At Lenexa Hills Elementary, a group of students and educators celebrated inclusion by accepting a grant of $25,000 from Variety KC.
The grant will fund new adaptive equipment for students with disabilities to improve accessibility to sports and games during recess and physical education classes. The equipment will be available for students throughout the district.
Access to the equipment will be impactful for students with disabilities as well as their peers, Sherry Dumolien, chief of special education explained.
“It creates opportunities because our world has all types of individuals in it,” shared Dumolien. “It helps us see individuals and what their full capabilities are and how we can create meaningful opportunities for all.”
During the event, students demonstrated how the equipment can be used to make baseball, golf, and hockey more inclusive and accessible. Principal Michael Brewer also read a book to students, “Variety Tales-Maddox’s Dream.” Variety KC has gifted a copy to each school library.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Hubbard gave remarks for those in attendance and thanked Variety KC for the gift.
“We are so appreciative of this grant and the opportunities it will provide for all students in our school district,” stated Hubbard. “It’s inclusion at its finest, and provides the opportunity for all kids to feel included and part of every school community.”
According to a release, Variety KC empowers children with special needs and disabilities in the Greater Kansas City region by providing access to vital medical equipment for mobility, sensory, communication, safety, therapies and more.