NEWS & NOTES
Glen Rock
SALON, STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS FOR SPECIAL-NEEDS SCHOOL
Bellezza Salon and Spa was recently a beehive of activity as customers came in for haircuts, highlights and manicures to help a charity“ cut-athon.” Students from Fair Lawn High School swept floors, washed towels and worked the reception desk. Stylists came in on their day off.“ Many of them even donated their tips,” says Kristen Burke, a Fair Lawn teacher and co-adviser of the school’ s Interact Club, referring to the stylists. The event, organized by Fair Lawn’ s Interact Club, benefited twocharities this year: the Children’ s Therapy Center Academy, a nonprofit school for children with developmental disabilities with campuses in Fair Lawn and Oakland, and the American Cancer Society.
Oakland
SHELTER DOGS ENRICH LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
The Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. Paws-in-Hand Program was founded with the goal of enriching the lives of children with special needs; educating them about animals; and teaching them howanimals can help them lead fulfilling lives.“ Interaction with animals can increase a child’ s independence, improve social development, and help their communication skills,” PAWS program advisor Stew Cutler says.“ Learning to bond with animals teaches kindness at an early age. It has alsobeen proven that children of all ages benefit from animal interaction.” RBARI supports schools of children with special needs by providing animals and education. For moreinformation on Paws in Hand, pleasecontact the shelter at( 201) 337-5180 or email humaneed @ rbari. org.
Short Hills
AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY ON SWIM TEAM RELEASED IN JULY
Short Hills Lara Stolman’ s documentary Swim Team, chronicling the riseofa competitive swim team in PerthAmboy made up of diverse teenagers on the autism spectrum, opened July 7inNew York and July 21 in LosAngeles.“ When people ask me how Ifound the story of Swim Team, I say it found me,” Stolman says.“ Children with developmental disabilities are routinely excluded from community activities, often as early as preschool. Being told‘ no,’– your child can’ t be in the regular class, your child won’ t keep up in Little League, your child isn’ t going to college – is something families caring for children with disabilities hear often.” While exploring swim lessons for her own children, Stolman stumbled upon the Jersey Hammerheads team in formation recruiting children on the autism spectrum and she was immediately“ struck by the energy and optimism of the families that were coming together to form the team.” For more information on the film, visit swimteamthefilm. com.
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HAIRCUT: MITSU YASUKAWA; DOG: THINKSTOCK; POSTER: COURTESY OF THE FILMMAKER; FILMING: COURTESY OF NICOLE CHAN
SP-18 2018 EDITION SPECIAL PARENT