The Sunnyvale Sun

News

'No-no' splints protect stitches

By MICHELLE MAGHRIBI

Sunnyvale's Patrick Richards, 16, is enrolled in an alternative special education program at Cupertino High School. He and others in the program are helping make the world a better place while also helping themselves to succeed.

The students in the Fremont Union High School District's Horizons program make an arm splint-type device that prevents small children in Third World countries from touching their faces after cleft palate and other surgeries. The devices, called "no-no's," are distributed by a nonprofit humanitarian organization called Interplast, which also provides free reconstructive surgery.

"I felt bad for them, and making stuff for them felt pretty good," Patrick said. "When I came here, I never expected to be doing things like this; it's pretty cool."

"There are often stigmas and superstitions associated with cleft lips or palates," said Interplast spokeswoman Sara Anderson. She said such children may be abandoned by their families. "The kids in the Horizons project," she relates, "are giving these children a second chance to be reintroduced into their society."

The Horizons program aims to do the same for its students, effectively giving them a second chance to succeed in high school. "It is the last chance, the last stop before kids who are on the caboose get ready to jump off of the train," Horizons teacher Mary Nelson said.

Patrick commutes and said that, while coming to Cupertino was an adjustment, he still really likes the class.

"I never used to come to class before this," Patrick said.

Nelson said Patrick was instrumental in another charitable project earlier this year, doing a lot of work on quilts to give to those who are in wheelchairs.

"That in and of itself was a lesson for Patrick," Nelson said, applauding his efforts.

The Horizons program is a diploma program and encourages students to work toward the goal of graduation. Some students will graduate in four years while others may take longer. The program is designed to meet the individual needs of the students. They are taught how to make the transition from high school to adulthood with attention given to opportunities for employment and the job application process.

Nine Horizons students will earn their diplomas this year, which they might not have done without the program.

It was the brainchild of district deputy superintendent Polly Bove and has an enrollment of approximately 35 students.

District school psychologist Glenn Fisher calls Horizons the "magic program." Without it, he said, many more of the school's challenged students would drop out.

Nelson partners with fellow special education teachers Susan Cooper, Alan Ida, Pam Hayes and school psychologist Leon Canerot to create an environment where students feel at ease, without all the pressure of a mainstream classroom.

The Horizons group was recognized by Interplast May 18 for its goodwill efforts. Interplast representative Ken Becker said of approximately 3,500 "no-no's" made by volunteers, 140were made by the Horizons class. He said he told the students they "had just changed the lives of 70 people around the world."

For more information log onto www.interplast.org. To volunteer, contact mailto:seth@interplast.org or]seth@interplast.org or phone 888.467.5278.