CO MM UNITY OUTREA CH NIUassociate professor givesbackthrough Autism CaregiverGroup

By SHANE TAYLOR |staylor@shawmedia.com

Allison Gladfelter is aspeech pathologist by trade, but has found away at NorthernIllinois University to take her skillsand use them for more throughthe creation of an autism caregiver group.

Gladfelter, associate professor of speech-language pathology in the College of Health and Human Sciences at NIU, recentlywas recognized with the university’s 2021 excellence in undergraduate teaching award for her work withthe group. It’s another way she putsher area of expertisetouse helping children with autism learnlanguages and communicate, she said.

The autism caregiver group is a cohort of NIU faculty and studentvolunteers with interests in supporting families of those with autism spectrum disorder. The group’s mission is to provide helpful information,resources and asupportive environment while also providing families with opportunities to connect with community professionals and therapeutic or recreational activities.

It’s about community outreach, Gladfelter said.

“It is not for therapy, it’s not part of teaching,” Gladfelter said. “It’s homegrown.”

For Gladfelter, who spends much of her time teaching, the caregiver group exists to encouragegrowth outside of that sphere.Groupmembers spend time grappling with diagnoses and in turn have achance to engage in an inclusive community that offers support through Gladfelter’s leadership.

“[It’s] just getting to know them, gettingtounderstand whatthe diagnosis means for families and how it impacts families,” she said. “The clinician in me always wants to make sure that we are supporting families and helpingthem access information that is accurate.”

Language development, autism and socialcommunicationdisorders are just afew of the class topics that Glad- felterteachesatNIU.Through her work as an educator, she said, she became interested in finding additional ways to give her students hands-on experience interactingwithchildren diagnosed with autism.

That immersive approach canoffer insightinto the compassion, empathy and skillset needed to engage with young people who might require different forms of communication.

“It is entirely volunteer, it is not for credit or required, it is purelyvoluntary, but they learn alot,” Gladfelter said.“It’s an opportunity to take what they learn in theclassroom andget to actually see it in action.”

The group holds monthly meetings at NIU’s speech, language and hearing clinic,where Gladfelter meets with families and invites them to share what they’d liketolearn more about Sometimesthe conversations revolve around ways to address things such as picky eating or bullying.

Some of the meetings might involve aguest speaker, as Gladfelter tries to find speakers who might be able to better address or offer insight into what families might need. NIU undergraduate speech students also attend, offering crafts, games and activities for children who tag along to meetings.

The group’s back in person these days, which Gladfelter said is instrumental to help her students gain experience communicating with populations with acommunication disorder.

“It was really important to me to start bringing families back to in-person events at the clinic,” she said. “Bothfor them to have some sortof services still and also for our students to get those interactions.”

Since 1751,Royal Worcester hasbeenknown worldwide forits collectionsofporcelain goods. It remainsone of theoldest producersoftableware and decorativeitems in England.

In thelate 19th century,RoyalWorcesterdesigned uniquepitchers and ewerswithhandlesthat were partsofanimals or tree branches.Staghorns, dragons,winged creatures, bamboo branches and artworkpopularizedtheir style.

Painted Japonisme-style chrysanthemums and poppieswithgold trim float on theivory backgroundofthe bodyofthispitcher.The handle is shapedlikearam’s head. It sold for$118at

William Bunch Auctions of Pennsylvania.Itwas marked with thedate1888.The ivorybackground color becameverypopularinthe late 19th century butwas discontinued in 1914 ***

Q: Ihaveanantique Orientalrug in my living room Does it needany special care or treatment?

A: If your rugisinaroomthatgetsalot of use, you should vacuum it once aweek and have it cleaned onceayear. Thebestway to cleanitdepends on whatitismade of.Ifitissilk, it shouldbe professionally cleaned.Ifitiswooland thedyes don’t run, youcan wash it yourself with mild soap and water. Your Orientalrug should last morethan 50 years. Keep it flat on thefloorwithapad of the same size underneath.Becareful if your furniture hasmetal legsand feet; they canleave rust stains andtears ***

Q: I’mtrying to find thevalue of aviolin that has been in ourfamilyfor more than 100years.My great-grandfather broughtitoverfromItaly

Theinside of theviolinismarked“GiovanPaolo Maggini, (brescia) 1636.” It hasa beautiful sound. Anew bridge wasput in severalyears ago. The bowisstill in pretty good condition,but thecaseis badly worn.How canIfind thevalue of this violin?

