Happy Holidays!

4 Ways to Support the NSSED Foundation

this Holiday Season!

1. Make a General Donation

Your contribution to the NSSED Foundation directly touches the lives of students with special needs and their families. This past year donations have been used to fund a variety of worthwhile projects including...

iPads for Early Childhood, Education & Life Skills and Transition Programs and North Shore Academy. Interactive technology is a priority for NSSED and the Foundation is happy to supplement those efforts. iTechnology can open up new worlds of possibilities and help level the academic playing field for many students. Increases in independence, student participation and communication are just a few of the benefits of this valuable classroom tool.

Musical Instruments for North Shore Academy-Elementary students.

You can't have a music class without instruments so the Foundation purchased 84 hand-held instruments for music classes at NSA-E. "Having these instruments has really made a world of difference in the lives of our students", says Teacher Erik Juhl. "They love them all, but their favorite is the boomwhackers!"

Community Grant to JJ's List. The Foundation is proud to support local organization's efforts to expand opportunities for individuals with special needs. A Community Grant was awarded to JJ's List for the purchase of two much-needed computers. Used for training individuals with disabilities, the computers help build essential employment and self-advocacy skills.

PlayFair Disability Awareness Teams

In partnership with the NSSED Foundation, Caruso Middle School in Deerfield is offering an extra curricular school group for students with and without disabilities. The group or PlayFair Team creates their own music, play, or other form of expression to communicate a message of acceptance. The PlayFair Team will perform for their peers and the community; giving creative voice to the message of inclusion, disability and social justice.

2. Donate to a Scholarship

For the past eight years the NSSED Foundation has been awarding college scholarships to graduating high school students wishing to further their education as well as those interested in pursuing a degree in special education with the Kinnett Scholarships for College/Further Education. This year the Foundation launched the Maggy Miller Vocational Scholarship to provide meaningful job training and the Bill Charis Educator Felllowship to enrich employment experiences for young educators.

3. Purchase heART of NSSED Notecards

These bright and colorful notecards feature the beautiful artwork of NSSED students. Printed on high-quality paper the cards are blank inside and come in paks of 10 different designs. They're the perfect holiday card and great way to say "thank you" to that special teacher or friend. To order click here.

4. Volunteer Your Time

Volunteers in Partnership or VIP is a new initiative from NSSED to provide opportunities to volunteer in the classroom, community, office and at special events.

For more information, visit the NSSED website or email volunteer@nssed.org.

Evelyn Baban of Henking School in Glenview enthusiastically explores the classroom's new iPad.

North Shore Academy- Elementary students enjoy making music with their colorful (and loud!) boomwhackers provided by the NSSED Foundation.

Young adults work on developing self-advocacy and employment skills on computers funded with a Community Grant to

JJ's List.

PlayFair Disability Community Mentor Jessica Martin meets with the PlayFair Team at Caruso Middle School in Deerfield.

Recipients of the 2011 Kinnett Scholarships for College/Further Education pose

along side Kinnett family representative Jim Smith and Foundation President Jann Greenberg.

Notecard Anthony

NSSED Notecards Just $30!

Thank you in advance for your

generous consideration.

Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season!

For more information about these or any activities of the NSSED Foundation, please contact
Julie Becker at jabecker@nssedfoundation.org or visit www.nssedfoundation.org

The Northern Suburban Special Education District (NSSED) Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for thousands of students with disabilities and their families attending the 65 public schools in the northern suburbs of Chicago. We advocate for new programs and services that are beyond the scope and budget of NSSED and the public schools. The NSSED Foundation relies solely on tax-deductible donations and no funds are received from local school districts or NSSED.