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AHA! WHY I WORK AT ALLENDALE!
 Written by Emily Marino, Recreational Therapist at Allendale
On Friday, Feb. 8, the Shelter West Cottage went sledding. This
cottage is where Darnell (pictured here) lives. That afternoon,
he came running out to the hill with his walker. He asked me, and
the other Therapeutic Recreational Staff that were out sledding,
what he could do since he was unable to actually go sledding. We
gave him a few suggestions and he happily filled his time with those
ideas.
True to his character, he kept himself busy, occasionally
interacting with his peers and other staff members. To my surprise,
the next time I turned around - there was Darnell - coming up the
sledding hill with help from a staff member and a fellow cottage-mate.
He had a big smile on his face and he stated that he was going to
sled down the hill … by himself! He took me by the arm and watched
as other children raced down the hill.
I asked him how he wanted to do this. He told me
to hold the sled while he kneeled down and positioned himself on
the sled face first, heading down the hill. When I asked him if
he wanted one of the staff to go down the hill with him so that
they could help him come back up, he said "That's ok, I can always
scratch my way back up".
I told him to wait and we would go down with him.
He raced down the hill … smiling the entire time.
When he got to the bottom, one of the other kids helped him up;
took his sled; and helped to steady him and walk to the side of
the hill. All the kids at the top of the hill were asked to wait
until he got safely to the side - which they gladly did for fear
that they might knock him over.
We went down and grabbed his arms and helped him
back up. The look in his eyes told me that he was proud of himself
and his smile definitely indicated that he was truly enjoying himself!
He got to the top again, used my arm to get back
down on the sled and raced down the hill. This time Darnell got
up and scrambled his way off to the side by himself, with one of
the kids holding his arm and helping him up to the top so he could
go down again … and again … and again.
It was rewarding to see his friends look past his
differences, and all the obstacles that were present, and help him
without direction from any of the adults. All they saw that day
was a friend who wanted to have fun too! And that's exactly
what happened!
Calling All Alumni -
Did you live at Allendale or attend school here? Do you know anyone
who did? We are trying to locate all Allendale Alumni.
As faculty and staff, we are trying to keep in touch with the reason that we are all here.
Please contact the Office of Development and Public Relations at (847) 245-6233, if you know of any individuals who would like to reunite with Allendale. Perhaps you would like to be reacquainted with friends or you may like to share your inspiring stories or advice with the young folks currently at Allendale. Personally, I would like to hear some of the interesting stories that are rumored to have happened here through the years.
Please give us a call!
--Noel Calhoun
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