The BiG Story Cancer and.with tremendous support from his teacher, the boy started coming for longer periods of time. "Now, when he comes into the I class, his wheelchair is placed between the chairs of two other 1 boys, and the teacher makes it a point to direct remarks to him," she Presented by: Gregory R Kalemkerian, M.D. Director Multidisciplinary Lung Cancer Clinic Collette Hodges, R.N., C.N.P. Nurse Practitioner Wednesday, November 1, from 7-8:30 p.m. Livonia West Holiday Inn (on 6 Mile Road just east of 1-275, near Laurel Park Shopping Mall) This event is free of charge. Did you know that the majority of patients diagnosed with lung cancer are never referred to a cancer specialist? Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are part of the "invisible" population of lung cancer survivors. U-M experts will discuss detection, treatment options, symptom management and the latest research in lung cancer. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 1-800-742-2300 and entering category 7870. Comprehensive Cancer Center • University of Michigan mr. Health System www.cancer.med.umich.edu Lose Weight with Medicine 734 422 8040 Appointments Mail Order 10-15 Pounds A Month – Guaranteed! 10/20 2000 120 Bill Nagler, M.D. 16311 Middlebelt Livonia www.dietresults.com says. This child is "ecstatic" about being in school, Hojda says. "Even more important is the way he knows he's included now, in the class and as part of the community. "Everyone knows that his favorite food is chocolate ice cream. When the teacher was speaking about the 1 laws of brachot, he would specifi- cally mention ice cream [for the proper blessing over certain foods], [so] this child knew he was part of the class. At Purim, friends brought him chocolate ice cream. Until he became part of this program, the boys in his neighborhood knew of him, but they didn't really know him. Now, they have a relationship with him. They say 'hello' and come to visit. "Before, he was so isolated. Sucl- denly, he has life in the community," Hojda says, adding that before this school year began, "the teacher phoned the boy's mother to say, 'School is starting this Sunday. We I hope your boy is coming. We can't 1 have school without him. – Hojda describes the accommoda- tion made for a student in the pro- gram with cerebral palsy. The boy enjoys participating in the morning prayers and studying Torah. What he cannot do is certain course work that requires abstract thinking. Recently, when the boys were learning about Yom Kippur in the Holy Temple, instead of sitting in front of a text the boy worked directly with a tutor who built him a model of the Temple, then showed him what the High Priest did during the holiday service. School officials needed convinc- ing to help another child. Hojda says, "I remember presenting the idea that a special-needs student be allowed to attend a computer class, and the administration told me, 'No, absolutely not. This child will not be able to keep up and it will leave the teacher too occupied.' "In the end, thank God, we got the okay to try it — and the effect was nothing but positive. The stu- dent was able to develop skills on the computer that surprised even her and that was encouraging to everyone. "This year, when I returned to the same school to place another stu- dent, I was expecting another chal- lenge. But what happened? it was amazing. I went in there and they were so enthusiastic. In fact, the administrators themselves had ways to include the new student [with special needs]." Other students are understandably curious when a child with special needs joins their class. But Hojda says she hasn't received a single parent or child call to object to the presence of a student with special needs. And why should they? she reflects. Respecting others, regard- less of their abilities, is a central concept of Judaism. "We say we want our children to learn kindness, treat others with respect, practice what we're learn- ing about Torah values — isn't this why they are in a Jewish school?" Rabbi Nathaniel Lauer is the edu- cational director at Beth Jacob. He has nothing but praise for the School Inclusion Program. "Those individuals selected [to participate] did extremely well, thanks to the cooperation of JARC, the family and the school," he says. "I also want to say that the 'shad- ows' did a beautiful job. There were tremendous gains for all." The Flower Blooms Last year, Blimie Youngworth gradu- ated from Beth Jacob. She is mov- ing on.