When students with special needs from all over Montgomery County show up at The Birches at Arbour Square to pitch in, everyone comes out a winner, said activities director Asta Fusco.

“The students gain valuable workplace experience and the residents like the inter-generational engagement. Each kid comes with a different challenge, but once I get to know their challenges we go from there,” Fusco explained, writes Gary Puleo in The Times Herald.

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The high school students, who travel in from such places as Souderton, North Penn and Perkiomen Valley, work directly with Fusco to learn workplace etiquette while enhancing their communication skills. They assist residents with activities, such as Wii sports games, trivia and even the larger social events. The students also enjoy a complimentary lunch provided by The Birches before helping out with various jobs in the dining room.

“Some come in every day and others not as often, it all depends on whether they have the busing,” Fusco said. “They go through training and then they help myself or my assistant with activities … whether it’s bingo, games, trivia, there are many different aspects of the program. There’s a game we have called Kentucky Derby that uses large wooden horses on the floor and everyone loves playing it.”

To read the complete story, click here.

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