News stories tagged with "hannon"

(12/12/05) This year, North Country Public Radio is talking with people and families who experience a wide range of disabilities. As part of our Disability Matters series, Kathy and Michaela Hannon have been keeping an audio diary about their lives in Saranac Lake. Kathy works as a special education teacher in Lake Placid. Michaela is twelve years old. She lives with spastic cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. This morning, Kathy talks about the daily support that can allow a family with disabilities to maintain a rich quality of life. Often, workers help with the most mundane chores. more

(10/10/05) Thousands of families in the North Country have school-age kids who live with disabilities, everything from dyslexia to muscular dystrophy to attention deficit. Public schools are a front-line resource, providing a remarkable range of services, therapies, and specialized education. Good programs can make all the difference, helping a child to reach a productive, engaged life. But navigating the bureaucracy and finding the best strategies for each child can be a daily struggle. Kathy Hannon is a special education teacher who lives in Saranac Lake and works in Lake Placid. Her daughter Michaela lives with spastic cerebral palsy. Michaela, who is twelve years old, uses a wheelchair and a voice machine that helps her to communicate. In this morning's installment of the Hannon's audio diary, they offer a glimpse of the ups and downs of the education system as seen from the inside.

(09/19/05) For parents with severely disabled children, life can be a constant struggle with social service agencies, doctors, and schools. In this rural area, finding the best care for kids also often means expensive and exhausting travel. Kathy Hannon is a teacher. She lives in Saranac Lake. Her 12-year-old daughter Michaela suffers from spastic cerebral palsy. In this week's audio diary, Kathy describes a recent trip to see a specialist in Pittsburgh. She says parents like her make the journey looking for medical answers but also looking for hope.
The Hannons' audio diary series is produced by Brian Mann with technical help from Joel Hurd.

(09/12/05) Every morning, families across the North Country get their kids ready for school. For children with disabilities and their parents, the ritual can be far more complicated than just eating breakfast and brushing teeth. As part of our yearlong series, Disability Matters, the Hannon family in Saranac Lake is keeping an audio diary about their life. Kathy and Mike Hannon's daughter Michaela was born prematurely with spastic cerebral palsy. She uses a wheelchair and her ability to speak is extremely limited. Kathy and Michaela take on the most important chore in getting ready for a school day: preparing to communicate with the outside world. Their audio diary was produced by Brian Mann.

(09/05/05) This year, North Country Public Radio is focusing on people and families who live with disabilities. This morning, we begin an audio diary series with the Hannons, a family in Saranac Lake. Kathy and Mike Hannon have two daughters, Rachel and Michaela. Twelve year old Michaela was born with spastic cerebral palsy.
In the weeks and months ahead, they'll be sharing their experiences, talking about the ways that Michaela's disability changes their daily lives. This first diary is narrated by Kathy Hannon, a school teacher who works in Lake Placid. We'll also hear from her daughter Michaela. Their audio diary was produced by Brian Mann.

Next Monday: Getting Michaela ready for a day at school.