Shane's Inspiration Blog

Our Vision: Fostering a bias-free world for children with disabilities. The mission of Shane's Inspiration is to create inclusive playgrounds and programs that unite children of all abilities.

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The View From the Playground

Two weeks ago, Shane's Inspiration had the honor of returning to Cuenca, Ecuador...the site of the first fully-inclusive playground in the Country, which we celebrated the opening of in November, 2013. Our goal was to help the City's municipal agency, Accion Social, launch school and community programs that help utilize the inclusive playground as a classroom, teaching children to grow beyond their differences and discover common ground. It was a great success!

Day 1, 11/7: Thanks to Accion Social, we held a 4-hour social inclusion training with approximately 60 college students, professors, and city employees. We walked them through all three steps of Together, We Are Able, discussed ways to support children with Autism on the playground and distributed 20 copies of our curriculum in Spanish.

Day 2, 11/8: Forty 10-year-olds from Herlinda School participated in our first school workshop, translated by the amazing Andrea Costales (who worked in former Vice President Lenin Moreno’s office, which initiated the playground project). They were highly engaged! Most students were nervous and afraid to play with their buddies.

Day 3, 11/9: We began the day with a formal signing of a document that states our shared commitment to inclusion with the City of Cuenca and presented a plaque to Mayor Marcelo Cabrera’s wife, Senora Velez.

The true power came after the speeches: 60 kids with and without disabilities christened the playground with the very first fully-inclusive field trip there! Volunteers from Monday’s training returned to facilitate the play and interaction.

Day 4, 11/10: The week ended with a return trip to the classroom. Both sets of students learned that, regardless of how they move/learn/communicate, they are kids. Over and over, the students asked: “When are we going to see our buddies? Give us a date! Can we play together before Christmas?” From fear to friendship….

After leaving Herlinda, our team met and created a strategic plan to sustain the social inclusion efforts. A community meeting later yielded a commitment by two non-profits to gather their families at the playground monthly for My PlayClub.

Shane's Inspiration is truly grateful to our partners in Cuenca, who are working to create sustainable social inclusion for ALL their children!

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The View From the Playground

Greeley's Beautiful Commitment to Inclusion Comes to Life!

Last Saturday, Shane's Inspiration joined the community of Greeley, Colorado in celebrating the opening of Aven's Village: a fully-inclusive playground. Two days prior, Marnie Norris, our Director of Programs, held program trainings for recreation staff and local educators to help implement Together, We Are Able and My PlayClub.

This playground doesn't miss a beat: every inch is filled with fabulous equipment, created by Landscape Structures Inc., that delights all the senses and engaging literacy prompts that encourage communication and play, thanks to the Too Small To Fail campaign. The playground was truly a team effort: Brandy, Ethan, Aven and Isis Mondy, who inspired the playground; Andy McRoberts, Director of Culture,  Parks, and Recreation, Sarah Boyd, Park Planner, and their great team; Diane Scanlan, our Director of Design, and Brad Thornton, Sr. VP of Project Development at Shane's; Landscape Structure and Rocky Mountain Recreation; and many more!

And, a huge thank you to Spencer Hawk, who spoke at the opening, and his family Jennifer Hawk-Powell, Dough Powell, and brother Owen! Spencer and his family have been part of the Shane's family for years, and he articulated perfectly that morning how inclusion truly makes a difference.

Here's a link to his speech: https://youtu.be/9QYVxN40Fw4

Andy McRoberts, Director of Culture, Parks, and Recreation for the City of Greeley, with Brandy and Aven Mondy

Tom Tadewald, former SI Board Member, with Peter and Nancy Christie from Rocky Mountain Recreation, and Pat Magnuson with Landscape Structures

The Hawk Powell family reclining with our farm animals!

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The View From the Playground

Inclusive Play in Moscow is Open for Business!!!

On Wednesday, September 28th, Shane's Inspiration opened our 62nd inclusive playground located at the beautiful VDNKh Park:http://talava.com/vdnkh.html.

