 |
|
|
Share A Vision
Organization helps children with disabilities (and their parents) experience life to the fullest
By Kim McCloskey • Today's Family Writer
It was 2006. Christy LaPaglia was teaching a class of children with autism. As LaPaglia worked to incorporate life experiences into her reading, writing and math lessons, she found an interesting challenge. Her students didn’t have many life experiences.
“The parents were focusing a lot of attention on their child’s educational and physical needs, and not as much on quality of life,” says LaPaglia. “What I found out was that these families needed a lot of support.”
According to LaPaglia and Pam Pachinger, Mentor resident and mom of twins with autism, an evening out, dinner at a restaurant or a simple movie is difficult if not impossible for parents of children with disabilities.
“It’s easy to take spur-of-the-moment outings for granted,” says Pachinger. “There is no spur-of-the-moment for us. We need structure and routine all the time -- it’s hard for people to understand what that means.”
LaPaglia met with the parents and asked them what the most difficult social activity was for them. Having a dinner out was the number one answer. She responded by coaching the kids and providing them with social skills and coping techniques. Her work was so successful it eventually led to a class trip for students and families to Disney World.
“At first, parents laughed at the idea,” says LaPaglia. “I said, ‘Why not, let’s give it a try’. We did a fundraiser and raised enough to take the entire class. There were 32 of us.”
LaPaglia prepared the children for Disney by taking them to the airport to practice going through security and working with them on buckling seat belts, sitting in restaurants and standing in lines. She showed them photos of the hotel they would be staying in and worked to dissolve any anxiety the children or families had about traveling.
It was the first vacation for many of the students in her class. And it was the start of a local organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
According to LaPaglia, Share A Vision began in 1996 as a group that provided housing for individuals with disabilities. LaPaglia re-energized it in 2008, shifting the focus to raising money for activities including vacations, family outings and social groups.
Families or educators apply for grants, Share A Vision reviews the applications and then provides financial support and educational preparation so families get the most from these opportunities. Funds have gone to activities such as music therapy, riding lessons, swimming lessons, summer camps and a family bowling night. Share A Vision has also planned and executed two vacations, both to Florida.
“The money we raise stays in Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Ashtabula counties– and ninety-five percent of it goes directly to families or teachers.”
For Pachinger (now on the board) and other families that have benefitted, the organization is a dream come true.
For LaPaglia, it’s just one part of a much larger purpose.
“Quality of life is such an important component to being an educator who works with the disabled,” she says. “Our kids should be able to experience life to its fullest.”
Share A Vision will be hosting two fundraisers to raise money for 2012 grants and the next trip, scheduled for 2013. March 24, they will host Casino Night and a Chinese Auction at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. “Neil Zirconia” (a Neil Diamond impersonator) will entertain crowds at the Croatian Hall in Eastlake on July 19. Tickets can be ordered for both events at www.shareavision.org. Those that have questions, are interested in attending, or would like to make a donation can go to the website or call 440.840.4539.
 Print this story
Share this story:
Back to Previous Page
|
 |
|
|
|
