RISE was started in 1974 to enrich the lives of infants and preschoolers with and without special needs. Through early intervention and early childhood preschool services, children at RISE are equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in a school setting without an exclusively special education. Children at RISE receive music therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy in an inclusive classroom setting. Our team of nurses provides medical services to children in need of them throughout the day. The program includes six classrooms lead by high qualified early childhood education teachers that embed individual therapy goals into daily developmentally appropriate activities. RISE is housed in a state-of-the art early childhood education facility on the campus of The University of Alabama that is unparalleled in design and accommodations to meet the needs of young children with special needs. RISE is a part of the College of Human Environmental Sciences and provides opportunities for university students to experience evidence based research practices in the field of early childhood education and early childhood special education. RISE Center currently serves close to 100 children and their families.
We are seeking funding for Double Bay Swing Set Structure that would include a tumble form net swing and a wheelchair swing as well as two single loop seat swings.
The swings would be arranged so a child with special needs could swing next to a traditional learner. As soon as they reach the outdoor play area, children run or use their wheel chair to play on the swings. It is easy to see right away that not only are they having fun, they are also using their bodies in healthy ways. In fact, they are physically rejuvenating themselves. As they use their muscles actively and breathe deeply while playing, they bring added oxygen to their muscles. All the while, their bodies produce various endorphins that have positive effects on mood and activity level. Swinging allows children that are traditional learners to develop coordinated movements. They practice the movements as they propel themselves on the swings. Children with special needs benefit from swinging too. They might be unable to propel themselves independently but they are using their bodies in healthy ways and experiencing the motion of moving forward and backward. Swinging side by side with a traditional learner allows children with special needs to participate in a beneficial and fun activity on the playground inclusively with their age appropriate peers. The tumble form net swing and wheelchair swing ensure their safety as they engage in swinging.
Our goal is $7,354.