Our second in Russia and 5th in collaboration with Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Moscow playground was celebrated by dignitaries, children, families, and volunteers...inclusion, laughter, and smiles for all!

Our very own Marci Moran, Director of Community Outreach and Special Events, helps prepare the play space, sowing the seeds of inclusive play!

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin inspects the Sway Fun!

Khamzat Khasbulatov, President of McDonald's Russia and Chairman of the Board of Ronald McDonald House Charities Russia, at play!

Families eager to hit the playground.

Danil Pluzhnikov, winner of The Voice, shares the joy with renown hockey legend, Vladislav Tretyak and RMHC Russia President Khasbulatov

Tree climber mirrors the beautiful surrounding forest.

The mission continues all the way to Moscow, with love!

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The View From the Playground

Three cheers for more inclusion for children with disabilities in Russia!

Here’s a wonderful video that Ronald McDonald House Charities put together with footage from our Sochi playground to promote our 2nd RMHC project in Russia that will be opening later this month/early October.

It’s in a famous park in Moscow known as VDNKh – which stand for Vystavka Dostizheniy Narodnogo Khozyaystva. The English translation is Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, but in the video it’s referred to as the All-Russia Exhibition Centre.

Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/uAgOyBw4yNM

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The View From the Playground

Shane’s Inspiration celebrated a watershed moment last month as our Co-Founder and CEO Tiffany Harris announced our literacy through play partnership with Too Small To Fail and Landscape Structures, sharing a stage with Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative America meeting!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YONoBQRCJOg

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The View From the Playground

Madelyn Alfano, owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen and a founding Shane's Inspiration former Board Member and current Corporate Advisory Board Member, introduced our organization to an incredible course, the UCLA Disability Studies Philanthropy Class.

We were represented in this program by two fabulous and committed students: Chelsea Saurer and Nasim Andrews. The twenty students from the course interviewed 10 non-profits and presented them to their classmates. The students then voted on how much of a $100,000 grant they would award to each non-profit.

We are grateful to announce that on Tuesday night, Shane's Inspiration was awarded $25,000 to further our mission!

Thank you to the sponsors of The Philanthropy Lab at UCLA: Once Upon A Time Foundation, Monica Salinas, Don Shepherd, and Women & Philanthropy at UCLA for their generous support of this unique and impactful lab class!

Their impact extends so far beyond this week. UCLA and the Once Upon A Time Foundation is paying it forward by teaching college students to be philanthropists by donating to 15 universities across the U.S. They started giving $100,000 to UCLA 5 years ago. As it expands to other campuses, UCLA is securing additional donors to supplement the grant awards.

The next fabulous news: students Anna Nordstrom and Ania Nazarian of UCLA's Disability Studies Philanthropy Class will be representing Shane's Inspiration at a national meeting of the 15 university labs at the end of this month in Dallas, where an additional $100,000 will be awarded to a few select charities by the Once Upon A Time Foundation.

We are inspired by the impact that this course is making not only on the students enrolled, but by the charities served. #InclusionMatters

Shane's Marci Moran and Tiffany Harris with our Advisory Board Member Madelyn Alfano and UCLA students Nasim Andrews and Chelsea Saurer. — with Marci Moran, Madelyn Alfano, Tiffany Harris, Chelsea Saurer and Nasim Andrews at UCLA.

Nasim Andrews and Chelsea Saurer are the two UCLA students who researched and presented Shane's Inspiration to their classmates. They were brilliant and passionate! — with Chelsea Saurer and Nasim Andrews at UCLA.

UCLA's Chancellor Gene Block with Judith Smith Emerita Dean & Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education and Kyle McJunkin (the awesome instructor of the Philanthropy Class) with other UCLA Faculty. — at UCLA.

UCLA Disability Studies 171 Philanthropy Classmates with Chancellor Block. This group of students selected Shane's Inspiration as the charity they will present at the national meeting of all 15 participants in The Philanthropy Lab in Dallas later this month. Once Upon a Time Foundation will give an additional $100k to a few select charities. #Lucky — with Nasim Andrews, Anna Nordstrom and Chelsea Saurer at UCLA.

