Students inspire new police tool for non-verbal communication
A Cockeysville Middle School teacher’s students informed a new Baltimore Police Department (BPD) tool to better communicate with non-speaking members of the community.
Designed with the Autism Society Baltimore-Chesapeake, the tool, a communication booklet, features pictures and text—with text available in English and Spanish. The pictures include a pain scale, objects, places and “Yes,” “No” and “Stop” panels users can point to for communication.
“The idea for this emergency communication tool was inspired by the lived experiences of my students on the Autism Spectrum as well as the concerns their families have shared with me about their child’s future independent outings, interactions with first responders and handling of emergency situations,” says Mallory Cicchino, ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) teacher at Cockeysville Middle, in a news release.
Cicchino says the communication icons were designed to replicate those typically used in school settings and generalized for community use.
“In these types of calls for service, it is a top priority for our officers to deescalate the situation by staying calm, minimizing distractions, decreasing outside noises, exhibiting patience and displaying genuine concern in helping the person in crisis,” says Major Derek Loeffler, who has been with the BPD for over 17 years.
The BPD will initially distribute 2,000 copies of the tool. The department will also train all its current officers in using it as part of their annual behavioral health training and has produced a video for incoming and current officers.
Learn more about the new tool at baltimorepolice.org and baltimoreautismsociety.org.
The Waldorf School of Baltimore to launch KidStock Spring Concert Series
If you’ve heard of Woodstock, this spring concert might just draw up images of the iconic music festival—on a much more kid-friendly stage.
This April, families can experience Grammy Award -winning family artists live alongside the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, Peabody Youth Ensemble and Waldorf program at the Waldorf School of Baltimore.
Sonia De Los Santos, will bring Latin American rhythms and folk traditions (April 13), Fyütch a mix of hip-hop, spoken word and visual storytelling (April 21) and Dan and Claudia Zanes an accessible performance inspired by music therapy (April 28).
Beyond the music, families can also plan for nature crafts, an interactive children’s drumming circle, local pizza and ice cream, a native plant sale and nature scavenger hunt.
Performances are from noon to 3 p.m. Purchase tickets at waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org.
Father-daughter weekends
Fathers and daughters have a special bond. This April, these local Bible-based camps are offering father-daughter retreats where dads and their mini-mes can make memories.
Father-Daughter Retreat with Joy El
Leave behind the electronics and get lost in the experience. This spring father-daughter retreat is one of several family retreats offered at Joy El Camps & Retreats, in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, to foster relationships between family members.
Fathers and their daughters in first through twelfth grades will stay in separate cabins at this faith-based weekend getaway from April 12 to April 14, with tickets for each father-daughter pair and a discounted rate for additional children. joyelcamps.org
Father-Daughter Weekend at Cedarbrook
Dads and daughters can bond over camp activities inspired by Pixar films while appreciating what it means to give thanks no matter what circumstances you’re in, as referenced in Thessalonians 5:16-18.
This Cedarbrook Camp Mid Atlantic retreat will welcome fathers and daughters ages 6 to 12 to its Tel Hai Camp & Retreat in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania from April 19 to April 21. (By press time, registration will have closed March 29.) cedarbrookmidatlantic.org
