November 8, 2012
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 123, Issue 42
75 cents
A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourlittletonnews.com ELECTION 2012
Doty claims new job Conti keeps House District 38 seat Staff report
Elijah pets Rosie the therapy dog Nov. 1 during a social skills class at Children’s Hospital Colorado Therapy Care in Littleton. Rosie helped children on the autism spectrum learn how to act around dogs, including not getting their faces too close, asking for permission to pet a dog and not taking a dog’s toys away. Photos by Courtney Kuhlen
Big dog helps small children
Rosie pays visit to social-skills class at Children’s Hospital
By Jennifer Smith
jsmith@ourcoloradonews. com
Antoinette Leflar had to wait five and a half years to hear her son say, “I love you.” “But he was a hugger,” she said of Max, now 7. Now he’s a fantastic talker, a super-smart kid with a great memory who is very affectionate and full of energy. A veritable whirlwind of energy, in fact, unless he’s focused, said his mom. “He’s always been a very chill, relaxed little boy,” said his mom. He’s learning how to manage all that energy and lots of other things in a class for kids on the autism spectrum and others who need extra help with social and behavioral skills. “You have to remember
Rosie, a Children’s Hospital Prescription Pet four-legged volunteer, gets some rest. that children on the spectrum are children first,” said Leflar. “Some people call them autistic children. I think they’re children with autism.” At Children’s Hospital Colorado Outpatient Specialty and Therapy Care in Littleton, a team of pediatric specialists makes sure Max and his five classmates are treated like kids first. But they also make sure they look at who they’re talking to, stay out of each
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others’ personal bubbles, use their “lion voices” or “mouse voices” when appropriate, have quiet bodies when their job is to wait, and be able to say how they feel and why. “I feel happy,” Max said during class on Nov. 1. “I went to school, and I talked, and I listened.” In short, the team teaches the kids things that come to most people naturally, but that these kids need extra help with. On Nov. 1, the kids learned something particularly important: Dogs have a bubble space, too. Rosie, a very patient, happy and huge St. Bernard, visited to help teach the children how to interact safely with dogs they don’t know. “Not all dogs are like Rosie,” said Beth McCarthy, Rosie’s
“mom” and a volunteer with Prescription Pets. “She puts up with anything.” “Using Rosie, we will focus on nonverbal body language for pet safety in the community, but also translate this to people,” said Sabrina McIntire, occupational therapist. “We’ll talk about body language in that we need to face our body towards others when talking and interpreting facial expressions and emotions.” Little Audrey Chang’s body language screamed, “I’m terrified of this enormous dog.” But when it was her turn, she boldly stepped forward, looked right at McCarthy and asked if she could pet her dog, then gingerly reached out and conquered her fear — quite an impressive feat for the quiet little girl who is often reminded to use her “lion voice.” Max is overcoming his own challenges, said his mom. He’s learning how to interact with other kids and ask to play, and even how to wait in line. Max is what’s known as “twice exceptional,” which means he’s intellectually gifted despite his learning difficulties. In his case, he excels at visual/spatial activities like puzzles and geometric principles. “He finishes something so quickly, and then he has to wait,” she said. “And waiting is so hard for him.”
Nancy Doty has a new job. Doty, the Arapahoe County clerk and recorder, won her bid to join the board of county commissioners. Republican Doty held a large lead against Democrat Carrie Warren-Gully, a political newcomer, in the race for the District 1 seat. Doty had 63 per- Doty cent of the vote in early returns Nov. 6. During the campaign, Doty stressed her experience in managing a government office and said her top priority would be to maintain the county’s fiscal health. “I’m thrilled, and I look forward to serving the county as the next county commissioner,” Doty said on Election Night. Doty reported campaign contributions of more than $50,000 through Nov. 2, and Warren-Gully raised more than $19,000. District 1 includes Littleton, Englewood, Sheridan and western Centennial. A look at how some of the other races of local importance were shaping up on Election Night:
State House District 38
Republican incumbent Kathleen Conti was faced by Democrat Donovan O’Dell for the position that Conti took from Democrat Joe Rice in the last election. Conti appeared on her way to victory, leading with 58 percent of the vote in early returns. Conti stressed her experience as a self-employed businesswoman and said she would focus on the issue of salestax remittance. She also called for more choices in education and consideration of merit pay for teachers. The district includes Littleton and western Centennial.
State Senate District 26
Democrat Linda Newell, the incumbent state senator for District 26, was leading Republican challenger Dave Kerber by a 53 percent to 47 percent margin in early returns. Newell raised about $213,000 in conRoundup continues on Page 10
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