During my time at the Center for Enrichment, I came just as they were finishing lunch. I helped my friend Victoria make ornaments out of Perler beads, the ones you iron to stick together. I made her a tree topper, and she took it showing all her direct support professionals what I made her
During my time at the Center for Enrichment, I played games outside with friends and then went inside to help pass out their afternoon snack. I also colored with a friend and helped her with breathing exercises to stay calm.
I enjoyed serving at the Arkansas Support Network trunk or treat. It was fun setting up and talking to the other volunteers with trunks. I also enjoyed interacting with families, children, and adults with special needs. I loved handing out candy and seeing all the costumes.
I spent time preparing for the trunk and treat by hand-painting a gingerbread house for my Candy Land-themed trunk, I made a balloon banner wrapped in cellophane, and I made a gingerbread man.
I attended the Center for Enrichment with the Arkansas Support Network. I walked in and was welcomed by many new faces, and began to help my new friend Leroy sort pumpkin seeds out of the pumpkin guts. Many of the individuals with special needs came up to me and introduced themselves; they were all very kind. After sorting pumpkin seeds, I went and sat with my friend Barbie. She told me her story and asked me many questions about my life and my family. I helped everyone get settled with their lunch and then went and sat with Matt. We bonded over the fact that he had been to Camp Barnabas for the first time this past summer, a camp for people with disabilities that I worked at for a few summers. I am blessed by being able to spend a lot of time with people with special needs in various settings, but I don't get to work with older individuals as often as I would like, so it was fulfilling to befriend these individuals that the Center for Enrichment serves. I also felt very comfortable almost immediately when I started serving, largely because of how welcoming everyone was.
I was excited about the opportunity to go to Walmart and shop for resources to create a trunk and treat station that is accessible to all individuals the Arkansas support network serves. I chose the theme Candy Land, so I was in search of colorful paper and balloons to bring that vision to life. I got clear plastic wrap to wrap the balloons, making them look like little candies. I also got a back of colorful card stock to make the Candy Land steps leading up to my car. I also got a large roll of paper to paint a Candy Land-themed banner. It was so fun and humbling to shop fully to create an experience for other people, and transformative to think in a way that I was making something fully accessible and accommodating to all people.
When planning my trunk or treat, I wanted to approach it in a way that is affordable and resourceful. My goal for going out thrifting was to find a cheap costume that could help me decide on my theme for my trunk or treat. I went to Potter's house and Goodwill. At potters house, I found a giant piece of cake, costume with colorful sprinkles covering it and it was only $4. I decided immediately that I should do a Candy Land theme, and I also found other resources to help bring this theme to life.
I planned the entirety of my project to bring my trunk and treat station to life. I spent time researching and coming up with adaptive, inclusive games that can be played by everyone. I budgeted and thought of different themes that would fit the interests of individuals with special needs whom I have worked with. This took a lot more time than I expected, just in planning multiple themes, figuring out materials, and how all the decor will work together. I learned that it is not hard to make activities inclusive and adaptive for all people to have the ability to play and participate.
