Western DuPage

Special Recreation Association

Providing engaging community-based recreational programs and inclusion services for children, teens and adults with special needs.

www.wdsra.com

News You Can Use November 2, 2015

In This Issue

Congratulations Sue Novicki

WDSRA is Hiring NOW

Santa House Reservations

Holiday Shopping for WDSRA

Lekotek Family Play Program

The Peanuts Movie

Autism & Special Needs Seminar

Mobility Expo

COD Autism Seminar

Catch WDSRA in the News!

Naperville Jaycees Supports WDSRA

Naperville Jaycess Donates to WDSRA

Garden Plots Benefit Non Profits

Looking for Fun and Adventure in Your Job?

COD Football Team to Recognize WDSRA Athletes

WDSRA Athletes Pump Iron with COD Gridders

COD Athlete of the Week

Help Us Raise $20,000 on Giving Tuesday, December 1, 2015!

Giving Tuesday save the date

Details coming soon!

Tweet Us @WeAreWDSRA

You can now get all the latest updates on programs, events, staffing and more at @WeAreWDSRA!

Did you miss the #teamwdsra campaign on Facebook and Twitter? It's not to late to learn more about the fun side of the WDSRA staff.

Just head on over to Facebook or check out #teamwdsra on Twitter.

COD Football Welcomes WDSRA Athletes!

crowd of athletes 2

WDSRA at COD 2

Interviewed by COD tv

WDSRA at COD

On the field with COD

Crowd of athletes

fans in the stand

Find more photos on Facebook!

Shopping Helps WDSRA!

Shopping online?

Log on through

smile.amazon.com
or fundinco.org.

Both will make a donation back to WDSRA. Be sure to choose WDSRA as your charity.

Spread the News!

Know someone who might benefit from WDSRA programs and services? Invite them to view the WDSRA video here.

Hear why one parent calls WDSRA 'exceptional and rare'.

News You Can Use Archive

Looking for something you saw in a past News You Can Use? Visit our archive at

www.wdsra.com.

WDSRA on WONC!

Catch us LIVE on WONC FM89.1 Tues at 4:30pm.

Follow Us

Congratulations Sue Novicki...

2015 Linda Barnes Memorial Award Recipient

A well deserved congratulations went to Sue Novicki for her unwavering support of and dedication to Special Olympics athletes here at WDSRA. Sue has been a dedicated coach for, among other sports, swimming and gymnastics for years. Since that very first day when she and son Rob walked into WDSRA, Sue has been an active parent always going above and beyond to make sure that all participants are learning, growing and enjoying themselves through WDSRA programs.

Thank you and congratulations Sue!

Looking for a Job with Fun & Adventure?

Join the WDSRA family as a program volunteer, part time staff, or inclusion support staff.

With WDSRA:

Create your own schedule with flexible hours
Choose to work weekends, evenings, daytime, or any combination
Perfect for anyone with a few hours a week to spare
Commitment is by season so you can change it as needed
Experience a plus but not necessary, we will train
Starting pay: $8.50-$15.00

We are hiring immediately for holiday, winter and summer programs. To start the process, go to www.wdsra.com to fill out an application. You can also call us at 630-681-0962.

Make Your Santa House Special Needs Night Reservations NOW!

The reservation line is OPEN! Be sure to get your reservations for the Naperville Park District's Santa
House in early. Dates and times fill up fast.

Games, crafts and

snacks make for a delightful experience while you wait for your turn to visit Santa. Bring the whole family! Inclusion services provided by WDSRA.

Santa House Special Needs Night
Tues. 12/1, Wed. 12/2, Thurs. 12/3
5-8pm
Naperville Riverwalk, Jackson Ave. & Webster St.
Reservations are required

Make your reservations today at Naperville Parks Santa House For assistance call 630-848-5000.

Congratulations Wheaton Park District!

The Wheaton Park District (one of our founding partners) recently won an award for Best Partnership, honoring the District's cooperation with the Play For All Playground & Garden Initiative! The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) presented the award.