A: Giovanni PaoloMaggini wasanimportant instrument makerwho wasborninBrescia,Italy, in 1580 andlived untilabout 1630.Hemade about 60 violinsaswellasafew other stringed instrumentsduring hislifetime.Theyare known forthe qualityofwood,large sound holesand mellowtones.Manyofthe instrumentshave decorations on theback.Maggini diedbefore 1636,the date on your violin.His work hasbeen copied and many violins“in thestyle of”Maggini have been madesince then.Theyare oftenlabeled with earlierdatesthan theactual manufactureto give theimpression they were made by Maggini. Theconditionand thequalityofthe soundofyour violin will determineits price. It wouldhavetobe seen andplayedbyaknowledgeable musicianor appraiser.

Q: Ihaveacopyofmyhometown newspaper,

ThePlain Dealer,inCleveland,Ohio, from Nov. 23,1963. Thepaper reported thestory of the assassination of PresidentJohnF.Kennedy Areold newspapers like that sought afterby collectors?

A: Thevalue of an oldnewspaper is based on the historical importance of thenewsonthe front page andthe newspaper’s rarity. If themainstory on thefront page is continuedtoback pages, you needtohavethose pages, too.Value is determined by scarcity and demand.The PlainDealer wasthe largest newspaper in Ohio at thetime, with more than 500,000 papers printed daily.Manypeople wouldhavesaved that edition, limiting itsvalue To preserve your newspaperinthe bestcondition, store it flat with thepages unfolded. Thepaper canbewrapped in acid-freetissuepaper and laid flat in abox with alid. Thebox should be stored in adry,coolplace, notina hot atticor damp basement.Italsocould be framed with acid-free paper. ***

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TIP: Outdoor bronze garden figures shouldbe waxedtwice ayearfor protection

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TerryKovel andKim Kovelanswerreaders’ questions sent to thecolumn.Sendaletter with onequestion describing thesize,material (glass,pottery)and whatyou know about the item. Includeonlytwo pictures, theobjectand acloseup of anymarks or damage.Besure your name and return addressare included.By sendingaquestion,you givefullpermission for use in anyKovel product. Names, addresses or email addresses will notbepublished. We do not guaranteethe return of photographs, butifa stamped envelope is included,wewill try. Questionsthatare answered will appear in Kovels Publications.WritetoKovels,(Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate,628 Virginia Dr., Orlando,FL32803 or email us at collectorsgallery@kovels.com.

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Currentprices

Currentprices are recorded from antiquesshows, fleamarkets,sales andauctions throughout the UnitedStates. Prices vary in differentlocations because of localeconomic conditions.

Doll,Western Barbie, blond hair,eye winks, silver Western-stylejumpsuit with trim,fringeoncuffs, boots,hat,comb, brush,box,1980,12inches,$65

Pottery tobacco jar, man’shead, ruddyand wrinkly cheeks, stand-upcollarwithcravat, Asian-style hat with tassel liftsoff forcover,c.1880, 7x5 inches,$125.

Garden bench, metal, slatted seat,chainlinktop rail,cutoutnauticalship’s wheel and anchor on back,shapedarms, 37 x42x20inches, $245 Toyracecar,lithographed tin, blue andyellow, “21”ondoor, open topwithdriver,exposed engine,moving pistons,motor sound,rubber wheels,TN, Japan, 8inches,$360.

Glassvase, greenand opalescent green, tall with flutedsides,flared outscalloped rim, clear knop anddiscfoot, marked Libbey, c. 1930,8 1/4 inches,$465.

Jewelry, pin, flower, fiveround moonstonepetals, sapphire center, stem with fiveleaves, 14Kgold, marked Tiffany&Co.,2inches, $790 Furniture,highboy,Queen Anne,cherrywood, flat top, twosections, top with twoshortoverfour graduated long drawers,bottomwithfourshort drawers, cabriolelegs, American,18thcentury,75 x38x19inches, $940

Doll,MissHadley, cloth, ovalhead, painted features and hair,jointed cotton body, paleblue cottondress with white floraledging, sash, black stockings, c. 1900,22inches, $1,350.

Pair of lamps, walnut base,fourtapered sides, cylindricalpaneledbananafiber parchment shade, pointedfinial, Robert Whitley,c.1975, 42 x181/2 inches,pair, $1,625

Rug, wool,sculpted flatweave,hand knotted, stripes,solid andpatterned,contemporary, 104x 136inches,$3,000 ***

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