The Special Needs topic table came up with several great ideas and resources for service learning projects involving special needs populations. Here are the notes from our conversation:
Service Learning ideas for the classroom:
– Wheel chair basketball teams (partner a class or school group with a local team)
– Working with veterans
– Connecting the elderly with students who have special needs
– Gardening for therapeutic benefits for students with behavioral/emotional special needs
– Advocate for legislation benefitting special needs populations
Organizations:
– Shane’s Inspiration (all access playgrounds and play dates for students of all abilities) http://www.shanesinspiration.org/
– Club 21 (building inclusive environments for students with Down Syndrome) http://clubtwentyone.org/
– Life Rolls On (active events for wheelchair bound individuals) http://www.liferollson.org
– Wheels to the Sea (fall and spring hikes for wheelchair bound individuals) http://wildernessinstitute.com/call/personal-growth/spring-wheel-to-the-sea-event-may-5-2012/
– Guide Dogs of America (they do class visits with dogs) http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org
– Special Olympics of Southern CA http://www.sosc.org/
– Best Buddies International (pairs students with special needs with students without special needs, in person or over the internet) http://www.bestbuddies.org/
– Project Linus (students make blankets for young people who are sick or have undergone trauma) http://www.projectlinus.org/
– Ability First (serves children and adults with special needs) http://abilityfirst.org/
– The Help Group (schools and programs for children with autism spectrum disorders) http://www.thehelpgroup.org
