Northville Schools' Smiles for Students program helps students with disabilities blossom
Smiles for Students is a peer mentorship program to support students with disabilities.
Northville Schools' Smiles for Students program helps students with disabilities blossom Smiles for Students is a peer mentorship program to support students with disabilities. Check out this story on HometownLife.com: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/community/hometown/northville/2019/06/13/northville-schools-program-helps-students-disabilities-blossom/1442244001/
Ewa Omahen Published 9:15 a.m. ET June 13, 2019
Patrick Omahen and Aidan Torres enjoy the Smiles dance (Photo: Submitted)
June is a month filled with many celebrations and high school graduations.
On June 2, the Northville High School seniors put on their caps and gowns, received their diplomas and took their first step out into the adult world. Many will be venturing off to various universities soon while others have already made their way into the job market.
Some are leaving behind beautiful memories and lasting "gift of belonging" to very special members of the school community, students with various special needs and disabilities. Our son, Patrick Omahen, was one of these fortunate recipients.
We had no idea what to expect when Patrick first began attending the high school this past fall. The district initiated a new center-based autism program this year and Patrick is one of the first students to attend this program. As parents, we worried about how he would adjust to a new setting with over 2,700 students. Change is hard for most kids, but it can be especially daunting for students with autism who face daily struggles with communication, making social connections and maintaining relationships with peers.
Our son has the support of dedicated and skilled educators and an amazing peer community. In addition to daily interactions and exposure to typical peers provided through the Peer to Peer links program, Patrick also participated in the extracurricular Smiles for Students Club at Northville High School. He was able to participate in bi-weekly after school gatherings with typical peers and other students with disabilities.
The gatherings offered entertaining and engaging activities including yoga, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, cooperative games, dance lessons and a variety of sensory friendly activities. Patrick has met new friends and enjoyed special times with a wonderful group of caring, engaging, and supportive peers.
With help and support of peers and staff, he has become a true member of the high school and developed a sense of belonging to his school community.
The Smiles Club at Northville High School has been in existence since 2014. Then student Camille Tish initiated Smiles for Students with the mission of establishing a peer mentorship program to support students with disabilities. The membership grew from 20 members in 2014 to over 150 members this year. A group of student officer volunteers are in charge of running and managing the club. They have the support of the administration and staff including Karin Hogan, speech pathologist, and Kelsey Mikiciuk, Joanne Jackson and Becca Jurvelin, resource teachers at the high school.
More: Living and Learning Center gives hope to adults with autism
More: She left her job, sold her house to help people with autism
The current student officers, including Ariana Nigoghosian and Silvia Robazza, the presidents; Maddy Lambert and Maya Hamati, vice presidents; Melanie Sarafian, treasurer; and Isabella Kakish, Hannah Shurtleff and Megan Lemke, social media representatives, had put a lot of time and effort into planning activities and events for the members ensuring that they are accessible and beneficial to all participants.
Smiles for Students was the winner of the 2017 Pacesetter Award from the Euro-Peds organization. Euro-Peds annually recognizes and awards five organizations who have made a difference in the special education community. Smiles was also one of the winners of this year's Education Excellence Award from the SET SEG Foundation and the Michigan Association of School Boards.
As Patrick's parents, we enjoyed occasional glimpses and snapshots of the fun-filled activities via pictures and notes posted on social media, the classroom teacher and staff. Patrick has made significant social growth this year and benefited immensely from the time and experiences with his peers.
We did not fully understand the powerful impact of the Smiles for Students Club on our son until we saw him and the way he interacted with his peers at the annual Smiles dance this year. It is an event meant to provide a school dance experience for students with disabilities, so that they get a "taste" of what their typical peers experience during their high school years. The dance is sensory-friendly and epilepsy safe making it accessible to all students. It has been a huge success with the number of students attending growing every year.
On the day of the Smiles dance, as soon as we walked into the cafeteria, a group of students approached us and led Patrick to the dance floor. He was dancing to the rhythm of music with a group of students enjoying each other's company. The typical peer mentors were always by their special friends' side to ensure their safety, participation and enjoyment. That image of a large group of high school kids, some of them in wheelchairs and others carrying communication devices, dancing and enjoying the experience is something we will never forget.
We met many wonderful young people that evening. Aidan Torres, who was Patrick's peer link and mentor this year, was one of them. Patrick has blossomed and came out of his shell over the last several months, thanks to Aidan's positive influence and involvement with him.
Aidan's words — "Patrick has really changed my life. He is an incredible person" — were beautiful and inspiring to us as his parents. These words conveyed a powerful message that every individual has something unique to contribute and gifts to share with others, regardless of their challenges and abilities. We also met Andres Garza, a freshman who has become very involved in the club this year and took the time during the Smiles meetings to hang out with Patrick, playing the ball, doing exercises with him and encouraging him to participate.
We look forward to the upcoming year at the high school with great hope and assurance that Patrick will continue to grow and learn so much more from his amazing peers in the Smiles for Students Club. We are certain that the Smiles members who are graduating this year will continue to spread the message of inclusion and acceptance wherever they go. Those who remain will embrace Patrick and other students with disabilities, contribute to their growth and enjoyment of the high school experience and will continue to make them feel right at home at Northville High School.
As a family, we will always be grateful for the "gift of belonging" that Patrick has been given this year.
Ewa Omahen is a mom of a child with autism in the Northville Public Schools. She can be reached at ewa.omahen10@gmail.com.
Read or Share this story: https://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/community/hometown/northville/2019/06/13/northville-schools-program-helps-students-disabilities-blossom/1442244001/
You can help library win grant to digitize old newspapers
'America's Got Talent' auditions coming to Novi this Tuesday
Here's some area events to honor MLK Day
After ups and downs, South Lyon woman loses 135 pounds
Asian fusion takeout restaurant opens in Canton
EMU hosts hundreds of P-C middle-schoolers