Local Students Get Special Recognition from Park Lawn

Most middle-school students use video games as a way to delay their homework. Not the National Junior Honor Society students at Mount Greenwood School -- they used the Nintendo Wii as a way to engage Park Lawn developmentally disabled adults into a new way of learning.

The 27 students traveled to Park Lawn twice a week to conduct an activity group with Park Lawn adults, all of whom have some type of developmental or physical disability. Together, the students played games, completed arts and crafts projects, and made pizza and cookies with their Park Lawn friends.

The students were recognized for their help with pins and certificates of appreciation during a cookie party on April 27 at the Park Lawn School and Activity Center, 10833 Laporte Ave.

Each day, the students and participants were split into three stations. One group would play the Nintendo Wii, another would do arts and crafts or games, and the third would be an activity created by the students, such a beanbag game or a painting session. The students have been volunteering since late March and earned service hours from their school.

On Wednesday, Park Lawn marketing and volunteer director Kristen Bonk recognized each student with a pin and certificate of appreciation.

“The volunteer program taught the kids that this population is just like everyone else, even though they have different needs and interests,” Bock said.

“In the beginning, the students were timid, and didn’t know how to interact with the participants. Now, when they come to the center, it is like they are meeting their friends. They have a lot of fun together.”

Seventh-grader Kaitlin Regnier said she learned how to relate to people with disabilities during her time at Park Lawn.

“What I’ve learned is that they’re just like everybody else,” Regnier said.

“They might be a little different; but we can still have fun with them. Today, in a store, there was a handicapped person, and my brothers were scared of her. I told them they didn’t have to be scared of them because they’re nice. If I didn’t have this experience, I would have thought they were scary.”

Susan Rangel, a kindergarten teacher at Mount Greenwood and one of the sponsors of the National Junior Honor Society, said she wanted her students to learn how to care for other people.

“We wanted our students to forge relationships with people within the community,” Rangel said. “We wanted them to build empathy and learn diverse ways to communicate. Here, they are working with people they wouldn’t normally encounter on a daily basis. They learned confidence in who they are and communication skills.”

Diane, one of the participants (her last name is withheld due to confidentiality), said she greatly enjoyed meeting the students.

“We bent straws into the shapes of different animals,” Diane said. “They were called benderoos, and I had never seen them before. Working with the students was fun. It is nice to meet people and give them the experience we have here.”

Paul Jordan, the staff development director for Park Lawn, said he was surprised by the students’ attitudes.

“The kids came in with open minds, open faces, and open smiles,” Jordan said. “Our individuals are so open to meeting new people. They like the excitement that new people bring in. It gives them something to look forward to.”

Jordan said that the program was so beneficial for students and residents that it will continue this fall. Students will visit twice a week, and Park Lawn is implementing a new monthly program called Park Lawn Fun Days, where individuals and groups can volunteer with participants once a month.

For more information on volunteering, contact Kristen Bonk at Park Lawn at kbonk@parklawn.com or call her at 708- 425-3344.