{"id":41301,"date":"2012-04-09T18:36:41","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T18:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=41301"},"modified":"2012-04-09T18:36:41","modified_gmt":"2012-04-09T18:36:41","slug":"fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun and Learning Foremost at UMW Play Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When senior Laura Johnson registered for classes for her last undergraduate semester<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_41321\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41321\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/play-lab-laura-johnson-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-41321\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"41321\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/play-lab-laura-johnson-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1333562591&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2000&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Play lab Laura Johnson\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Laura Johnson, center, assists Mckenzie.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41321\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/files\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-300x200.jpg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-768x512.jpg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-1140x760.jpg 1140w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-600x400.jpg 600w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1-680x453.jpg 680w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-lab-Laura-Johnson1.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41321\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Laura Johnson, center, assists Mckenzie.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>at the University of Mary Washington, she added one that wasn\u2019t required\u2014the Play Lab, an education course that gives students hands-on experience working with disabled students.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson, a historic preservation and elementary education major with a focus in museum studies, thought the class would be beneficial to her as a teacher.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t control who comes into your classroom,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cAs a teacher, you\u2019re responsible for giving every student the best education that you can, so I thought it was part of my responsibility as a teacher.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Play Lab, in its third semester at UMW, is a parent resource and clinic for children with developmental delays, such as autism and intellectual disabilities. Bolstered through community donations and grant awards, the course has been cited as a model program by Virginia Commonwealth\u2019s Center for Autism Excellence.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_41331\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-41331\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/play-lab-nicole-myers\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-41331\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"41331\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/play-lab-nicole-myers\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1333563294&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Play Lab Nicole Myers\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-41331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/files\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-300x200.jpg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-768x512.jpg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-1140x760.jpg 1140w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-600x400.jpg 600w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-1024x683.jpg 1024w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers-680x453.jpg 680w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-Nicole-Myers.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-41331\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nicole Myers works with Matt Hioos.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>UMW students spend seven weeks in the classroom learning strategies to effectively handle children with disabilities, and then incorporate those techniques in five-week sessions in the Play Lab with the children.<\/p>\n<p>Johnson was among 12 UMW students who worked with 13 children. She was one of two undergraduates in a class of mostly graduate students and teachers who wanted to learn more about working with students with disabilities.<\/p>\n<p>But the range of classroom dynamics wasn\u2019t an obstacle for Johnson.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was really kind of daunting at first, but we all came together to work as a team,\u201d Johnson said.\u00a0 \u201cIt just makes me excited to collaborate in the future with other teachers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/play-lab-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-41421\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"41421\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/play-lab-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1333563656&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.0125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Play Lab 2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-41421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/files\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-300x200.jpg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-768x512.jpg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-1140x760.jpg 1140w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-600x400.jpg 600w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2-680x453.jpg 680w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-2.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>During each session, the children rotate through four different rooms designed to target specific sensory, communication and motor skills.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt really sets the kids up to want to communicate with each other, so they\u2019re feeling comfortable, their bodies are feeling comfortable, and so that they are primed to communicate on their own,\u201d said Nicole Myers, associate professor of education and coordinator of the program.<\/p>\n<p>Parents appreciate being able to connect with another parent who has a child with special needs and receiving additional resources to what the school system provides, Myers said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/play-lab\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-41341\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"41341\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/play-lab\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1800,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;4.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1333563451&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;50&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;2500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.01&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Play Lab\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-41341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/files\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-300x200.jpg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-768x512.jpg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-1140x760.jpg 1140w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-600x400.jpg 600w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-1024x683.jpg 1024w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab-680x453.jpg 680w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2012\/04\/Play-Lab.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Students compile data collected throughout the semester and provide parents with a comprehensive resource packet, detailing strategies that worked well for their child in certain situations.\u00a0 The information later can be used to help write the child\u2019s Individualized Education Plan, or IEP.<\/p>\n<p>But the Play Lab isn\u2019t just a resource for parents or a learning tool for students\u2014it\u2019s a place for the children to have fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think what the kids like is the social component,\u201d said Myers.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re learning, but it\u2019s all play to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heather DeCou, a licensed counselor who joins Myers in staffing the Play Lab, agrees that the social component is one of the most important, for the children as well as their parents.<\/p>\n<p>Said DeCou: \u201cI think many of the parents are looking for an opportunity for their kids to make friends.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When senior Laura Johnson registered for classes for her last undergraduate semester at the University of Mary Washington, she added one that wasn\u2019t required\u2014the Play Lab, an education course that gives students hands-on experience working with disabled students. Johnson, a historic preservation and elementary education major with a focus in museum studies, thought the class [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":41311,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"umw_cb_additional_links":[[]],"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_advisory_expires_time":"","_advisory_meta_include":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[709],"tags":[],"topics":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-41301","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-newsletter-archived-latest-news","8":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fun and Learning Foremost at UMW Play Lab - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2012\/04\/09\/fun-and-learning-foremost-at-umw-play-lab\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fun and Learning Foremost at UMW Play Lab\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When senior Laura Johnson registered for classes for her last undergraduate semester at the University of Mary Washington, she added one that wasn\u2019t required\u2014the Play Lab, an education course that gives students hands-on experience working with disabled students. 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