ALONG THE INFORMATION HIGHWAY
Thursday, December 26, 2002 (page A-6)
Staff Writer
About half are in wheelchairs. The others have disabilities ranging from Down syndrome to brain trauma. Once a week, they travel from Our Lady of the Wayside group homes all over Cuyahoga and Lorain counties to attend a special, semi-private class in Avon.
Here, their disabilities become immaterial while they learn the joys of Web surfing, the magic of the information superhighway and the convenience of e-mail and the world opens a little wider.
Our Lady of the Wayside owns and operates 38 group homes serving 500 people in several different suburbs. Three of the group homes are in Avon. Residents range in age from 14 to older than 60. They live in small "families" where they have assistance with personal care and 24-hour a day supervision.
"Students communicate a lot more with their parents and families by using e-mail, and all the nursing and administrative staff e-mail our students," special education. Instructor Tim Caskey said. "We make greeting cards and banners for their homes. It really raises their self-esteem."
The classes began with a pilot of six students in the summer of 2001. It became so successful that there now are 20 students and along waiting list.
"One fellow e-mails me every morning before leaving for his workshop," Caskey said. He is teaching another student haw to use a word processing package so he can compile a book of his original poetry.
Still another student, an Earth Wind and Fire fan, is learning to surf the Web in search of the rock group's lyrics. A Browns fan prints out weekly game information and photos for the refrigerator at his home.
"I make sure they have something to take home every day," Caskey said.
The class now is taking the next step to pursue a donation of equipment from the Nordson Foundation. Caskey said he hopes eventually to provide a computer for every student who graduates from the class.