The Community Education Program provides information and education to the community members who care for, interact with and support individuals with developmental disabilities. It also serves as a means to inform, educate and increase awareness for the community at large about the needs, abilities and rights of individuals with disabilities. The following are some of the programs which demonstrate the purpose and effectiveness of Community Education at SOAR Fox Cities:
SOAR Fox Cities provides a variety of educational presentations and tutorials for the community. Presentations focus on helping organizations better serve customers with disabilities, refuting the stereotypes of people with disabilities, providing hands-on learning to help others understand and accept those with varying ability levels, and helping the general public to focus on a person’s abilities rather than disabilities.
SOAR Fox Cities staff and volunteers use a troupe of life size puppets called Kids On The Block to provide disability awareness and education to local elementary school aged children each year. This national program features scripted skits followed by discussions surrounding disability awareness, as well as social and medical issues. Each performance involves a dialogue between puppets followed by a session in which the puppets engage the classroom children in an educational conversation. The message that is delivered to the children is that people with disabilities have many abilities to share and that all children are more alike than they are different. Performances take place at schools, daycare centers, churches, public libraries, club facilities, camps, scouting groups, and Awareness Fairs in the greater Fox Cities area.
SOAR Fox Cities collaborates with area non-profits and community businesses to put together a week of events to educate the community and celebrate differing abilities. Including an awards ceremony recognizing individuals making a differences in the community and presentations throughout the Fox Cities.
Our corporate Disability Awareness presentations are designed to widen the horizons of local businesses by teaching about many different disabilities such as Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Attendees will also learn about respectful language, how people with differing abilities fit into the community, how SOAR Fox Cities fits into the community, important current events regarding people with differing abilities, and the benefits of hiring people with differing abilities.
Adult groups and businesses who have learned about disabilities in 2015:
Kaukauna Rotary Club, Appleton Y-Service Club, Appleton Noon Optimists, Holiday Inn Appleton, The Building for Kids, Town of Menasha Fire Department, Grand Chute Fire Department and the Kaukauna Fire Department.
Our teen Disability Awareness presentations are designed to educate and develop empathy in teens about disabilities and how they affect individuals. These presentations consist of a short PowerPoint giving information about Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Autism, and Traumatic Brain Injury and respectful language. Following the slideshow is a series of hands on activities, designed to simulate the effects of different disabilities.
Contact Ashley Gustafsonat 920-731-9831 x111.