The Arc Erie County Preschool and School Age Program

The Arc Erie County Preschool and School Age Program At The Arc Erie County Preschool and School Age Program, we do everything in our power to nurture, facilitate and expand each child’s growth and development.
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Welcome! At the Heritage Education Program, we recognize that all of our students are children first, and we do everything in our power to nurture, facilitate and expand each child’s growth and development in helping him/her reach for the stars! Our staff cultivate strong relationships with our students, and we work diligently to provide the greatest nurturing, learning environment that enriches the lives of the children we support. We see each child as a child first, and we address each child’s needs holistically, including where he/she is developmentally cognitively, physically, and what his/her sensory needs may be. We then immerse him/her into various learning experiences utilizing developmentally appropriate practices in facilitating learning so that each child may reach his/her fullest potential. One of our parents coined the phrase that Heritage Education Program is a place where hearts help minds grow! Our warm, caring staff ensure that children and families feel secure that they are in a school that truly cares about the students and that we strive to provide the highest quality program.

Mission: At The Arc Erie County, we offer individualized and comprehensive Person-centered services and compassionate support to people with developmental disabilities and their families. As a leading agency in Western New York for over 65 years, we take pride in our mission and advocacy that builds and strengthens the entire community. We are deeply dedicated to the people we support and their families who rely on our expertise to assist them in the discovery and delivery of life-long educational, employment, vocational, residential and support programs and resources. They turn to us to assist them in exploring all the available service options within our communities, so they can find meaningful opportunities, employment, a safe place to call home and the ability to achieve their greatest potential.

06/17/2020

Miss Brittney came up with lots of ways to improve strength and balance by using a broom and paper plates. Check it out!

06/15/2020
Arc Maryvale: We miss our students!

To The Arc Maryvale Students and Families: The teachers, assistants, therapists and a nurse all have a message for you! Click on the link and enjoy!

Special thank you to Miss Katie for putting this all together!

Dear Maryvale Students and Families, Even though we haven't been each other's physical presence for a few months now, you are all still in our minds and hear...

Miss Brittney, our skillful PT has created wonderful exercises that combine technology and movement. https://docs.google...
06/08/2020
Counting Apples

Miss Brittney, our skillful PT has created wonderful exercises that combine technology and movement.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RLRCkvqMVW0FtPv7Nzqb4SF-X1eo5Sn2kHwjscj_ckk/mobilepresent?slide=id.p

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nWRkbxfQvwKFDRAg080PqGEQGfbw0p-9sA6ecMB7dMM/mobilepresent?slide=id.p

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18yJblo2mJzX7o7YRml_wm6dh5lZEgRquaMZLsGStPps/mobilepresent?slide=id.g88335490ab_0_296

Click on the apples to uncover the secret exercise 8 3 4 5 6 7 2 1 Click on the apples to uncover the surprise exercise

06/01/2020

Did you know you can get some exercises done using a beach ball? How fun is that? Here is Miss Brittney with an activity you can do using a beach ball! Have fun!

05/18/2020

Miss Brittney is back showing you how you can make your own home made twister game to help improve strength, flexibility and balanace. Check it out!

05/05/2020

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Miss Brittney has some gross motor activities to help get you up and moving while building your skills! Feel free to post your Cinco de Mayo activity pictures below! Thanks Miss Brittney!

05/01/2020

Miss Brittney(PT) came up with an activity that will work on total body strengthening. You know what they say, “April showers, bring May Flowers.”

Just a little message from our Speech Paths at Green Acres! 😊
04/29/2020

Just a little message from our Speech Paths at Green Acres! 😊

04/28/2020

Miss Rusty is back with a song for everyone! Raindrops may be falling, but sunny days will be here again! ☔️ ☀️. Thanks Miss Rusty!

One of our Maryvale students worked really hard on this beautiful Earth Day craft! Please feel free to share pictures of...
04/24/2020

One of our Maryvale students worked really hard on this beautiful Earth Day craft! Please feel free to share pictures of your Earth Day activities in the comments! 🌎💙💚

04/24/2020
CVI friendly - The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Here are is a video for our students who have cortically visually impairments or have other visual impairments. Our students with visual impairments see the world differently and these videos are presented in a way that helps the brain better understand better what it is seeing. There are other videos by this same person available on YouTube.

Book reading adapted for children with CVI

04/22/2020

Here is our final activity from Miss Brittney that you can use recycled materials found in your house and help you get some movement into your day.

04/21/2020

Here is another activity from the creative Miss Brittney that combines both physical movement and and also helps us remember which objects we can recycle and which need to go in the trash. Have fun!

04/20/2020

Happy Earth Day! Miss Brittney came up with some activities using recycled items to help you get moving. Stay tuned for another video tomorrow!

