Disability Awareness Activities in Garfield Co.

Fall is a great time to focus on disability awareness with kids. As they return to school it's important for all kids to feel accepted and included. Each fall Sooner SUCCESS offers one or more activities to help area schools build student skills in understanding different kinds of disabilities. But we also work hard to leave the message that everyone has something that makes them special and unique and more importantly, we all have something to contribute.

This fall we have several activities going on:

#1 - We are offering a "Digital Dialog Session" to all 6th grade classrooms in Garfield County. Digital Dialog introduces students to Tyler. Tyler is 16 and involved in all the usual activities of a 16-year-old.....marching band, community theater, boy scouts, school. What the catch? Tyler also has cerebral palsy, a nonverbal learning disorder, and an anxiety disorder.

During the Dialog, Tyler explains to the kids how he is able to participate in all these great activities. He also encourages them to help other kids "join in". After Tyler's talk, Sooner SUCCESS volunteers lead an informal discussion on "Ability Awareness" and how they can help someone else be included.

A special thank you to Mrs. Sharp's class in Covington. They hosted our 1st digital dialogue and we had a great time! To plan a Digital Dialogue for your 6th graders, contact Lisa Simmons at 603-1580.

#2 - The Kids on the Block are coming back! Last year we did Kids on the Block puppet programs on Cerebral Palsy, Learning Disabilities, and Spina Bifida. Thanks to wonderful support from our community over the last few months, we have raised enough money to order a new Kids on the Block program.

I'm excited to announce that this year our focus program will be on AUTISM! This is a topic I've had lots of requests for! Kids on the Block programs are highly effective with students in 3-5th grade. If you would like to plan a Kids on the Block visit at your school, contact Lisa Simmons at 603-1580.

And finally ..... we need your help!
Although our autism puppets are ordered and on their way, we are still hoping to raise funds for an ADHD program as well. This is the other topic that I regularly receive requests for.

We have applied for a Hometown Helpers Grant to help us purchase the ADHD program and are very hopeful, but we need your help to get the grant. Hometown Helpers selects worthy projects partially on the amount of community support for that project. To help us, all you need to do is post your comment of support here.

Thank you to all of the 32 classrooms we visited last year! We look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Lisa