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Community Corner

Nick Tsitos of Plymouth wins essay contest award

 Cotting School student Nick Tsitos sees himself as a writer with a lot of important things to say. The Plymouth 19-year-old has cerebral palsy and uses eye gaze technology to communicate. Tsitos won a Massachusetts-wide maaps essay contest about how his school has contributed to his success called, “What My School Means to Me.”

 

Tsitos was honored on May 16 at the maaps’ 36th annual conference at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough. maaps (Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools) is a non-profit organization whose member schools provide educational services and programs to special needs students across the state.

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In his award-winning essay, Tsitos wrote: “At Cotting, teachers learn about each student and what they need help with. Cotting School is accessible to all different students with disabilities. It has students with devices to talk with. Some students use wheelchairs or walkers to get around by themselves…. This gives me the opportunity to do the same things that students at other schools do. Cotting has given me confidence in my abilities.”

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Cotting School is a leader in providing comprehensive and ground-breaking educational and therapeutic services to children and young adults with a broad spectrum of learning and communication disabilities, physical challenges and complex medical conditions.

 

“Nick is an extraordinary student who has a great sense of humor, a zest for life and a passion for learning,” says Cotting School President David W. Manzo. “We are so proud of his accomplishments.”

 

 “We are delighted to recognize Nick for his exceptional work and success,” adds maaps Executive Director James V. Major. “maaps member schools, teachers and staff work tirelessly to provide high-quality educational experiences to their students. Nick’s award reflects those efforts and the progress being made each day.”

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About maaps:

The Massachusetts Association of 766 Approved Private Schools (maaps) is a non-profit association whose member schools provide educational programs and services to students with special needs throughout Massachusetts.  The schools operate over 150 day and residential programs and schools, providing education and treatment to over 5,300 Massachusetts students with disabilities. They also bring in over $189 million into the Commonwealth’s economy in tuition payments from 1,400 out-of-state students, and employ over 10,000 teachers, clinicians, residential care and other staff.  For many of the students, maaps schools represent their first real opportunity for hope, achievement and to become productive members of society.  

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