Past projects 7
Special Education Class Essentials
Funded Jan 29, 2025I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who donated to this project! We got it funded in record breaking time for all the projects I have ever created. The supplies will greatly benefit the program here in our classroom and make it so that all students able to access their communication and learning.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Social Skills Game Club
Funded Feb 15, 2023Our Game Club has been underway for a couple of months now. My students have been building relationships with their peers and learning how to engage with them both in the Game Club setting and around campus! Prior to starting Game Club, there was very little interaction between the general education students and students with special needs, even though they were included in many of their classes. Since the start of Game Club, all that has changed. It is exciting to see the students recognize and interact with each other around campus.”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Smoothie Shop Kick-off!
Funded Feb 1, 2023We have opened our Smoothie Shop! It has been up-and-running for about 4 weeks, now, and both staff and students look forward to Smoothie Day. The kids are enjoying learning how to measure and make the smoothies. They also are starting to become great with their customer service, delivering smoothies with a smile. Our return customers are always excited to see their smoothies delivered.
Additionally, we are excited to share that we will be able to fund future projects and classroom needs with the income that is made through the Smoothie Shop. That means that your one-time donation to this project has helped create a reoccurring impact on our classroom!
Thank you so much for helping make this project and life-skills related activity possible!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Assisstive Technology for Our Special, Unique Learners!
Funded Oct 5, 2017I would like to take a moment to share with you how your donations impacted the daily lives of the students in my classroom. The materials purchased with your donation are all considered Assistive Technology. Assistive Technology is any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability. Simply stated, AT allows individuals with disabilities to access the world, where their disability makes it more difficult to do. A basic example of this is how a paraplegic uses a wheel chair to get around. The individual could not be mobile without the wheel chair, so that is the AT used to allow them to access the world.
The materials you helped provide my classroom with range in area from allowing my students to access a compute through modified tools, access books through interactive texts, and access their environment through sensory input materials. The difference I have seen with my students in these activities is incredible! For example, one of my students hated any typing activities. He would show many behaviors when typing was involved in activity because he found it frustrating and time consuming. The standard keyboard we had in class was difficult for him to navigate because he had a hard time processing all the small symbols and letters on it. With the two new, enlarged and simplified keyboards purchased through this project, this student is able to participate in typing activities with very little behaviors!
We have seen so much improvement in multiple different areas for my students with the materials we bought. Thank you so much for your donation to our classroom!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Life Skills Materials
Funded Sep 21, 2016Dear Donors,
I wanted to give you all an update on how this project has changed my classroom and my students' curriculum for the better. To start, as the items came into the classroom and were unpacked and placed around the room, students were immediately interested in the new items. They were curious about all these new materials coming into the room, and they were excited as they were taught to use each piece of equipment. It was a joy to see the students so interested in their new learning materials.
As time has progressed and the kids have had some valuable practice opportunities with the new materials, they have developed their living skills. Even in the short time since this project was fully funded, my students have become more independent with the skills we are teaching. It is so exciting to see the kids being able to complete tasks that will help them become more independent in their lives.
With all that being said, I want thank all of the donors who contributed to this project. It has, and will continue to make a drastic difference for the students in my classroom. We all appreciate your generosity!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Life Skills, Cooking
Funded Jan 25, 2016Within the first week of getting the cooking materials in our classroom, we began implementing the life skills lessons two times a week. We choose one recipe per a week, and practice it twice to gain more and more independence. At the start, we are using the most basic recipes, where students can work on spreading (a challenge in itself!), and using their visual skills to correctly place items to match a picture. Down the line, more complex recipes will be used once the skills in the basic ones have been mastered.
The visual cook books are such a great resource!! The step-by-step nature allows us to work on sequencing of steps and following picture directions. It also allows for my students who are unable to read to participate fully in the activities.
The materials have even opened up some new, unplanned opportunities to learn and expand our students' worlds. As you may or may not know, many kids with autism have some major food aversions. By preparing and eating new foods, we have also been working with our students to try and eat different foods. I know some of my students' parents are especially grateful for this unplanned opportunity! And for those students who have absolutely NO food aversions, cooking time is one of their favorite activities in our weekly schedule. They cannot wait for cooking time!!
Thank you again for all of your generosity and enthusiasm to help expand my students' minds (and pallets!)”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez
Autism Sensory Regulation Materials
Funded Nov 10, 2015Thank you again for your generous donations to our classroom!! The kids have been enjoying the materials and using them frequently.
After opening all the materials, my classroom staff and I quickly set it all up around the room. The students' reactions were nearly immediate!! They are requesting the use of the sensory materials throughout the day and appear to be less agitated as the day continues. They especially love using the weighted blanket and sensory brushes. Many of them like to play peek-a-boo with the blanket. Overall, the things you helped provide for our classroom has encouraged a healthy, light hearted environment for students to learn in.
Thanks again!!!”
With gratitude,
Mrs. Lopez