CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES GRANT RECIPIENTS

Fox Valley Sibling Support Network and ARC Fox Cities

The Fox Valley Sibling Support Network was established in 1998 to provide programs for children and adults who have disabilities or long-term illnesses.  The Arc Fox Cities provides programs for children and adults who have developmental disabilities.  The Fox Valley Sibling Support Network in collaboration with the Arc Fox Cities plan to host the 11^th annual, Santa Celebration on December 6, 2014 at the Grand Meridian, Appleton.  At this even, children with disabilities and their families enjoy breakfast with Santa and other fun activities designed to involve children with disabilities of all ages with their siblings.  No lines. No rush. No embarrassing stares from strangers.  Just fun, acceptance and Santa’s magic.

Easter Seals Wisconsin Disability HelpLine-Appleton

The Easter Seals Disability HelpLine- Appleton is a program of Easter Seals Wisconsin.  The HelpLine has served families affected by disabilities in Outagamie County since 1996.  The mission of Easter Seals Wisconsin is to increase independence, maximize opportunities, minimize barriers and enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.  The Equipment Grants for Outagamie County Children with Disabilities program assists children needing disability-related equipment that does not fall under the “medically necessary” category, and yet the equipment is vital to their safety and/or independence.  Examples of this equipment include: adaptive bikes, safety fences, therapeutic and recreational aids, ramps, vehicle lifts and communication devices. 

 

Cerebral Palsy of Mideast Wisconsin

Our mission is to provide services that positively affect the quality of life for persons with disabilities and their families and one of those services or programs is our Residential Camp Sandy Wheels, where campers arrive on Sunday afternoon and return home the following Friday.  Our Camp this year, week one is August 3-8 (ages 29 and older) and week two (ages 28 and younger) is August 10-15.  Campers have a chance of interacting with others and exploring the outdoors.  Residential Camp Sandy Wheels provides a positive camping experience.  Camp is provided up to 40 individuals with a disability for 5 days of camp.  At Residential Camp Sandy Wheels, they are able to assist campers in gaining the independence they will need when they reach adulthood.  While the program is designed to be recreational, they make sure that it is also therapeutic and educational.  Campers may feel that they have been attending camp only for the purpose of having fun, but their fun-filled activities are preparing them for the years ahead.  Campers work on necessary daily living skills, socialization and cooperation.

Bay-Lakes Council

Mission: To instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them leadership skills and ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law.  Vision: The Bay Lakes Council, BSA is the leading youth organization in our services area fostering character development and values-based leadership. Values:  Trustworthiness, Adventurousness, Leadership, Service, Education, Faithfulness, Patriotism, Integrity, Respect.  Annually they provide a Discovery weekend for youth with Special Needs at their resident Camp, Camp Rokilio.  Since many of these youth are not able to attend a traditional Summer Camp experience, they provide this weekend dedicated to supporting the youth members with Special Needs.  Like Summer Camp, youth will have the opportunity to participate in many of the same activities that are provided during the summer, based on their ability levels.  These include Archery, B.B. Guns, Games, Nature Trails, Crafts and Scouting Skills.

AASD-Therapy and Physical Education Department

The Therapy and Special Physical Education Department provides occupational therapy, physical therapy and special education to approximately 382 students at 43 different sites.  Students with disabilities receive special education from ages 3 through 21.  The TSPE department travels to students in the schools, day cares and 4K sites they attend throughout the Appleton Area School District.  They are using the funds to upgrade their adaptive standers for use with children with significant physical disabilities.  Standing programs are essential to provide position changes and increase classroom participation.  The standers they currently have are old enough that parts may be missing, upholstery is in disrepair and adjustments are difficult due to stripped screws or rusted parts.  The standers are no longer under warranty.  Newer standing products offer so much more adjustability and ease of use that classroom staff would be more likely to increase student use of standers.

Special Olympics- Fox Valley Region
Their mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic Athletes and the community.  The funds from the Rotary Club of Appleton helped with the cost associated with two of their programs that serve youth with intellectual disabilities.  Funding will benefit their Young Athletes program which is “sports play” program designed to meet the unique physical and developmental needs of children ages 2-7. In addition, children 8 years and older are eligible to participate their traditional Special Olympics programming which offers year round sports training and competition opportunities in 19 sports.  These funds make it possible for Special Olympics to offer these programs at no cost to their participants.

The ARC Fox Cities

The Arc Fox Cities empowers youth and adults with differing abilities through its social, recreational and educational programs, support groups, camps, family programs, advocacy groups, and community education.  The Arc programs serve individuals from birth through adulthood.  As the single largest provider of programs of this type in the Fox Cities, The Arc improves the lives of the families they serve by offering them structured programs, social events, respite opportunities and a place to feel comfortable and find support.  The funds from the club are for their YARC program.  YARC provides educational, social and recreational activities for youth ages 13-23 with and without disabilities in an integrated and interactive setting.  Two trends among teens are having a particular impact on their program: early physical maturation and increased behavioral issues.  Due to these trends, there is a greater need for more staff at programs and further staff training in advanced behavioral interventions. 

Muscular Dystrophy Association

The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases.  It does so by funding worldwide research; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement.  The funds from the Club were used in June.  MDA hosts a summer camp program for children, 6-17 years of age, living with neuromuscular disease.  Last year, 39 children, and 56 volunteers attended camp.