SPEAK (Special Needs Parents Educators and Kids) of Voorhees is the parent-faculty association for families with children with special needs in the Voorhees Township Public School District. Founded in March 2009, SPEAK addresses issues impacting special needs children living in our community by providing support, encouragement and important information and education for families and others who may be involved in the care of a special needs child.
SPEAK’s mission is to raise general awareness about children with disabilities and special needs while promoting understanding and acceptance within the local region. The group offers enjoyable, specifically-designed social, educational and therapeutic programs and events for adults and children that are interactive, engaging, considerate and relevant.
Since its inception, SPEAK has initiated after-school sports programs, a group swim social event, educational presentations, a Creative Arts and Drama Program and an Annual Abilities Awareness Week.
SPEAK invites the entire community to participate in a week-long celebration of abilities during its Sixth Annual Abilities Awareness Week to be held from April 19 through April 26. SPEAK will offer programs and activities throughout the area and in the schools to promote understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. The 2015 Abilities Awareness Week will raise public awareness of the challenges faced by the disabled in their daily lives.
“This program promotes community awareness and acceptance of the unique abilities that all our children have whether they are atypical or typical,” observes Dominic Luzi, this year’s Abilities Awareness Week Chair. “We reached a five-year high in the number of children entering our school poster contest last year, and the interest at all levels of our local schools continues to climb.” The theme of this year’s school poster contest is “Learning through Differences.”
On Friday night, April 17, SPEAK and Eastern High School’s Success Club are sponsoring a Bingo event for everyone in the school community older than eighth grade level. The event is free of charge and all students will have a chance to win just for attending.
Abilities Awareness Week will approach the finish line on Saturday morning, April 25, with SPEAK’s Fourth Annual All Abilities 5K Run & One Mile Run/Walk/Wheel at Eastern Regional High School. This fundraising event is for both serious and recreational runners. For more information on registration or sponsorship, or if you would like to make a donation, please contact event chair, Jaime Friedman, at allabilities@speaksj.org. All proceeds benefit SPEAK. SPEAK thanks Platinum Sponsor, the Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health (CNNH); Gold Medal Sponsors Jackson Lewis L.P., and M. Rosenblatt Roofing; Bronze Sponsors, NJ American Water, Hardenbergh Insurance and Bowman & Company LLP; and our T-Shirt Sponsors, Friedenthal Financial, the Law Firm of Adinolfi & Lieberman, Republic Bank, Quinn Law Group and Intersolutions.
Additional community programming is in the planning stages. More information, including teaching resources, fundraisers and sponsorship information, is available at SPEAK’s website at www.speaksj.org. Please contact SPEAK if your organization would like to celebrate Abilities Awareness Week.
** Spring Leaf Collection will begin shortly with signs posted at the entrance of each development prior to the scheduled week. Dates for collection are available on Channel 19 for Comcast, Channel 38 for Verizon, on the municipal website at www.voorheesnj.com and on our Voorhees Township Facebook page. Leaf collection is as follows: Tuesday trash day 4/13/15–4/17/15; Wednesday trash day 4/20/15–4/24/15; Thursday trash day 4/27/15–5/1/15; Friday trash day 5/4/15–5/8/15.
** The 7th Annual Community “Run & Walk 4 Family and Friends with Cancer” will be held on Sunday, April 26 at Connolly Park on Centennial Boulevard. Registration begins at 8am and the run starts at 9am Proceeds will benefit the Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients Program at Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Service and Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania. Entry fee is $30 in advance or $35 the day of the event. You can register online at www.w4ff.org. or email at w4ff@gmail.com.
** Voorhees Township will celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 26 from 1pm to 4pm at Eastern Regional High School. Bring the family and enjoy many fun activities. The event is coordinated by the Voorhees Environmental and Cultural Education Foundation (VECEF) along with the Rutgers University Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability.
