FROM

The Madison Courier

Special Services Unit

celebrates anniversary

By PEGGY VLEREBOME, Courier Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 02, 2001

    The educational program for children with disabilities in Jefferson and three other counties will celebrate 33 years of service at an open house Friday.  The event is open to the public.

    Past and current board members and employees, along with founders and directors will be honored.

    The open house will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kemp Hall at Madison State Hospital.  That is the office of the Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit, which serves children ages 3 through 21 in Jennings, Switzerland and Scott counties in addition to Jefferson.  The four-county enrollment is 2,944.

    The children receive the services in the schools in their local communities.  There are six school corporations in the unit's service area.

    Reservations are needed for the reception, which is free.  To make a reservation, call Lois Jackson, the unit's office manager, at 265-3448.

    There will be a recognition ceremony at 4:30 p.m. during the open house, when a commemorative plaque will be presented.  The plaque recognizes people who were instrumental in forming the unit, former board members who served more than 10 years, former directors, and those who have had continuous service since the unit was formed in 1968.

        Speakers include former directors William Littlejohn, Paul Roahrig, and Susan Jacobs.

    Board members and what the unit calls its "forefathers" who will be recognized include Jerry Thaden, Harve Rawson, Patrick Leahey, Robert Powell and Berley Goodin.  People who have died who will be remembered include Ott B. McAtee former superintendent of Madison State Hospital; Ellsworth Chandler, former superintendent of Scott County School District 1; Harold "Red" Benedict, a founder; and Franklin L. Spencer, former teacher and supervisor of special programs for the Switzerland and Southwestern Jefferson County school corporations.

    Richard McLeod, Matthew J. Hoffman, Curtis E. Slack and Mary Anne Trout will be recognized for more than 30 years of service to the unit.

    Projects made by students will be displayed, and first-and second-place prizes will be awarded after judging.  There also will be displays for Special Olympics, the Large Print Production Facility and PATINS, an assistance technology.

From the OPINION Section:

Special Services Unit

a great asset

Wednesday, October 03, 2001

    There are many young people in the area who have special educational needs.

 OUR VIEW   In some communities those youngsters fall between the cracks and never receive educational challenges.

    We're fortunate.  The Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit provides those needs for children as young as 3 to young adults.

    The unit, based at Kemp Hall at the Madison State Hospital, serves clients in Jefferson Jennings, Switzerland and Scott counties.  Enrollment now stands at 2,944.

    The children receive the services in their local schools which, no doubt, contributes to the program's success.  Keeping these youngsters with special needs in their own local environment enhances the chance that they will succeed.

    The programs longevity - it's about to celebrate its 33rd year - is testament to the caring and dedication of those who founded the program and those who continue to serve.

    An open house is set for 3 p.m. Friday to recognize the program's success over the year.  The event will be at Kemp Hall.  It is open to the public, but reservations must be made.  Call Lois Jackson at 265-3448.

    Administrators, past and present, will be honored at the open house.  But, four individuals will receive special recognition.  Richard McLeod, Matthew J. Hoffman, Curtis E. Slack and Mary Anne Trout will be honored for more than 30 years service to the unit.

    If you'd like to know more about the Special Services Unit make a point of attending the open house.  Projects made by students will be displayed and there will be plenty of believers on hand who will be happy to toast the programs value. 

Special Services Unit

celebrates 33 years of helping disabled kids

By PEGGY VLEREBOME, Courier Staff Writer

October 06, 2001

    The people who founded the Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit and those who are part of it today got together yesterday to celebrate 33 years of ensuring education for students with disabilities.

    There were light moments and somber ones as founders and former directors recalled the successes of forming partnerships with state hospitals to extend their services to children who could not attend public schools, and the hardships and the fun that were part of it.

    Curt Slack, who has been a teacher in the adolescent unit at Madison State Hospital since the Special Services Unit began, recalled during the open house that one of the hardships at the unit was pay.

    "We got paid just half a teacher's salary because he (Bill Littlejohn, the unit's founding director) didn't have enough money," Slack said.

    The Special Services Unit provides "more and better services than we were able to dream of in the late '60s and early '70s,"  Littlejohn told 120 people at the open house and plaque dedication.  He remained the director until 1981.

    The Special Services Unit is administered from offices at Madison State Hospital, but has programs in the schools in four counties -- Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Switzerland.  The unit serves almost 3,00 children.

    The plaque has the names of past directors Littlejohn, Paul Roahrig and Susan Jacobs;  committed staff members:  Rick McLeod, Tim Hoffman, Curt Slack, Frank Spencer and Mary Anne Trout; founding fathers Harold "Red" Benedict, Lewis Bose, George Cook, Ott McAtee, Harve Rawson and Jerry Thaden; and board members who served more than 10 years:  Ellsworth Chandler, Berley Goodin, Patrick Leahey, Robert Powell and  Thaden.  This is Goodin's 20th year on the board.

From the OPINION Section:

SSU leaders never lost their focus

 October 06, 2001

    Congratulations to the Madison Area Educational Special Services Unit.  The special education cooperative that serves Jefferson, Switzerland, Scott and

OUR VIEW Jennings counties, celebrated its 33rd anniversary Friday with an open house and special ceremony.

    Attendees recognized the talent, dedication and years of service of former directors, founding fathers and current staff members that has led to the success of the cooperative.

    The cooperative is just that - a melding of dedicated individuals who never lost sight of their primary focus ... What's best for the kids?

    While it has taken exceptional individuals with strong leadership skills to make the cooperative work, those in the know will tell you that the spirit of cooperation has been the key to its success.

    Educators have worked with local and state governmental agencies to develop and build the program.  Directors and staff have worked together to meet the needs of the children.

    Today, nearly 3,000 area students with disabilities are being served.  When the program began, young people with disabilities simply didn't attend school.

    Many of the children receive the special services in their local schools which contributes to the program's success.  Kids with special needs do best when they are in a familiar environment.

    When Bill Littlejohn was brought in to run the fledgling program there was nothing like it in the state or the country.  There was no prototype to follow.  Littlejohn, with guidance and support from Red Benedict, George Cook, Dr. Ott McAtee, Harve Rawson and Jerry Thaden, developed a program that became a model for special education services.

    By seeking out highly skilled professionals and dedicated staff, Littlejohn set the standard and other have followed and nurtured the effort to where it is today.  SSU has grown to 192 employees and includes projects for large print books and assistive technology.

    We are fortunate to have the Special Services Unit in our community.  And we feel that the word "special" is most appropriate because the people who work in this field are indeed "special" people.

    We salute all those who have played a role in the Special Services Unit and those who continue this important work.