and adult professional artists.

Our chair for the past several years are Doctors Jay and Mona Kang.  Why are they involved?  Their interview along with their children tells the story….

The Art Show will be held online from Monday, April 25 through Friday, May 6. The Art Show is open to the public. Find more information at https://www.barberinstitute.org/events/art-show.

The Art Show is a great way to support the work of local artists, and it also serves to support the mission of the Barber National Institute. Purchases and donations alike help bring life-sustaining care to the populations we serve. Artists donate 20% of their proceeds to the Barber National Institute and some actually donate 100%.

Don’t delay or your favorite piece of art may be sold.

National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service and the power of volunteers to tackle society’s greatest challenges, to build stronger communities and be a force that transforms the world. Each year, we shine a light on the people and causes that inspire us to serve, recognizing and thanking volunteers who lend their time, talent, and voices to make a difference in their communities.

National Volunteer Week was established in 1974 and has grown exponentially each year, with thousands of volunteer projects and special events scheduled throughout the week. Today, as people strive to lead lives that reflect their values, the expression of civic life has evolved. Whether online, at the office, or the local food bank; whether with a vote, a voice, or a wallet – doing good comes in many forms, and we recognize and celebrate them all.

Although 1974 marked the beginning of National Volunteer Week, volunteerism has been the core of the Barber National Institute since its beginning in 1952. The teacher and aides who established with Dr. Barber the first classroom in 1952 were not paid staff but volunteers who were retired school teachers or parents. They believed that children with disabilities should be able to receive an education and so they volunteered.

Often these women continued to work as volunteers for many years since there was no funding. There was a need for fundraisers so that these “volunteers” could in fact be paid. Again, it was volunteers who stepped to the plate and chaired teas, telethons, and card parties. Do we still depend on volunteers today? Yes, definitely!

Hundreds of event volunteers assist with the Beast on the Bay and other events, including the Art Show, Shillelagh golf tournaments, Ladies Only Luncheon, and the Christmas Ball. We are so fortunate that the men and women of our community are able and willing to give their time and talents to support children and adults of the Barber National Institute.

Over the next two weeks the children in our school are holding a penny drive to help the children of Ukraine. If you would like to assist, you can drop off your donation at any of our main entrances in Erie. As one of our children said to me, “It’s our job to help the kids of Ukraine.”

Have you ever considered volunteering? If not, why not? Check out our website and learn about the various opportunities available. 70 years later, volunteerism is alive and well as the Barber National Institute!

I started thinking about Easter over the years…some wonderful memories! As you can see, Ryan did not like the Easter Bunny!

Happy Easter to Everyone!

Established in 1971, The Week of the Young Child™ (WOYC), April 2-8 is a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. The 2022 theme is ‘step it up’. Why ‘step it up’? The Early Childhood years from birth to age eight lay the foundation for a child’s later success in their academic and social life. However, the pandemic took its toll on young children with the multiple and random closings of our schools and child care programs. Learning loss was inevitable, so we must all ‘step it up.’ The Barber National Institute has been committed to Early Childhood Education since our beginnings in 1952.

What do we have available in 2022?

Pre-K Counts program based in Erie and Corry is part of a statewide initiative to provide a high-quality full-time preschool experience free of charge for children of qualifying families. Pre-K Counts is designed to assist children who may be considered “at risk” because of the family’s economic, language, cultural or other circumstances which may prevent the child from developing the skills necessary to enter kindergarten ready to learn.

Happy Hearts Early Childhood Program, a fully inclusive preschool, provides a state-of-the-art educational experience where all preschool children have the opportunity to learn and grow. We began this program in the early 1980s, to allow neighborhood children and children of our staff to attend preschool. Today, we serve typical children as well as children with developmental delays. Happy Hearts is a four-out-of-four Keystone Stars Certified program and aligns with a progressive, innovative curriculum that encourages the development of creativity, self-direction, positive peer interactions and communication. Our history of providing individualized education allows us to guide each child toward his or her potential.

The Elizabeth Lee Black School, an Approved Private School, serves children with autism, intellectual and physical disabilities, and behavioral challenges who need intensive educational programming and therapies.

Our involvement with young children doesn’t end there. By partnering with organizations such as the PNC Grow Up Great program, we help to promote and encourage all children to reach their fullest potential, while sharing the resources to help make it possible.

Check out our Facebook page to see some of the WOYC fun activities beginning with our outdoor parade on Monday.

It’s hard to believe, but April has been recognized as Autism Awareness month since 2007.   I started writing about it in 2012.  That is the year that I began my blog…10 years ago!

As I look back over the years, I think about the enormous changes.

• CDC recently released its latest prevalence rate estimates, one in 44 or 2.27% of 8-year-old American children have Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is a 23% increase from two years ago when the figure was 1:54.

• Because so much publicity has been directed to the signs of autism, parents are often the first to recognize the possible characteristics of autism and consult their physician.  This is a very important outcome, as early diagnosis is critical.

• Educational opportunities increased tenfold as colleges and universities began offering special education certification in the field of autism. More qualified teachers allowed schools to expand programs for children with autism.  

