1 + 1 = 42. #PauseMath
One Pause presentation led to one conversation with a school teacher which led to 42 people being impacted by, not just the Pause program, but Pause culture. We see these connections happen often and this week was just another example of the power of community.
Pause Community Engagement Coordinator, Sara Porter, attended a presentation at Butler Tech where she met Jenna McIntosh, an intervention specialist teacher at Madison City Schools. Jenna found Pause intriguing because she hears all the time about the need for rest, connection and understanding from the parents of the students she supports.
One of Sara’s favorite things to do is give tours of our space and share the stories of what happens within the walls of Pause. On January 10th, two buses rolled up to Pause and unloaded five classrooms of K-12 students, intervention specialists, aides and teachers from the school along with some excited caregivers!
After a quick presentation to explain more about how Pause can support Madison families and kiddos, groups toured Pause. The Backyard - our large gross motor room, which includes a trampoline, a zip line, a rock wall, a swing set and a tree house was the favorite of the day! One student proclaimed it was the “Best school day, ever!” #SameKiddoSame
Of those that attend this Open House,100% said they would recommend the Pause space to friends or family AND 100% left with a greater sense of hope. They felt “like someone really understands the needs of our students and they were willing and able to provide a fabulous environment that could be tailored to their interests, abilities, sensory and motor needs!”
New environments can be tricky for families who have kiddos with extra needs and transitions to new spaces can be overwhelming for kiddos. Parents might wonder about how well we have thought about safety risks. At Pause, the answer is “Yes!” It’s always yes because the vast majority of our staff have lived experience or have worked supporting families for over a decade.
We value feedback and love when families, kids or volunteers share their ideas, experiences and what they love or didn’t love! It helps us constantly recalibrate and grow to be more of what our families need. We also love dreaming up new ideas and thanks to Madison City Schools visiting we have been doing just that. Thanks for your sweet words and for taking the time to share what resonated with you during your time with us!
“We were so appreciative to have the opportunity to visit such an amazing place! We felt welcomed, supported, understood and like we belonged somewhere where it was ok for our students to be themselves in all ways without judgement. The staff was incredibly open and willing to let us explore the facility. They were very informed and able to answer all questions that we had with consideration and kindness.”
“It was good to know that there is support in the community that parents are able to turn to in a nurturing and caring environment. The ability to invite parents and families in to explore is very much appreciated as this gives them a sense of belonging and the knowledge that there are resources available.”
“From the moment we walked in we felt a sense of belonging, the staff was wonderful and the building/rooms were unlike anything I’ve seen. The whole tour was very informative for teachers and parents and hands on and fun for our students! We would love to come and visit again!”
“We wish our school could be built like this because it fits the needs of our students so much better with a variety of learning, sensory and motor spaces to be used to meet their needs!”
Have a classroom, a club or a group looking to come check out Pause? Email questions@pauseforparents.org to set up a tour! We would love to welcome you and share ways to continue the conversation and partnership.
This is CAN DO. This is COMMUNITY. This is YOUR SUPPORT.