04/17/2020
Kitchen hockey

It's cold and snowy! Let's turn our kitchen into a hockey rink. Use a ball (use rolled up socks or a wad of paper if you don't have a ball), brooms, mops, dusters or even a yard stick with a spatula taped to one end for a hockey stick and a couple of boxes, laundry baskets or plastic food storage containers for your goals. Move the kitchen table out of the room or to one side for more space. We played after I washed the floor and already had everything moved out of the room.

Even if you don't want to or can't play a game, use one box and practice shooting the ball. Or switch it up to a soccer game.

Let me know if you tried it. Did you play kid vs kid or parent vs kid? Who won? My kids like to glide on the floor in their socks like they're ice skating. You can also glide around on paper plates.

This activity works on strength, balance, hand-eye coordination, endurance and FUN!

Here's the link for an example of kitchen hockey:
https://youtu.be/_c0YpWt1ueU

Move some things out of the way to play an exciting game of kitchen or living room hockey. Make it a competition or just spend some time hitting a ball back ...

04/17/2020
We Wear Masks - A Social Story about the coronavirus

Seeing people wear a mask and having to wear one can be scary for anyone, but especially for our students who may not understand why it is needed. Below is a social story to better prepare your child for having to wear a mask.

Special thanks to Miss Linda W. At our Maryvale Site for sharing this!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lnP-uMn6q_U

Download a FREE PDF version of this book here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/We-Wear-Masks-Coronavirus-Social-Story-about-Wearing-a-Mask-542598...

04/16/2020
Chalk Obstacle Course with Miss Serena!

Miss Serena, one of our wonderful PT’s at our Maryvale Site created a “Chalk Obstacle Course” that you can recreate at home! Ready, set, Go!
(written out instructions in the comments).

Here are some tips from Miss Kelsey, one of our Speech Pathologists on how to continue working on language skills at hom...
04/16/2020

Here are some tips from Miss Kelsey, one of our Speech Pathologists on how to continue working on language skills at home.

It’s OT Month! We love our OTs. They work hard to help our students learn to cut, trace, color, write, learn self help...
04/15/2020

It’s OT Month!

We love our OTs. They work hard to help our students learn to cut, trace, color, write, learn self help skills, and help with their sensory needs. OTs use creative ways to help our students live their best lives. Give our OTs some virtual hugs and high fives as we celebrate OT month!

Hello everyone! Ms. Kahla, one of our PTs came up with this I Spy activity to get you and your families outside and movi...
04/13/2020

Hello everyone! Ms. Kahla, one of our PTs came up with this I Spy activity to get you and your families outside and moving! Enjoy!

04/10/2020

Hi friends, families, and staff! Easter Sunday is fast approaching. Please feel free to share any fun Easter activities you've done this week or you rocking your Easter best in the comment section! 🐰🐣💐

Miss Shannon one of our fabulous and creative PT’s came up with this series of 3 Easter/Spring Gross Motor activities fo...
04/10/2020

Miss Shannon one of our fabulous and creative PT’s came up with this series of 3 Easter/Spring Gross Motor activities for our students to do in their homes. Thank you Miss Shannon for all the time and effort you put into this! 🐣 🐰 🌸

Tools to Grow, Inc.
04/08/2020

Tools to Grow, Inc.

Calm Down Cards - FREE Printable!
💙
This PDF includes 55 high quality cards! Personalize by typing directly into PDF students name.
▶️ Please share with families and students at home during this time.
#pediOT #pediatricOT #slpeeps #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife #kbnmoms #sensory #sensorydiet #calm #selfregulation #free #captureOT #OTMonth #OTTips #pediPT #pediatricSLP #speechtherapy #occupationaltherapy #teletherapy

Our maintenance crew at our Maryvale Site is keeping up our building (and social distancing) while we are away! They w...
04/07/2020

Our maintenance crew at our Maryvale Site is keeping up our building (and social distancing) while we are away! They wanted to say “Hello” to all the students and staff who they miss so much. Thanks Mr. Bill, Mr. Carlos and Ms. Michel!

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe! I also hope you are all having tons of fun even t...
04/06/2020

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe! I also hope you are all having tons of fun even though you’re not at school playing with your friends! I know that everyone misses each other very much but hopefully we will all be together again soon. Parents and staff please feel free to post pictures or a description of what you’ve been doing to keep busy while you’re at home in the comment section. Here are a couple to start it off from some kiddos that are in our preschool program. 😃💕

04/06/2020
Play to Learn Preschool

Play to Learn Preschool

Today we are going to learn all about signs of spring. Spring is the time when new signs of life begin to appear. We hear frogs and see baby ducks. Betsy and I are glad you are here!

