I would like to thank SkiRack for their continued support of programs for children with special needs. Recently they provided water bottles and stickers for the "Adaptive" Mini-Milers program which were both well received and used by the participants. I have found SkiRack to be an exceptional resource for children with special needs, assisting in finding appropriate shoes for children who are wearing braces on their legs, adapting bikes for children's special needs, and fitting children with skis. Their staff has always exhibited patience and understanding so I cannot recommend them strongly enough. … [Read more...]
Project Prima UVM Dance Ballet = Pure Grace
Graceful. The true meaning of this word is fully embodied during Project Prima. UVM’s ballet club, Ballet Viridis, hosts dance workshops for kids with different abilities- Project Prima ignites. My daughter, Delaney (aka Del), has the opportunity to move her body, connect with peers, and feel the love of these beautiful ballerinas. All are welcome to join the dance, including siblings and friends. These dancers possess an innate ability to share their love of dance with people of all abilities. Del’s physical abilities and movements have been described by professionals as “a series near misses,” which translates to daily bumps and bruises; however, during Project Prima she feels nothing but grace. Katrina Sliwka (Del’s mom) For more information about Project Prima please contact the dancers at balletviridis@gmail.com "Del is an amazing child who has brought things to a new perspective. Friends in the community have started a … [Read more...]
St. Michael’s Women’s Soccer Team Inspires Kids with Special Needs
Although the sun was out this past Sunday, many would have considered it rather brisk if not just plain cold. Spring in Vermont can be that way but it did not discourage over twenty individuals with special needs from enjoying an hour and a half of soccer at St. Michael’s College. The St. Michaels’ women’s soccer team and some players from the men’s team volunteered their time to help all the participants, who ranged from age four to those in their early twenties, have a good time at a program put on by the EDD Fund. The college players divided the younger children from the older children and engaged them in skills and then a scrimmage. The young children were running around, kicking the ball, scoring, and some even practiced goalie skills. All the volunteers displayed incredible spirit, patience, and enthusiasm allowing each participants to engage in soccer to the best of their ability and have an incredible time. All the special … [Read more...]
Wishes Do Come True
Jack was born with a life-threatening heart rhythm condition, Cathecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia, CPVT for short. It is a potentially fatal, adrenalin-induced arrhythmia that for Jack is currently well controlled with medication and a pacemaker. Jack is supposed to avoid stress, exercise and emotion, easier said than done. The last eighteen years have been less than a smooth ride, but they have taught me so much and have brought me to where I am today. Jack takes medication twice a day that causes him to feel tired and cold. Before we were able to find a medication regimen that worked, CPVT caused Jack’s heart to stop multiple times resulting in him passing out and causing a lack of oxygen to his brain. He is currently 18 but cognitively and socially is equivalent to an average 12 year old. He is not able to play most sports and in elementary school did not have many friends. Jack was the kid who would sit alone … [Read more...]
UVM Women’s Hockey Helps out Mini-Milers
Another enjoyable and successful week of Mini-Milers! This week thirteen children participate, including five who were attending for the first time and fourteen mentors. Partnering with our participants and donating their time on a Saturday were an assortment of UVM and high school students, including six from the UVM Women's Hockey Team. Sarah Kelly, Sammy Kolowrat, Taylor Willard, Alyssa Gorecki, Rachel Khaulof, and Daria O'Neill, and , teammates of Kayla's via Team Impact, were a great help, like the other volunteers, in assisting the special needs child they were paired with. This session, following our greeting we all went around and pretended to be different animals. The idea is that some animals run slow and some really fast. Watching the children go as slow as a turtle and then run like a lion was encouraging and especially entertaining as the mentors got into the animal character. As an incentive for the … [Read more...]