• We also began to understand fully that autism is a spectrum disorder and that we have children who are on all levels: mild, moderate, and severe.  For each, a different level of educational programming is mandated for their free appropriate education. COVID brought many challenges for our students…and we are still working through them.

• We have made significant progress in improving access to opportunity for persons with autism. However, we know that there are still significant gaps in employment and income.

• How can you assist during April?  Spread the word about Acceptance of children and adults with autism in the schools, jobs, and in society as a whole.  If you are an employer, consider our Supported Employment Program. Information on this program can be found at: https://www.barberinstitute.org/adults/employment/supported-employment

 At the Barber National Institute, we strive to be part of the fabric of our society and have found Erie to be a welcoming community.  That has been because of Acceptance.  We have made great strides, but more can be done…. through Acceptance.

Each year, the Religious Studies Department at Mercyhurst University awards an individual or organization the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award for “living the call of faith and justice in an extraordinary manner.”

This year marks the 30^th year for the award named in honor of now Saint Oscar Romero, a staunch advocate for the poor and oppressed in El Salvador. Saint Oscar Romero gave his life fighting for the dignity and human rights of those who were excluded from society and marginalized for centuries.

Barber National Institute was nominated this year for the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award, and I was honored to accept this award on behalf of the organization Dr. Gertrude Barber founded 70 years ago. On the evening of March 24, I gave a speech on the campus of Mercyhurst University titled “Continuing the Legacy of Making Dreams Come True.”

Like Saint Oscar Romero, Dr. Gertrude Barber was called to help those who had been excluded from society and given little opportunity to grow and thrive as valued members in their own communities.

Dr. Gertrude Barber entered the Erie School District as a young teacher in the 1930s. Her first assignment was working with children with mild disabilities at Wayne School. While these children were deemed to be educable by the school system, there were many students with disabilities who were denied access to a quality education. Their only option was to either be sent to an institution or kept at home indefinitely.

With limited funding and legal restrictions in offering early intervention programs to aid children with disabilities, Dr. Barber organized the first parent group in 1950. If the city and state would not provide for these children, then the parents must start a school of their own.

The first class for children with disabilities was held at the YWCA in April of 1952. As the Y become too small for Dr. Gertrude’s programs, a permanent home was found in 1958 at the Lakeview Hospital at 136 East Avenue.

Institutional reforms began in the 1960s, and Dr. Gertrude played a major role in providing her expertise on the challenges that face people with disabilities and their families. By the early 1970s, there was a push to move people with disabilities out of institutions and back to their home communities. Today, the Barber National Institute operates 95 group homes throughout Erie, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, where adults with disabilities are supported as they live, work, and worship in their own communities and neighborhoods.

In 2000, Dr. Barber passed away, but her work continues. Today the organization she founded serves 6,300 children, adults, and families across Pennsylvania.       

Throughout our history, we have been committed to the concept of social justice in the equitable treatment of people with disabilities. Our progress toward this ideal was slow initially and was not without its unique challenges, but today the Barber National Institute serves as a beacon for those who are committed to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

If you would like a copy of the PowerPoint presentation from the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award reception, please email Grace Martin at GraceMartin@barberni.org or call 814-878-5903.

It has been over 700 days since we closed in March of 2020. We have had a variety of schedules during this time, including on site, hybrid, remote/virtual, and every possible combination.

It has been a difficult time for students, families, and staff.  We have offered in-person education since September 2021 with various times that a classroom needed to go remote based on COVID or COVID exposures.  We have kept our classroom cohorts intact but have gradually moved to having students go to the gym, fitness room, or pool with their cohort.  We continue to mask as we know that so many of our students are medically compromised.   It is truly wonderful to see that Erie County is at a low level of transmission!

We have provided the opportunity for student teachers to return to two of our classrooms and plan on opening on a larger basis as we move ahead.  We can’t wait to open for our loyal volunteers!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you look in any of our classrooms, you will see every shade of green that you can imagine. Pre COVID, we had a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, but that is on hold until next year. Instead, each classroom will have their own celebration. Yes, it is a fun day for both students and staff! However, it’s a day rooted in a tradition that is the basis for our mission. Why is that? Well, it all started with the shamrock…

We all know that the shamrock is the familiar emblem of Irish culture. Often, I have been asked, “Do you have a shamrock for your emblem because the Barber Family is Irish?” While we do come from an Irish heritage, the shamrock truly has a meaning that extends beyond just our lineage. I recall sitting with Dr. Barber as she explained her concept of the shamrock to artist Frank Fecko. Each of the three leaves has significance: Faith, inspired Hope, and enduring Love. And the stem? It is the community of supporters, our children and adults, families, staff, and friends. Now, you will see the 70 as part of our stem as we celebrate our 70th year.

Today, the shamrock endures as our promise to future generations that the Barber National Institute will continue our commitment to serving children and adults with disabilities and their families. It’s comforting to think that we will continue to see this “lucky” green symbol for decades to come! As Dr. Gertrude Barber stated: “All things are possible if you set a goal, persevere, and put wings on our dreams.”