Find all the Virtual Preschool info, including links to today’s handouts here:
https://playtolearnpreschool.us/virtual-preschool-4/

* ”Everybody Clap” song by Nancy Kopman: https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/nancykopman
* Five Green and Speckled Frogs by ArtFelt.net
* Five Little Ducks adorable handmade set by @TammiesCreations on Facebook.
* Print your poems for both here: https://playtolearnpreschool.us/10-chip-clip-poems/
* “Funny Frog” Hide & Seek game from this set: (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Carpet-Games-3107600)
* “Ducks Away” by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek (afflink: https://amzn.to/3e1O4ZE)

See you each weekday at 11:00 a.m. EST for a week of Spring Circle Time lessons!

All of the links to past videos are here for you.
Week1:
https://playtolearnpreschool.us/virtual-preschool/

Week 2:
https://playtolearnpreschool.us/virtual-preschool-2/

Week 3:
https://playtolearnpreschool.us/virtual-circle-time-3/

04/06/2020

Last day of Miss Brittney’s home exercises. If you missed the previous ones, they focus on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Thanks again Miss Brittney!

***If any teachers, assistants, OT, PT, ST or our specials teachers have anything they would like to share either PM the page or your the administrators of this page. Thanks.

04/05/2020

Day 3: Miss Brittney’s post today again focuses on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Have fun with these, get creative and stay tuned for our last exercise from Miss Brittney tomorrow.

***If any teachers, assistants, OT, PT, ST or our specials teachers have anything they would like to share either PM the page or your the administrators of this page. Thanks.

Address

777 Maryvale Drive
Cheektowaga, NY
14225

Telephone

(716) 631-9515

Website

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Videos

Miss Brittney came up with lots of ways to improve strength and balance by using a broom and paper plates. Check it out!

Did you know you can get some exercises done using a beach ball? How fun is that? Here is Miss Brittney with an activity you can do using a beach ball! Have fun!

Miss Brittney is back showing you how you can make your own home made twister game to help improve strength, flexibility and balanace. Check it out!

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Miss Brittney has some gross motor activities to help get you up and moving while building your skills! Feel free to post your Cinco de Mayo activity pictures below! Thanks Miss Brittney!

Miss Brittney(PT) came up with an activity that will work on total body strengthening. You know what they say, “April showers, bring May Flowers.”

Miss Rusty is back with a song for everyone! Raindrops may be falling, but sunny days will be here again! ☔️ ☀️. Thanks Miss Rusty!

Here is our final activity from Miss Brittney that you can use recycled materials found in your house and help you get some movement into your day.

Here is another activity from the creative Miss Brittney that combines both physical movement and and also helps us remember which objects we can recycle and which need to go in the trash. Have fun!

Happy Earth Day! Miss Brittney came up with some activities using recycled items to help you get moving. Stay tuned for another video tomorrow!

Chalk Obstacle Course with Miss Serena!
Chalk Obstacle Course with Miss Serena!

Miss Serena, one of our wonderful PT’s at our Maryvale Site created a “Chalk Obstacle Course” that you can recreate at home! Ready, set, Go! (written out instructions in the comments).

See you layer alligator! 🐊
See you layer alligator! 🐊

Miss Rusty with our favorite Goodbye song!

Wash your Hands! Scrub-a-Dub
Wash your Hands! Scrub-a-Dub

Thanks Miss Rusty for the fun reminder to wash our hands and cover our coughs. 🧼 🖐

Last day of Miss Brittney’s home exercises. If you missed the previous ones, they focus on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Thanks again Miss Brittney! ***If any teachers, assistants, OT, PT, ST or our specials teachers have anything they would like to share either PM the page or your the administrators of this page. Thanks.

Day 3: Miss Brittney’s post today again focuses on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Have fun with these, get creative and stay tuned for our last exercise from Miss Brittney tomorrow. ***If any teachers, assistants, OT, PT, ST or our specials teachers have anything they would like to share either PM the page or your the administrators of this page. Thanks.

Day 2: Over the next couple of days, we will be posting some different exercises to work on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Have fun with these, get creative and stay tuned for more activities” Special thanks to Miss Brittney for putting these together.

Day 1: Over the next couple of days, we will be posting some different exercises to work on overall strengthening, balance, core stability and gross motor skills. Have fun with these, get creative and stay tuned for more activities”

Mr. Scott our other wonderful music teacher at our Green Acres site has a video for all of our kids. Be sure to grab a mirror if you have one before the video starts, as you will need it for the second half of his video. Enjoy! 🎶 😊

We know this has been hard for our staff, students, and their families. Miss Rusty, music teacher extraordinaire, has a song for you to take you mind off of things for a bit. We are all in this together. Stay strong. Stay safe. Stay healthy. 🌈

Apple Science!
Apple Science!

