THE BARELL SCHOOL IN COMMACK

A place to learn to romp

BY RHODA AMON Newsday Staff Writer

August 27, 2006

"I want toes, please," said Sam, age 5. What Sam was trying to say, his teacher interpreted, was that he wanted to remove his sneakers and run barefoot in the soft wood fiber that formed the safe surface of his new playground. Sam quickly forgot his request, however, as he climbed aboard the U-Bounce with the aid of his teacher, Micheline Mazzola. Meanwhile, David, 5, was learning to negotiate the tunnels and slide of the big green modular unit, while Fiona, 7, giggled happily as she floated skyward on a swing.

The children, all of whom show varying degrees of autism, were getting an introduction to their first playground, assembled in a one-day construction blitz by 250 volunteers this month. The playground behind the new Commack headquarters of the Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism was created by a three-way partnership. The Andy Foundation, a Garden City-based "by kids for kids" charity, joined with KaBOOM!, a nonprofit nationwide playground-building organization, and the autism services agency, which this month moved its Martin C. Barell School for autistic children from Levittown to the larger Commack site. "The swings are a huge hit; the U-Bounce looks like a winner, too," observed Constance Grassle, development coordinator for the autism agency, as she watched the children tackle the equipment, some enthusiastically, others needing encouragement from their teachers. Children with autism usually require special help in learning to use a play space appropriately, said Grassle, whose own teenage son is a student at the school. "It's difficult to take them to a public playground. They don't understand the rules, such as waiting your turn to use the equipment." But autistic children can be taught how to climb, swing, wait in line, take a turn, and tolerate the noise of other children. The Barell program, which opened in a small Levittown school in 1993, never had a playground of its own.

Talent shows and elbow grease

The playground-in-a-day project was more than a year in planning. It began with The Andy Foundation, which was formed by friends of Andrew Palmeri, who died at age 11 after being hit by a car in 2003. The children raised $50,000 "mostly through yard sales, lemonade stands, talent shows and sales of our cookbook," said Andrew's mother, Jill Palmeri of Garden City. The group's goal is to provide every child with "a chance for a healthy, safe and happy childhood." Seeking to build a playground for children who needed one, the fundraisers contacted KaBOOM!, a Washington, D.C.-based organization whose mission is to "provide a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America." The nonprofit was cofounded in 1995 by Darell Hammond, a youth service organizer, after he read a newspaper account of two children suffocating while playing in an abandoned car. During the past decade, the organization has built more than 1,000 playgrounds across the country, mostly by matching funding partners with community groups. Last spring the autism services agency contacted KaBOOM! in a quest for a playground and was matched with The Andy Foundation. "It was a great match," said Grassle. The Andy Foundation provided financial resources and scores of young volunteers who also painted colorful murals on the playground walls. "The kids wanted a hands-on project to honor Andy," said Palmeri, a foundation trustee. The KaBOOM! project started with a Design Day in which children from both the autism agency and The Andy Foundation were invited to design their dream playground. KaBOOM! sent the drawings to manufacturer Playworld Systems, which uses children's designs, KaBOOM! spokeswoman Mory Fontanez said. "All our playgrounds are accessible to children with disabilities." Autistic children have difficulty communicating their desires, but "as parents we know what our children want. They love swings and bouncing equipment," Grassle said. The designers chose soothing shades of green, the colors of The Andy Foundation. Seeing the children laugh as they tried out the new play space confirmed their choices, she said.

The Barell School

The Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism was founded in 1983 by a group of parents and professionals to provide support for families coping with disabilities that often are misunderstood. One out of 166 children is diagnosed with some form of autism, but these children form "a wide spectrum of functioning ability," said Kathy Mannion, associate director of the Barell School. "Every child functions at a different level." Along with communication difficulties, autistic children show varied deficits in learning ability and social skills, and often seem to be in a world of their own. NSSA serves 200 families, including 25 students ages 3 to 21, most of whom are bused to the school from all across Long Island. "We help families with day-to-day living and teach the children to participate in the community," Grassle said. "They learn to behave appropriately in restaurants, movies, play areas." Her own son, Daniel, 18, now works part-time in a clothing store stockroom. Last week he helped young Sam negotiate the bounce buttons. The newly relocated school in Commack opens Sept. 6 to returning and new students, who also will learn how to play.