You're on track to get doubled donations (and unlock a reward for the colleague who referred you). Keep up the great work!
Take credit for your charitable giving! Check out your tax receipts
Donate
To use your $50 gift card credits, find a project to fund and we'll automatically apply your credits at checkout. Find a classroom project
Skip to main content

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

See this teacher's page

This teacher needs your help!

Mrs. Wassilak from Michigan City, IN is requesting professional development through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mrs. Wassilak is requesting
Professional development

Providing Alternative Communication for All Students.

I need assistance to attend a conference that will benefit all the special kids in our school district so that they may be able to communicate successfully through a variety of means.

  • $394 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Wassilak for her next project!

Help Mrs. Wassilak

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mrs. Wassilak for her next project!

My Students

I am a physical therapist working for a school district with its own special education department. The city I work in is depressed and some schools in our district have over 75% of students receiving free and reduced lunch. My students face many obstacles in going to school which go beyond their disabilities including poverty and lack of stability. They have great physical, communication, sensory, and emotional needs. My students have many different special needs including assistance with motor control, feeding, communication, toileting.

My students get so excited when given opportunities to interact with their school peers and environment.

They are thrilled when able to communicate their needs and wants and ideas. They are ecstatic when they can play on the playground like their normal developing peers.

The students present with many different diagnoses including cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, Autism, ADD/ADHD, Duchenne's muscular dystrophy, cognitive delays, and many more. Many students use special equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, orthotics, assistive technology in order to fully participate and engage in school. I really love what I do and it gives me great joy when my students are able to gain independence when given the right tools.

My Project

In November, I would like to join many dedicated educators who are focused on ensuring that every student has access to the curriculum through equitable access. We will come together at Access to Education 2017.

Sessions will be designed around the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, Accessible Educational Materials (AEM) and accessing the general curricula.

This conference will allow me to gain a wealth of knowledge to instruct children and their teachers to communicate at their greatest potential. I will learn numerous techniques, strategies, and the latest technology available to assist students, teachers, parents, and staff to help the children communicate at the highest level possible. This course will help all students even those who are unable to communicate the most simple of needs and wants.

Mrs. Wassilak Joy Elementary School Grades PreK-2

Equity Focus

At this school, more than 50% of students are Black, Latino, and/or Native American, and more than 50% come from low-income households. Learn how your donation to this school supports a more equitable education.

This project will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

More about Mrs. Wassilak

Michigan City, IN View local requests

More than three‑quarters of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

50 students impacted 5donors

Boost your odds

Add a profile photo in addition to your classroom photo. If you add a photo, it'll show up right here on your project page.

You are more likely to receive funding if you put a face to your name.

Upload a photo

Top rated for efficiency and transparency.

You donate directly to the teacher or project you care about and see where every dollar you give goes.

Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Wassilak is requesting.

See our finances

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Component Company Total
Lodging PATINS $100.00
Activity PATINS $200.00

Trip cost

$300.00

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$4.50

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$334.50

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$59.03

Total project goal

$393.53

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $393.53

2 Donors

-$387.35

Donations toward project cost

-$334.50

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$52.85

Excluded support for DonorsChoose

-$6.18

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

View complete list Show less

Give the most requested basic supplies

See teacher requests

Give back to your community

Find opportunities to impact local needs by exploring a map of classroom projects near you.

See local area

Project Activity

Project Activity
Back to top

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Wassilak and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works
{"pmaHash":"","showProjectRecommendations":true,"leadGenEnabled":true,"hideTeacherDetails":false,"schoolState":"IN","teacherPossessivePronoun":"her","PMsManager":null,"schoolGradeType":{"id":1,"name":"Early Education"},"TeacherPMForms":{},"completingDonationAmount":0,"teacherHasClassroomPhoto":true,"proposalURL":"https://www.donorschoose.org/project/providing-alternative-communication-for/2750772/","mayHaveReplacements":false,"numStudents":50,"teacherScreenName":"Mrs. Wassilak","isEquityFocus":true,"proposalHash":"696929253","isApplePayMobileOnly":true,"progressBarPercentage":100.00,"photosPublished":true,"queryString":"","DonorPMForm":null,"schoolCity":"Michigan City","teachersOnPage":[4738586],"isTeacherViewingTheirOwnProject":false,"minimizedLeadGenEnabled":false,"proposalId":2750772,"proposalMessageFormModel":null,"numActiveProjects":0,"verifyShowPhotos":"","eligibleToBeCopied":false,"authorIds":{"4738586":{"owner":"Mrs. Wassilak","donationSalutations":{}}},"displayedPercentFunded":1.0,"proposalsOnPage":[2750772],"pmaId":"","teacherProfilePhotoURL":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4738586_272x272.png?width=136&height=136&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1504982045293","teacherHasProfilePhoto":true,"currentWorkflowStatusCode":21,"teacherChallengeId":20992900,"isApplePayEnabled":true,"fundedByTarget":false,"activeProject":null,"donorIdsForImpactPhotoCheck":["MjUwODg2NQ==","NDczODU4Ng=="],"teacherId":4738586,"schoolCounty":"La Porte","fullyFunded":true,"isStudentLed":false,"isExpired":true,"schoolStateObj":{"code":"IN","name":"Indiana"}}