December 24, 2009

Day at the museum
With the help of a $10,000 grant from Cogswell Benevolent Trust, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is putting together a pilot program to allow families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to visit the museum when it’s closed to the public.

Paula Rais, who works in outreach and visitor services, said the museum, located at 6 Washington St. in Dover, has received many requests for this type of program as many autistic children are affected by activity, crowds and noise — things that can make it impossible for them to be comfortable in the museum.

“It’s something we’re very excited about,” Rais said. “We’re delighted to be able to respond to the request.”

Museum staff haven’t set a specific start date yet, but beginning in March, the museum will be open some Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon for families with autistic children to visit. Admission would be free and the grant money would cover staffing and overhead. The museum opens to the general public at noon on Sundays.

“I think families who have children who have sensitivities really have to plan their activities carefully, yet they want to be able to do things their children will enjoy and other children can do very easily,” Rais said, adding the museum expects families to travel from a wider radius as there aren’t many children’s museums nearby and other entities may not have this type of program.

Families can stay once the museum opens to all — an option that can help them transition into a setting with more people, Rais said.

“We want them to have the option to gauge their own children’s comfort level,” Rais said.

Staff are working with specialists from the University of New Hampshire and Easter Seals. Children with ASD often want to have a feel for what’s going to happen in advance at the museum, so staff are piecing together “social stories,” essentially picture books providing children with a step-by-step guide to their museum experience, Rais said. The social stories would be available online.

Staff will monitor how this pilot program is working and how many people attend. It’s something the museum would like to offer on an ongoing basis, but Rais said that’ll depend on whether there’s more funding down the road.

Visit www.childrens-museum.org. Call 742-2002. — Jeff Mucciarone

Building for nonprofit
With money tight all around, a partnership recently formed that unites builders, architects and designers to provide physical improvements for facilities of cash-strapped nonprofit organizations.

E.J. Powers, vice president of strategic communications at Montagne Communications, said Building on Hope, a volunteer organization based in Manchester, sprouted out of a community advisory board meeting. The organization took shape about two months ago. Members reached out to members of the building industry asking professionals to pitch in their time, talent and resources to renovate facilities.

“There’s a lot of facilities that have fallen into disrepair that could use a face lift,” Powers said, adding Building on Hope will initially look to do a project every year or two. “We’ve had a tremendous response from the building community.”

Building on Hope will first perform improvements at the White House Intensive Residential Treatment Center, an Easter Seals facility in Manchester. The Treatment Center houses troubled boys who, for whatever reason, cannot live at home. Many of the boys have behavioral problems or learning disabilities, with most having experienced traumatic life events. Part of the Center’s mission is to get boys ready to lead normal and productive lives. The White House, built in the 1930s, was designed more as a functional space than for comfortable living.

“It’s a nice house but it doesn’t have many of the comforts [people] would have growing up,” Powers said.

Renovations will entail improving the boiler, making it more energy-efficient, making rooms “a little more homey,” and kitchen renovations — about $100,000 worth of work in all. The work will take place for 10 days in May and volunteers are welcome. Powers said members are still seeking more construction and specialist help.

“We’re looking for people that can be hands-on and volunteer and that are in the trade,” Powers said. Building on Hope is also seeking financial sponsors who can help it buy supplies. “We’re hoping it’s an effort the whole community really rallies around.”

Powers said he is hoping this is just the beginning.

“The sky’s the limit,” Powers said. He and others are hoping Building on Hope takes off not just in Manchester but beyond. “We’d love to see different groups try to replicate it around the region. I think everybody could identify some nonprofit in their community that could use some helping hands.”

For more go to buildingonhope.com. — JM