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Physical Activity Mentor Program
for Kids with Disabilities
  
We are
READY for mentors to join our Program and
begin right away!
Click here to download a copy of our informational
mentoring brochure.
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
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"Active and Healthy Lifestyles for Children
and Youth with Disabilities" is participating in a national
initiative called "I Can Do It, You Can Do It" mentor
program through the U.S. Health and Human Service Department-Office
on Disability.
http://www.hhs.gov/od/inauguration.html
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We are looking for
individuals to mentor participants with
disabilities between the ages of 5-18 in the La Crosse area.
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The program requires
2-3 hours of physical activity each the week for a minimum of 6
weeks. The mentors/mentee can stay in the programs as
long as they would like as long as they are benefiting from the
physical activity.
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Placements include
programs in area youth-service agencies, after school programs, home
visits, or community-based physical activity one on one with the
mentor/mentee.
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We are looking for motivated mentors
18 years or older who will encourage
individuals with disabilities, allow them to feel success, and feel
great about themselves and what they are doing through physical
activity. In order to
become a Physical Activity Mentor, you need to attend an orientation
meeting to learn procedures and expectations of the
program, attend a 2-3 hour training session once you are matched up
with your mentee to learn about your mentees disability, emergency
procedures, behavioral situations, adaptations for equipment, and
modifications for a specific sport and/or activity.
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Program staff will
match the mentors/mentees, then mentors will contact the
parent/guardian of the mentee and a meeting will be arranged for the
initial meeting session between the mentor, mentee,
parents/guardians, and program staff.
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Programs with the
mentors/mentees are set up based on the needs of the mentee.
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Mentors and parents of
participants need to fill out an application which can be received
through Shelley Wetzel - Grant Coordinator 608.785.8695 or
wetzel.shel@uwlax.edu.
"Friendship is the hardest
thing in the world to explain. But if you haven't learned the meaning of
friendship, you really haven't learned anything at all." - Muhammad Ali |
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My choice is easy. Can you make the same one?
(Touching Story take 3 minutes to read it)
What
would you do? You make the choice! Don't look for a punch line; There isn't
one! Read it anyway. My question to all of you is: Would you have made the
same choice? At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning
disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that
would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school
and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: "When not interfered with by
outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son,
Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand
things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my
son?" The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I
believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes
into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and
it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the
following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay
knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,” Do you think they’ll let me play?"
Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not
want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his
son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and
some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's
father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not
expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded
approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing
by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our
team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning." Shay struggled over
to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a
small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at
his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team
scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning,
Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his
way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning
from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom
of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the
bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be
next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance
to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Every one knew that
a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to
the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for
this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so
Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung
clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball
softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow
ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over, but the
pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the
first baseman... Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of
the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the
first baseman, out of reach of all teammates. Every one from the stands
and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never
in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered
down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run
to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and
struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards
second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who
had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have
thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the
pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over
the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the
runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay,
Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop
ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run
to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams
and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the
"grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day," said the father
softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped
bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world." Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter,
having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming
home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day! |
