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Afterschool Club Open House October 21 – Lake Villa

By on October 14, 2013 in Lifestyle, Other Relationships, Recreation, Social Life, Special Event

LCCIL After School FlyerHigh School and transition students with disabilities have a special invitation to attend an Open House on Monday, October 21, 2013 at Camp Peacock in Lake Villa.   The Open House is to promote a new “Afterschool Club” that is sponsored  by the Lake County Center for Independent Living and the Lake Villa Township.  The Open House will take place at from 3:30-6pm.  RSVPs are encouraged.

The “Afterschool Club” will emphasize leadership, employment readiness and self-advocacy.  Anyone with an interest in helping advance young people with disabilities should attend (parents, teachers, service providers, etc.)

Getting to the event:   Camp Peacock is off Deep Lake Road, north of Grand Avenue, on Crooked Lake.    (See map below.)  Information on transportation, including use of the Northwest Demonstration Project buses is available from the LCCIL. Call Allison at 847-949-4440 allison@lccil.org.

Camp Peacock used to be a summer camp targeted at young people with disabilities. (Read Chicago Tribune article here.)  It stopped operating some years ago and was recently purchased by the Lake Villa Township.  (Read the NewsSun article here.)

 

Peacock Camp

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Handicap This! Performers, Educators, Entrepreneurs

By on July 31, 2013 in Education, Recreation, Relationships, Special Event, Spotlight

HTP-HOMEbar-POSTERHandicap This! may have started as a fun and educational enterprise for Mike Berkson and Tim Wambach, but it has grown into a thriving business.  The core business is a constantly-evolving show called “Handicap This!”.  It is a  funny, poignant and bawdy telling of the story of their friendship –  Mike has Cerebral Palsy and Tim was first hired as his assistant over a decade ago.  Their relationship grew and now they create a “Judgment  Not Allowed” zone during every show that educates and opens minds with facts, tales and heart.  They tell a story of human potential, using themselves as examples.

And apparently the business potential for Handicap This! is very great.  With three employees now, revenues tripled in 2013 and the company keeps growing.  They have performed for over 30,000 people in 10 states since debuting the show in 2010.  They are increasingly called upon as motivational speakers in a variety of settings.   Big users of social media, their facebook page has over 14,000 followers and offers unfailingly positive posts about life.  Handicap This! also has produced a series of 13 web episodes with more on the way.  You can watch the trailer here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UX0ttDKUhs&feature=player_embedded

Like many businesses, they want to give back to their community.  Not surprisingly, they have created a foundation called Keep On Keeping On that has assisted 80 clients with the “high cost of living with physical disability” since 2007.

You can catch Handicap This! at the HOME Bar in Arlington Heights on September 5.  Admission is $15 online, $20 at the door.  Contact Tim to book an event.  Tim@handicapthis.com

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Disability Pride Parade: Get on the LCCIL Bus!

By on July 15, 2013 in Lifestyle, Other, Post Transition, Recreation, Relationships, Social Life, Special Event, Uncategorized

general parade logoExcitement is growing for the 10th Annual Disability Pride Parade in downtown Chicago.  Activities begin at 9am and the parade starts at 11.  There will be booths, entertainment and presentations.  Lake County-ers who want to attend the Parade can take the bus sponsored by the Lake County Center for Independent Living.  The bus leaves the LCCIL office at 8 and will return about 3.  To reserve your spot contact Matt at 847-949-4440, ext. 215, email:  matt@lccil.org

Are you wondering about the parade itself?  According to the event website:

The overall mission of the Disability Pride Parade is:

  • To change the way people think about and define “disability”;
  • To break down and end the internalized shame among people with Disabilities; and
  • To promote the belief in society that Disability is a natural and beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with Disabilities can take pride.

Visit the website at: http://www.disabilityprideparade.com/index.php.  

 

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iPADS & Autism Apps Workshop: June 29

By on June 19, 2013 in Education, Special Event

little cityLittle City is offering an iPAD workshop on Saturday, June 29, 2013 at their Day School at 1760 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine.  There will be training in  five developmental apps:  speech and language, matching and sorting, academics, fine motor skills and emotions.    Attendees will receive a resource list of iPAD apps.    There will be a continental breakfast, raffles, and a tour of the Day School.   Registration is online.  A donation of $10 is suggested at the event.  For more information contact:  Sally Blake, sblake@littlecity.org, 847.221.7831.

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Day at the Lake, 2013 — June 23 and July 28

By on June 18, 2013 in Faith Based, Lifestyle, Recreation, Social Life, Special Event

day_at_the_lake_2013Individuals with special needs and their families are invited to spend a  “Day at the Lake”  on June 23 and July 29.   The event runs from 11am to 5pm  and is at Lake Como, just north of Lake Geneva in Wisconsin. The event is sponsored by a few members of  Willow Creek Community Church.  This event is free of charge, but registration is requested as spaces fill up quickly.

The event will feature swimming, boating, fellowship, food and fun!  Families are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and fishing poles in addition to the usual suits, towels and sunscreen.   TheNemoNews has heard that this is a *FUN* event as well as a chance to meet other families.

