4
"Until Miriam [Hojda] and [tutor]
regular curriculum. She took tests
Marci Carmen, Blimie did a few
along with everyone else. giving
things with the girls, but she wasn't
her answers orally because writing
really in the class much of the day,"
them takes too long.
Helen Youngworth says. The family
Blimie was on the yearbook staff
raised their own funds to pay for
and enjoyed a senior class trip to
Blimie's aides. The Youngworths
Niagara Falls. She worked in the
used to feel alone in dealing with
school's nursery school and says
all the objections to Blimie's place-
she likes being with children
ment; now with the help of these
I because "it's fun."
aides, "everything isn't coming from
Today, Blimie continues her work
her parents," her mother says.
1 at the nursery and attends Bais
Hojda gives special credit to Car-
Chaya Mushka's seminary in Oak
men for the young woman's suc-
Park, where she is studying to
cess, saying the program would not
become a full-time preschool aide.
have been as successful for her
She still needs to master certain
"without Blimie's excellent tutor and
daily-living skills, such as driving
shadow.
and managing a bank account.
"Marci understood from the very
"With every step, Blimie has to
beginning what Blimie's experiences
work so much harder," Youngworth
had been at school. We gave her I says. But her parents believe she
the concepts of inclusion, and she
I will learn to handle all these skills.
figured out how to make them
Blimie has dreams of getting mar-
work. She sat in classes with her,
ried and leaving home one day.
then would review the most impor-
They think I'm staying here forev-
tant concepts with Blimie so that she
er," she says. "I'm not."
could follow the next day's lesson.
Though they are hesitant to let her
Carmen developed relationships
go, the Youngworths understand
with the staff and students, explain-
their daughter's longing for indepen-
ing how Blimie's shyness could be
dence. It's what any child wants.
overcome if they would be persistent
"For so long, we would hear
in including her. Without Carmen
questions like, 'Why would you
showing them how to do this and
want your daughter to be in a regu-
continuously encouraging the
lar class?"' Helen Youngworth says.
process, none of this would have
"Now look at her. She never would
come to fruition," Hojda says.
have had these experiences without
Carmen of Southfield says through JARC."
the School Inclusion Program, she
"For so long she was closed in,"
has "watched Blimie become more
her husband adds. "It's like the sun
confident, self-reliant, self-assured,
came out, shining on a flower and
talkative, outgoing, assertive and
helping it open. Blimie is our flower,
skilled. I can't begin to explain the
and now, at last, she's opening." 0
joy I receive from watching each
stride she makes, and we celebrate
An upcoming fund-raising event
each success."
for ARC at Detroit's Fisher Theatre
Among them, Blimie has devel-
will help provide financial support
oped computer, interpersonal and
for the School Inclusion Program.
vocational skills. "She has published
JARC is hosting the musical Fid-
a literary work in her senior year-
dler on the Roof, starring
book, which gives testimony to her
Theodore Bike!, at 7:30 p.m.
beliefs, ideals and convictions,"
Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct.
Carmen says.
24 and 25.
After JARC's involvement, Blimie
For ticket information, call JARC,
was almost always included in the
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