Learn more about the Sensory Garden Playground at Play for All DuPage.

Holiday Shopping Online?

Shop online for WDSRA

Here is an easy way to help WDSRA while you shop.

Simply log in through smile.amazon.com or fundinco.org.
Select WDSRA as your charity.
SHOP!

Both will make a contribution based on your purchase to WDSRA. There is no additional cost to you. So...if you need an excuse to shop...this is it!

Featured Program

Can Lekotek Help Your Family?

Is your child not quite meeting the traditional milestones
Does your child have a slight to severe delay in one or more areas of their development
Has your child been diagnosed with a special need
Perhaps they don't have a diagnosis but need some extra help to reach their goals

Lekotek can help! Lekotek is the family centered play program designed to help families in the development of the very youngest children with special needs from birth to 8 years old. Cognitive, physical, communicative or sensory limitations all may block the engagement inherent to play for a child with special needs. And since play is the way that very young children learn, play is key.

Through Lekotek purposeful play sessions, you'll get guidance on how to get on their level, engage with them and how to encourage siblings to play together. With Lekotek, families take part in private, customized therapeutic play sessions where they receive the guidance and confidence they need to play together and help meet those milestones through play. In addition, the toy lending library lets families continue the learning by taking home the same toys they use in each play session.

Learn more by contacting Dayell at dayellh@wdsra.com or 630-681-0962 ext552.

Community Partners

Special Needs Screening--The Peanuts Movie

Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved "Peanuts" gang make their big-screen debut in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world's most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron.

The Peanuts Movie

Saturday, 11/4 at 11am

Studio Movie Grill (SMG)
301 Rice Lake Square, Wheaton

Special needs children & their siblings are FREE. All other guests are $6/ticket.

We are pleased to sponsor this private screening as part of our partnership with www.studiomoviegrill.com. The SMG Special Needs Screenings for children with special needs and their siblings features family-friendly movies. Movies are shown with the lights up, the volume lowered and children are free to move around, talk or even dance in the aisles during the movie. Plus, order any menu item marked with the SMG Chefs for Charity badge and SMG will donate 5% of the proceeds to WDSRA.

Autism & Special Needs Seminar

Expert speakers and more than 35 vendors with tables displaying products and

services will be at Family Time Magazine's annual Autism & Special Needs Seminar. Parents can get insights and answers on topics they have been searching for.

Topics covered by the speakers include:

Autism and sexuality
Early education
Nutrition
ASD research
Fitness
And transitioning into adulthood

Autism & Special Needs Seminar

Saturday, November 14

9am-6pm
Moraine Valley Community College
9000 West College Parkway, Building M, Palos Hills

Complete details at autismspecialneedsseminar.com

Mobility Expo Comes to Chicago

Looking for transportation solutions? Head on over to the Mobilty Expo. They are bringing together a personal wellness advocates, mobility experts and transportation solutions under one roof.

Featuring guest speaker Bryn Anderson, a triple amputee from the Iraq war, with a message that will inspire and entertain.

Mobility Expo
Saturday, November 14

10am-4pm

Tinley Park Convention Center
18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park

Complete details at www.mobilityworks.com .

COD Autism Expert Speaker

As part of the College of DuPage's Autism Expert Speakers Series, their final session takes a look at how teachers can plan for students with Autism.

Speakers will explore how educators can best plan for autistic students in their classrooms, the various ways that autism impacts a student--learning-socially, communicatively, among other impacts--and discuss teaching strategies that benefit all learners.

Monday, November 16th
7pm
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn

Complete details at COD Autism Expert Speaker Series .

WDSRA is committed to providing quality recreational programs, dedicated and trained staff, specialized equipment, and much needed scholarships. Your support provides the financial support needed to ensure that the cost of programs remains affordable throughout the year.

Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA)

116 N. Schmale Road, Carol Stream, IL 60188-2103

P: 630-681-0962 | F: 630-681-1262 |