Page 13 - The Wayne Dispatch

Sensory equipment helps Taft-Galloway students

By Carolyn Marnon pad have been the favorites since the
What do pizza and Taft-Galloway special classroom opened last
Elementary School in Wayne have in month. In the past, autistic students
common? They both have the atten- who needed a “break” from the
tion of Fredi the Pizzaman, a Melvin- school day would put on a weighted
dale businessman whose “Fredi the backpack or exercise in the hallway.
Pizzaman Foundation” recently Now they have a specialized space to
funded some special classroom take that break to help them prepare
equipment. to re-enter the classroom.
Taft-Galloway Elementary School Amy and Nancy say Fredi has
was assigned two classrooms this “been a very nice man in the commu-
year for children in the Wayne West- nity because he supports the public
land School District who are autistic. schools.”
There is a Kindergarten to 2nd grade Fredi Bello works 70 hours per
classroom and a 3rd-5th grade class- week making his own pizza at his
room. Nancy Kelly has been an Occu- small 4-table pizzeria in Melvindale
pational Therapist with the school (about a 25-minute drive from
district for 22 years. She thought Wayne). When he’s not working at his
there needed to be more support for restaurant, he’s working on his foun-
these children, but she was told the dation, spreading the word about
district did not have any funds for autism awareness.
that support. Nancy got on the com- “Fredi the Pizzaman Foundation” recently funded some special classroom equipment Fredi and his wife have 3 chil-
puter and made a request on Donors for Taft-Galloway Elementary School. dren-ages 9, 7 and 6. His middle
Choose, a website that helps teach- child, Antonio, was diagnosed with
ers receive items for classroom proj- “The students have brought a new dimension autism. The Fredi the Pizzaman
ects from generous donors Foundation was established to help
throughout the country. of challenge and joy to our school. spread autism awareness and raise
Last November, Nancy requested money to equip Michigan class-
help with a sensory room to give stu- Students with autism typically have a unique learning rooms with sensory equipment that
dents the opportunity to have sen- aids in calming children with autism.
sory experiences. She wrote, “The style with their sensory motor needs, His foundation has already donated
mission at our elementary school is funds and sensory equipment to 15
to create an engaging and safe school processing and communication difficulties.” schools in Michigan, most of those in
that inspires growth and learning for Metro Detroit.
all. The 2019-20 school year in- Fredi’s foundation recently re-
cluded the addition of two new class- ent textures), visual (calming lighting classroom at the end of a long hall- ceived a $10,000 donation from the
rooms for students with autism at and patterns), auditory (relaxing way at the elementary school. Lead- DTE Foundation. Fredi also holds
our school.” sounds), vestibular (gentle move- ing up to the door was a multi-color fundraisers. He will be holding his
“The students have brought a new ment), and proprioceptive input (use liquid encased floor playmat. The 5th Annual Golf Outing on August 1,
dimension of challenge and joy to of big muscles with resistance). Re- colored liquid danced across the tile 2020. He will be holding a Walk and
our school. Students with autism search in the area of autism and as attendees walked down it into the Bowling for Autism event on April
typically have a unique learning style other sensory processing disorders classroom where student Daniel en- 26.
with their sensory motor needs, pro- has shown by providing the extra thusiastically ran from item to item When he started the foundation,
cessing and communication difficul- sensory inputs, students can organ- to show how each worked. The class- Fredi said he had no plan. “My
ties. This group has been met by the ize and regulate their sensory sys- room included a swing with a large biggest fear is running out of money.”
school community with open arms. tems, helping them to feel safer and round seat that resembled a pa- He went on to say “These rooms
Our students with autism have their less anxious.” pasan chair, a bean bag chair, a hip- mean everything to me. It’s not about
own special classrooms as a home Taft’s Parent Coordinator Sarah pity-hop ball to jump with, a large my boy. I understand what the par-
base. They are also mainstreamed as Lewis had heard of Fredi’s founda- exercise ball, a mini trampoline, a ents are going through. I just try to
often as possible into the general ed- tion through social media. She con- small rocking chair, and a “crash share my story.”
ucation classrooms where teachers tacted Fredi to see if his foundation pad” (a 5-ft square blue velour land- The next item on Nancy Kelly’s
and students alike welcome them would be able to help equip a former ing pad filled with foam blocks.) wish list for the sensory room is a
into the classroom family.” storage space at the school. “I’ll Fredi Bello was presented with a steam roller, a piece of equipment
She went on to write, “A sensory come out tomorrow,” he is quoted as folder that included photos of chil- with rollers that provide deep pres-
room will be a great calming and ex- saying. By December, the equipment dren using the new sensory equip- sure while the student crawls
ploratory area for our elementary was being ordered thanks to the gen- ment and thank you cards written by through it. Southpaw, a company
students. Our new students with erosity of several Donors Choose each of the students. He also re- that makes sensory integration prod-
autism require extra sensory activity donors and $1149.17 from Fredi the ceived a Certificate of Appreciation ucts, is currently selling the Steam
during the day to develop their abil- Pizzaman Foundation. from Taft Principal Brandon Cox. Roller Deluxe for $550. With addi-
ity to process the many sensory stim- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was ASD Teacher Amy Kinnelly, who tional replacement bands, Nancy
uli they experience on a daily basis. held on January 23 outside the new has been with the district for 11 says they will need $600 before it
These include tactile (touch of differ- ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) years, said the swing and the crash can be purchased.
The Wayne Dispatch · March 2020 · 13