Rolling Into Fall! 
September Happenings
Woodland Elementary
Stuents at Rhoda Maxwell Elementary experience everyday tasks while using a wheelchair.
Starting the School Year  with 
Empathy and Inclusion

We are so happy to welcome
Rhoda Maxwell Elementary School
to our list of participating schools.  Rhoda Maxwell is locatied in the city of Woodland which is right outside of Sacramento.  Their PE teacher, Mollie Camacho was introduced to the Wheelchair Foundation and our From the Heart School Program while attending an Elementary PE Workshop at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this past July.  One of the presenters of the workshop was Stephanie Roth, who started our program as part of her role as Service Learning Coordinator at Redwood Day School, located in Oakland.  Mollie shared that during the workshop she had the opportunity of using a wheelchair. She was able to see what it was like to have a physical disability and the experience really had a huge impact on her.  So much so, that she wanted to share this curriculum with her students so as to raise empathy and foster inclusion for those that struggle with mobility issues. She kicked off her school year by reserving wheelchairs for a week which she used during her physical education classes.  She also invited us to her school to talk to the students about mobility issues around the world.  

Her goal moving forward is to expand her efforts next year to include an Abilities Awareness curriculum that the whole school can participate in, to include raising awareness about mulitple disabilities.  This Abilities Awarness curriculum is one that is avialable on our website and developed and designed by educators from SRVUSD.   The link can be accessed as well located below.  Thank you Mollie for taking on our program with such enthusiam.  We are excited about your plans to further expand your efforts.  Congratulations on also raising enough money to provide more than 4 new wheelchairs.  We could not be more appreciative!

More Schools Kick Off with  
From the Heart 


Tassajara Hills Elementry in Danville a long with Donlon Elementary in 
Pleasanton kicked off their school year with an Abiltities Awareness week which included reserving wheelchairs and scheduling a presentation with From the Heart.

Both schools begin their school year with this event to foster empathy and kindness across their school campuses.  We can't think of a better way to promote this message than by exposing the students to learning experiences which have them participating in everyday activities while simulating some type of disability.  Students might try moving through campus in a wheelchair, or play a game while struggling with a vision impairment, or even work on trying to pay attention to someone talking while dealing with diliberate and targeted distractions.  These are all activities outlined in our Abilities Awareness curriculum.

These two schools go on to do a phenomenal job of kicking off several weeks of fundraising to help provide wheelchairs to those in need.  Our efforts this year will include sending wheelchairs to Guatemala.  Already as many as 6 teachers, at these two schools have expressed an interest in joining us for our distribution trip next summer.  It is great to have such passion and excitement building at this time.  

Our own Don Routh, co-founder of From the Heart has begun his campaign at his alma mater,  Skyline High School in Oakland this week.  Each school year they chose to run a year long effort  to raise money for wheelchairs.  They host events on a specific day of the week for the full year and are always our top performing high school.  

Thank you for all of our schools that choose to begin their school year with From the Heart !
                                              
         Rolling into Castro Valley         


After several planning meetings with Parvin Ahmadi, the Superindent of Castro Valley Unified, we are ready to introduce our From the Heart Program to four new schools there this school  year.   Ahmadi, the former superindent of Pleasanton Unified is responsible for introducitng our program there back in 2013-2014.  Because she has first hand knowledge of our foundation along with our school program and because she oversaw its success in Pleasanton; she knew we would be a great fit for Castro Valley.  It was her vision to partner us with a group of Castro Valley High School leaders who currently act as ambassadors to both elementary schools and middle schools in her district.  Several of them will be working with their site administrators to bring our program to life at their respective schools.  We are excited to begin this process and to share with you our successes as they happen.  Thank you Superindent Ahmadi for your vision and for fostering LEADERSHIP along with SERVICE among the young people of your district.  

Check out our New Web Page Design!

All the same content, just easier for you to find what you need.  Please take a look and see how easy it is to design your program for your school. Gather your resources and share with your team in a few quick and easy steps.   Check out our video clips, bibliography arranged by grade levels and other helpful materials.   
We Can't Wait to Schedule 
From the Heart
with your school!
Contact us Today to reserve your spot..
Barbara Bosse| bbosse@wheelchairfoundation.org
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