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 Annual Abilities Awareness Week to be held from April 16 through April 22. SPEAK will offer programs and activities throughout the area and in the schools to promote understanding and acceptance of individuals with disabilities. The 2016 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 six-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 “Inclusion-actions that set a positive example.”
On April 16 SPEAK will hold its 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 Jaime.friedman@icloud.com. All proceeds benefit SPEAK.
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 has begun. 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 4/11/16–4/15/16; Wednesday trash day 4/18/16–4/22/16; Thursday trash day 4/25/16–4/29/16; Friday trash day 5/2/16–5/6/16.
** The 8th Annual Community “Walk 4 Family & Friends with Cancer” will be held on Sunday, April 17 at 8 a.m. at the Voorhees Middle School, 1000 Holly Oak Dr. Proceeds will benefit the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania and the Samost Jewish Family and Children’s Service (JFCS) of Southern New Jersey Financial Assistance for Cancer Patients Program which provides financial assistance for local families affected by cancer.
** The Voorhees Township Police Foundation is hosting its “1st Annual Car Show” on Saturday, April, 30 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Carmike Cinemas Ritz 16 (rear parking lot) 900 Haddonfield-Berlin Rd. This event will help the Police Foundation with the purchase of police canine bullet proof vests and to create a Memorial Garden at Police Headquarters to honor all first responders and the military.