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The View From the Playground

Thank you ABC!!! We've seen television include people with disabilities in varying degrees over the years.

Speechless, a new series on ABC that airs this fall, not only focuses on the journey of one family with a child with Cerebral Palsy but also features an actor who actually has CP.

Check out the article from Variety and stay tuned this fall:

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/minnie-driver-abc-comedy-speechless-special-needs-child-1201738839/

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The View From the Playground

Every community we work with to build an inclusive playground has a champion. A mom, a dad, someone who understands first-hand what it is like to see their child excluded from play...a simple but powerful way to be included in your community.

Meet the Loredo family in Modesto, California who is changing the future of play for ALL children: http://www.modbee.com/news/article64007687.html

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The View From the Playground

Meet Catherine Curry-Williams, an inspiring and powerful woman who is the Co-Founder of Shane's Inspiration. (pictured here on the right with L'Oréal Paris Ambassadors Frieda Pinto and Aimee Mullins)

In 1997, Shane Alexander Williams came into her and her husband Scott's lives for a beautiful but brief moment.  Born with spinal muscular atrophy, Shane passed away two weeks after his birth. Despite their profound grief, Catherine and Scott inspired a powerful coalition that created the first fully-inclusive playground in the Western United States: Shane's Inspiration in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

One playground evolved into a world-wide network of 59 inclusive playgrounds, stretching from Los Angeles to Israel, Russia, Ecuador and beyond, designed and developed by Shane's Inspiration (www.shanesinspiration.org), the organization they co-founded with Tiffany Harris. Their social inclusion programs have reached more than 35,000 children in schools and communities. Through play, children with and without disabilities learn to see beyond their misconceptions, dissolving bias and creating compassion.

Catherine was recently honored as one of ten Women of Worth by L'Oreal Paris! The organization received $10,000 to support social inclusion for children with disabilities. At the celebration event in New York City, David Carey, the president of Hearst Magazines, was so moved by all the inspiring women being honored, that he decided to match the $10,000 L’Oréal donation.

We celebrate Catherine for continuing to inspire others to join this powerful inclusion coalition!

Watch Catherine’s Women of Worth video here: https://youtu.be/zmhnrC1chCo

#InclusionMatters @ShanesPlay

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The View From the Playground

We have had the honor of working with Los Angeles Unified School District on integrating children with and without disabilities in schools. It has led us to wonderful professionals.

Meet Josan Wright, former Special Education Teacher and Integration Specialist with the District. Recently retired, she is creating an engaging, imaginative book that teaches social/emotional skills to young children on the Spectrum.

Check out her Kickstarter campaign! When funded, it will give parents and teachers the tools they need to support a critical aspect of development - one that can influence outcomes for years to come:

bit.ly/thehappylittlegarbagetruckkickstarter

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The View From the Playground

Shane's Inspiration celebrated the opening of our 59th Inclusive Playground at Harvard Recreation Center in Los Angeles yesterday! Jackie Tatum Playground, designed by Shane's Inspiration, was built in partnership with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, Too Small to Fail, Landscape Structures, and the wonderful community of South Los Angeles.

This sensory-rich inclusive playground is packed with play value and has literacy prompts throughout, encouraging parents/caregivers to talk with their toddlers as they play!

The Under The Sea Theme is woven throughout every aspect of the design, from fencing to surfacing.

Playful literacy prompts in Spanish and English encourage parents to engage with their toddlers and infants while playing, thus encouraging language acquisition.

Kids and parents alike laughed and played together!

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The View From the Playground

We began building inclusive playgrounds for kids. They are the natural clients! What has become clear, over the years, is that these play spaces are inclusive for all ages and stages.

This story came from our Director of Design, Landscape Architect Diane Scanlan, who is overseeing a new playground developing in Los Angeles.

