Your donations through the Tipp City Area United Way help fund partner agencies to help those less fortunate from our community.  Here is a story from Susan Hickman and her son Matthew who has Down syndrome. 

Matthew began attending the Nicholas School in the fall in 1998.  He was ten years old and at the time he had many difficulties with fine/gross motor skills and a severe speech delay.  His academic skills were virtually nonexistent.  He had only a 200 word reading vocabulary which he learned at home.  He could attend to his work for only 5-10 minute intervals and had difficulty transitioning from one activity or setting to another.  He also had significant behavioral issues.

Matthew Hickman

During the nearly five years Matthew attended Nicholas School, his progress was nothing short of phenomenal. Their academic program combined with the Rehabilitation Center’s neurodevelopmental therapies had a profound effect upon Matthew.  Within months he had shown marked improvement in his fine/gross motor skills as well as his speech.  His reading skills jumped from less than kindergarten level to approximately third grade level.  His attention span increased and he is now capable of staying on task for the duration of class time.  He learned to transition from one activity to another and independently changes classrooms several times a day.  Thanks to the Nicholas School staff’s implementation of an appropriate behavior modification plan which includes positive reinforcements and a pro-active approach, Matthew’s behavioral issues are virtually non-existent.

Nicholas School teaches students from Kindergarten age through eighth grade and Matthew returned to our school district in 2003 to attend the high school.  Not only did the Nicholas School staff develop a transition plan to make Matthew’s move to high school a success, they began implementing the transition plan a year prior to his move.  The numerous hours they spent collaborating with the school district administration and high school staff, plus the positive experiences they gave Matthew by providing him with regular visits to the high school prior to his move ensured a smooth transition.

The dedicated staff of the Nicholas School and Rehabilitation Center has helped my son progress far beyond my expectations. Thanks to them, the skills Matthew learned during his enrollment are serving him well during his high school years.

Please visit our website for additional information about our 26 partner agencies at: www.tippcityauw.org or call our office for an informational brochure 669-FUND (3863). 

Donations are desperately needed, especially this year, with the hurricane catastrophes and individuals placing their donations towards their relief.  Our goal is down $15,000.00 from last year at this time.  So please send a contribution to help others from OUR community to Deborah Carr, Tipp City Area United Way, P. O. Box 95, Tipp City, OH  45371.