We had so much fun in Ms. Sarah’s room learning about the life cycle of a butterfly. Today, we let them go free and fly away!

We had so much fun in Ms. Sarah’s room learning about the life cycle of a butterfly. Today, we let them go free and fly away!

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Great Free OT source Karen Coulter and Sherry Miner Hall.
Autism is: Unable to speak, or maybe speaking too much Hugging everyone, or disliking touch Escaping outside, Or trying to hide Excitedly flapping Inappropriate clapping Autism varies so much Won't wear a coat, or wears one all year round Fussy eater, or would eat dirt from the ground Screaming or humming Annoyingly drumming Toys in a line The same way every time Autism varies so much Struggling to learn, or has wonderful gifts Obsessions of numbers, trains, films or lifts Spinning around Throws things on the ground Constantly spitting Aggressively hitting Autism varies so much Alone without friends, or controls every game Always looks different, always dresses the same Swinging on doors Head banging on floors Freaks at the dryer Keeps climbing higher Autism varies so much. Can't answer questions, won't do as they're told In their own world or bossy and bold Over prepared Anxious and scared A spectrum so wide But they all bring us pride When autism touches our lives.
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be holding their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday June 18, 2019. This month’s meeting will focus upon guardianship and medical issues/contingencies. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 17th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency and CCO representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 18th!!!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be holding their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday March 19, 2019. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 18th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 19th!!!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be holding their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday February 19, 2019. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 18th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 19th!!!!!
I don’t remember the exact moment my life was changed by someone with a developmental disability. The memories seem far away, blurry, as if they don’t belong to me. But this is what happens after you’ve been working with adults with developmental disabilities for years. You change. They don’t tell you that when you’re filling out your application. Instead, they tell you about the hours, the health benefits, the 401(k) plan, the programs and the strategies. But they don’t tell you about the fact if you do it right, you’ll never be the same. They don’t tell you it will be the most amazing job you’ve ever had. On other days, it can be the worst. They can’t describe on paper the emotional toll it will take on you. They can’t tell you there may come a time where you find you’re more comfortable surrounded by people with developmental disabilities than you are with the general population. They don’t tell you you’ll come to love them, and there will be days when you feel more at home when you’re at work than when you’re at home, sitting on your couch. But it happens. They don’t tell you about the negative reactions you may face when you’re out in the community with someone with a developmental disability. That there are people on this earth who still think it’s OK to say the R-word. That people stare. Adults will stare. You will want to say something, anything, to these people to make them see. But at the end of the day, your hands will be tied because some things, as you learn quickly, can’t be explained with something as simple as words. They can only be felt. And most of the time, until someone has had their own experience with someone with a developmental disability, they just won’t understand. They train you in CPR and first aid, but they can’t tell you what it feels like to have to use it. They don’t tell you what it is like to learn someone is sick and nothing can be done. They can’t explain the way it feels when you work with someone for years and then one day they die. They can’t explain the bond direct service personnel develop with the people they are supporting. I know what it’s like to have a conversation with someone who has been labeled non-verbal or low-functioning. After working with someone for awhile, you develop a bond so strong they can just give you a look and you know exactly what it means, what they want and what they’re feeling. And most of the time, all it boils down to is they want to be heard, listened to and included. Loved. When you apply for this job, they do tell you you’ll be working to teach life skills. But what they don’t tell you is while you’re teaching someone, they’ll also be teaching you. They have taught me it’s OK to forgive myself when I have a bad day. There’s always tomorrow and a mess-up here and there doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. They have taught me to slow down, to ponder, to take the time to just look around and take in this beautiful world and all of the simple joys we are blessed to encounter every day. So when did I change? I realize now there wasn’t one pivotal moment. Instead, it was a million little moments, each important in their own way, that when added together changed me. And I’m grateful for each one. ❤ COPY AND PASTE IF YOU'RE PROUD TO WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TOO!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be having their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday November 20, 2018. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 19th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 20th!!!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be having their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday September 18, 2018. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 17th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 18th!!!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be having their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday June 19, 2018. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 18th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 19th!!!!!
HELLO EVERYONE!!!!! This is a reminder that the DDAWNY Family Committee will be having their monthly meeting at 7:00 PM on Tuesday May 15, 2018. The meeting will take place at ASPIRE of WNY located at 7 Community Drive in Cheektowaga. As always, if you want to bring your loved one(s) to the meeting and are in need of on-site respite services, please call 1-585-794-0408 by MONDAY (the 14th) and indicate the age and any special requirements needed by your loved one(s). Please remember that parents/family members incorporating these respites services are required to remain in the building during the meeting time. Finally, feel free to invite members of your social network, support group(s), agency representatives, family, friends, school community, etc...to the meeting!!!!! We look forward to seeing you and your guests on the 15th!!!!!