Yesterday, she was watching the new climbable sensory rocks being built and met a neighbor:

"When I was at the playground yesterday working on the sculptures people were lined up at the fence watching the activity. An older woman in a wheelchair called me over and asked if the playground was going to be open to the public or whether it was for the building only. I told her it was a public park and her face lit up. She said she wanted to have someone help her out of her wheelchair so she could sit on one of the new rock sculptures and watch the kids play. What an amazing moment!"

Proof that EVERYONE wants inclusive play!

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The View From the Playground: Giving Tuesday!!!

It's #GivingTuesday! Shane's Inspiration is participating in this global day dedicated to giving. Last year, more than 27,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate #GivingTuesday. Since its founding in 2012, #GivingTuesday has inspired giving around the world, resulting in greater donations, volunteer hours, and activities that bring about real change in communities.  We invite you to join the movement and to help get out and give today!

Shane's Inspiration has set a fundraising goal of $10,000 for #GivingTuesday. One of our generous donors will match all donations up to $10,000, so your gift will be DOUBLED today! Your tax-deductible gift will help change the lives of children with disabilities through inclusive play!

#CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW

FROM ONE OF OUR FAVORITE FAMILIES:

Meet Mahrynn, Mallory, Marissa, and Madison

My name is Janice McLaughlin, I live in Southern California, and I have four daughters, two of which, happen to be two of fourteen patients worldwide who are diagnosed with Hypomyelination of the Brain and Spinal Cord with Spasticity to the Lower Limbs (HBSL). For our doctors, this means they are continuously and tirelessly working to find treatments and a cure for our beautiful girls. For us as a family, it means weekly trips to Children's Hospital, multi-weekly physical therapies, hours of wearing leg immobilizers, abductor pillows, leg and swash braces, and countless procedures, surgeries and steroid treatments...all while our girls excel in their academic programs.

As a family, our favorite memories revolve around us simply being together  - laughing, sliding, swinging, and forgetting about limitations and judgement. The only place we've found this to be possible is at Shane's Inspiration parks. This is about so much more than "play time". This is about our girls being equal. This is about self-esteem. This is about the sky being the limit. This is about all four of our girls running (and wheeling) off to meet strangers that turn into close friends. This is about ALL our girls embracing their right to be unashamedly themselves, without being judged by their abilities.

Shane's Inspiration is giving families everywhere a space to love, play and be with each other without stares from strangers or being mocked and excluded by their peers. But, perhaps more importantly, Shane's Inspiration is giving families everywhere a space to learn that your value is not determined by your ability.

I am so proud that Shane's Inspiration is continuing to abolish limitations, this time, geographically. In just these few short years, we have been so blessed to see Shane's Inspiration grow substantially from just one country, to four continents. Shane's Inspiration isn't just building playgrounds, they're building friendships and creating a safe, loving, inclusive world for our next generation.

On behalf of children everywhere, we ask that you please do your part in     spreading the love and inclusivity that only Shane's Inspiration can offer. I assure you,   every penny, every dollar, every monthly gift you give, will go on to make the world a better place, one smile, one unashamed wobble, one unbalanced step, one new friendship at a time.

On behalf of families everywhere, Madison, Marissa, Mallory, Mahrynn, my     husband, and myself...we thank you. We thank you for giving generously. We thank you for building a new world where inclusivity is given without a second thought.

Eternally grateful,  

Janice McLaughlin (Marissa, Mahrynn, Madison and Mallory's Mom)

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW. THANK YOU!

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The View From the Playground

Come explore My PlayClub at Beeman Park in Studio City, CA!  Check out some of the fabulous accessible equipment (provided by our partner in play, Landscape Structures) and integration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDrEqgSVAaI&feature=youtu.be

And don’t forget to cast your vote for inclusive play through L’oreal Paris Women of Worth! Our Founder, Catherine Curry-Williams is one of ten women eligible! Shane’s Inspiration could receive up to $35,000 - contest ends tomorrow.

http://www.lorealparisusa.com/en/women-of-worth.aspx#Catherine-Curry-Williams 

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The View From the Playground: Vote to unite kids and communities through play!

Shane's Inspiration is up for a $100,000 grant through LA is the Best Place To Play!

