| THE FACTS According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Bureau of Special Education, there are 5.8 million children nationally who live with a disability and are between the ages of 6-21 . Children with disabilities have increased health concerns and susceptibility to secondary conditions as they continue to age. Early involvement in some form activity in the community is vital to child health, development and important steps toward enhancing the quality of life for children with disabilities. When recreation and leisure activities are pursued in community-based settings children with disabilities develop friendships among individuals with diverse abilities. Children with disabilities want to have friends, enjoy activities, have a break from parents and be included like everyone else. OUR PROGRAM Our program will provide children with disabilities, specifically children with mental retardation and Down Syndrome an opportunity to participate in a sport activity such as cheerleading. Currently, we offer cheerleading programs for typical children, adolescents and young adults; however, the program does not provide children with disabilities an opportunity to participate in cheerleading. It is our belief that children with disabilities have limited opportunities to participate in sports and are often isolated and demonstrate a decrease in self-esteem. Through a cheerleading program, children with disabilities will engage in opportunities to socialize, increase their self-esteem and increase their general health and well being. Children with disabilities require excitement, social interactions, and support to increase their overall quality of life and this program will meet this need The special needs cheerleading team will be for children with mental retardation and Down Syndrome among the ages of 8-17. The special needs cheerleading team will provide children opportunities to socialize and meet other children with and without disabilities. Specifically, the program will provide a safe environment in which children with disabilities can feel secure about themselves in order to increase social interactions, self-esteem and overall self-worth. The program will also provide the parents with an opportunity to meet and to network with other parents. The special needs cheerleading team will run for roughly for 6 months and meet once a week. Approximately 10 children will participate on the team. The group will be co-lead by an occupational therapy student, an assistant coach and volunteer cheerleaders. Each child will be paired with a volunteer cheerleader who is already a cheerleader at LCI. The volunteer cheerleader will serve as model for the child with a disability to learn basic cheerleading skills. The occupational therapist will develop adaptation and strategies to help the children to be more successful in participating in cheerleading. In addition, the occupational therapist will bring expertise in group dynamics that will help to facilitate active participation within the group. The assistant coach will provide expertise in cheerleading skill building. Participants and their parents will be asked to complete a survey before and at the end of the program. The survey will be designed to assess the effectiveness of the program to ensure that the children's needs are being met. We strive to integrate life lessons into our practices and competitions. Respect, communication, good sportsmanship, dedication, and commitment are values that are at the core of our organization. We are Liberty Cheer Institute the home of the Blue Devils All-Stars and we would like to share our full- service gym and staff with a team for the special needs child. Amanda M. Kingsland, OTS - Looking forward to fun filled experience for all involved!
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