Please take a  moment and vote for our project: Together, We Play LA!

Here's what we are up to:

Shane's Inspiration will help eliminate bullying by designing/developing 2 fully inclusive playgrounds in South Central Los Angeles, uniting children of all abilities through play. Once open, Shane's Inspiration will implement a city-wide school-based education program expansion that transforms the playgrounds into outdoor classrooms where profound lessons of acceptance and compassion are learned, helping to diminish harmful stereotypes that lead to bullying and exclusion.

Vote and Comment Here:

http://myla2050play2015.maker.good.is/projects/TogetherWePlayLA

Thank you!

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The View from the Playground

How One School is Making Social Inclusion a Priority 

September is a crazy month. Anyone with school-age children in their midst will attest to the flurry that is otherwise known as a school campus: Principals, teachers, and school staff running hard to cover every conceivable base.

That’s why we were so impressed with Grand View Boulevard Elementary, a Los Angeles school that we work with.

With a rich but wildly full schedule, Principal Ortiz has carved out time for one of the most important but often over-looked aspects of a student’s development…socialization.

Studies have indicated that children with disabilities are 65% more likely to be involved in bullying, either as recipients or initiators. While there are a multitude of factors in this, the lack of social inclusion exacerbates this negative cycle, which has ramifications long into teen and adult years.

But between PE, arts, gardening, and the Common Core…who has time to schedule social inclusion?

Mr. Ortiz and his incredible staff do.

Last week, they began to support the interaction between their general and special education classes, pairing the students during recess in small interactive groups. During a 20-minute period that included eating snack and playing interactive games, the students began to see beyond their misconceptions of each other…slowly building social bridges through play.

Here are some snapshots:

During one interactive group game, Carlos reached out to David, who has Down Syndrome and was struggling to weave in and out of the game. He asked David if he could help him, took his hand, and guided him through the obstacles.

Jonathan, a boy with Autism, spent most of his time on the edge of the game, making no eye contact with the others. His only interest was throwing pine cones. Shane’s Inspiration’s staff suggested that Sam join him in throwing pine cones. As soon as Sam tossed his first one, Jonathan looked up into his eyes. From that moment on, they took turns tossing, catching, and engaging.

Julia, after her 20 minutes of play were up, ran up to her teacher and said “I didn’t know they were so fast!” Her perception about her peers in the special ed classroom across campus had changed.

All of these moments are small. All of them will matter if sustained and supported. What a great example of a school actively working to strengthen their social fabric through inclusion!

What are you doing on your school campus? Send us your social inclusion snapshot!!

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I also teach children with special needs. We have yet to implement special session of social inclusion in our school. But every day all special students are given opportunities to play together with their typically developing peers during recess (3 times a day). Thank you for sharing! It could be an example for my school social inclusion session.

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Thanks for posting!!! It is hard to make a part of the day but so worthwhile. We are working with more campuses on this and seeing the kids reaching out to each other in the hallway or seeing kids with typical abilities pop into special ed classrooms just to say hi!

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The View From the Playground

Shane's Inspiration works closely with parents and community members when we design inclusive playgrounds. In fact, more often than not, it is a mother or father who drive the projects, inspiring others to join forces and support the vision of a play space where all kids are welcome.

Trishia and Bob Potts are two such parents, who are creating a playground in Santa Cruz County, where their son Oliver, who uses a wheelchair, will be able to play with his sisters freely.

A Story of Determination and Collaboration

By Noel Smith

It was November 10, 2010 when the final plans for the 4.5-acre Chanticleer Avenue Park in Live Oak were presented to the community. The County’s redevelopment agency had done the work of planning a park that had all the amenities: a dog park, a bike pump track, a skateboard structure a playground, a community garden, picnic areas, trails, parking and lots of open areas. Within six months Governor Brown had put through legislation that disbanded all the redevelopment agencies in the state, taken their funding, and made what had been a solid plan into an impossible dream.

Read more about their story:

http://www.tpgonlinedaily.com/chanticleer-park/