To register for a Day at the Lake contact Trudy at 847-855-9571 or email rcapoccion@aol.com

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Stepping Out for Parkinson’s — June 9

By on June 5, 2013 in Recreation, Special Event

Fun Walk

Fund Raiser for Parkinson’s

The Stepping Out for Parkinson’s Fun Walk will take place at Nippersink Forest Preserve on Sunday, June 9.  It features a 1.5 mile walk, run, wheel beginning at 11:30am.  (Packet pick up is at 11.)  The event also features volleyball, a bean toss and a raffle.  There are over 89 gift baskets so far.

The event benefits Focus on a Cure whose mission is raising awareness, increasing education and providing support to patients and family members who live with Parkinson’s disease.  This event was founded by Jodi Mara, a local woman affected by Parkinson’s.  This is the second year of the event in Lake County.

For more information about the Fun Walk, contact Jodi at 847-373-8320 or Barb at 847-970-8422.  Email them at sofpd@yahoo.com

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Entrepreneurial Jump Start on Saturday, June 8, 2013

By on June 4, 2013 in Education, Employment, Employment, Post Transition, Relationships, Special Event

JumpStart_FlyerChicagoland entrepreneurs (and wanna-bees) with Disabilities will gather this Saturday, June 8 for a day of education, networking and information.  Titled the “Entrepreneurial Jump Start” it will take place downtown at the Illinois Center for Rehabilitation and Education  (ICRE), 1950 W Roosevelt from 10am – 5pm, near UIC.

The fair will feature workshops, success stories, panels, booths and vendors.  In addition, it will mark the grand re-opening of their Artfully Gifted Retail Center — an consignment outlet for qualified business owners.

TheNemoNews recently toured the ICRE operation and was impressed by the vision and implementation of their goals and operations to promote entrepreneurship among those with disabilities.

For more information about the Entrepreneurial Jump Start contact Therese Manderino, Superintendent of the ICRE at  therese.manderino@illinois.gov, 312-433-3121.

 

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SO Torch Run in Lake County June 9

By on May 30, 2013 in Lifestyle, Other, Recreation, Relationships, Social Life, Special Event

COLOR-IL-TORCH-RUN-jpgOver 100 Law Enforcement Officers will be carrying the Special Olympics Torch through Lake County on Sunday, June 9.  There are several “legs” to the run and it is likely the officers will be running somewhere near you.  Check with your local police department to see if/when you can cheer them on. The routes start at various places near the state line with Wisconsin around 6am.  They are detailed below.

These runs are part of 23 similar Torch Runs that begin in various places around the state (East St. Louis, Quincy, etc.)  All 23 segments will join up at the Opening Ceremonies are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, June 14 at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a year round activity that has raised nearly $28 million over the last 27 years to support Special Olympics activities.   They aim to raise $3M this year.  For more information about the Torch Run visit the Special Olympics Illinois website, or visit this link   http://s162186.gridserver.com/law-enforcement-torch-run/

BTW — If you need a donut on May 31, stop by Cops on the Roof fundraiser held at these area Dunkin Donuts!  http://www.soill.org/dunkin-donuts-cop-on-rooftop/

Supporters are invited to line the course and cheer for the torch bearers
as they show their support for the Special Olympics Summer Games.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run in Lake County details follow with itineraries and maps:

The Gurnee Route begins at the Six Flags Employee Entrance on Grand and Milwaukee at 6:15am  and proceeds down Rt 21 to Dempster.  From there, it meets other legs in Proesel Park in Lincolnwood.  The Libertyville Stars Swim Team invites others to join them in front of the Baker’s Square on Milwaukee (21) and Greentree.  The torch runners are expected to pass by between 7-8am.

The Sheridan Road Route  begins at 6am at Sheridan Road and 128th in Winthrop Harbor for the first segment.   They will run along Sheridan Road until they arrive in Lake Forest around 8:30.  Then they will follow Green Bay Road to Evanston and conclude in Lincolnwood around noon.  In Lincolnwood, they will meet up with runners on another leg of the Torch Run.

The Hwy 83 Route begins in Antioch at 6am.   It goes through Lake Villa, Round Lake, Grayslake, and Wauconda.  The route takes Hwy 83 to Hwy 120 to Fairfield to Chardon and ends at the Wauconda Police Department around 9: 25am.

 

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SEDOL Honors Graduates

By on May 24, 2013 in Education, Special Event

Student BlurredIt was an evening of laughter and tears as over 40 young people were recognized at the Annual SEDOL Community Life Skills Program Recognition Night.   Each student had the opportunity to address the packed audience.   A slide with their photograph and “farewell address” was projected on the stage  as they spoke.   Each of them was moving on to a new phase of life.  Many had “aged out” of the program during the preceding year.   It was a joyous and moving program.

Audience BlurredFor the first time this year, three students received the Dennis Lackie Employment Readiness Award.  This award was named after former job coach Dennis Lackie and is funded by his Memorial Fund.  He was known among students and colleagues for being “all business” as he helped students achieve their goals.  The awardees were selected by transition staff based on several criteria:  appropriate social skills, readiness to work, the ability to  independently manage transportation and successful completion of vocational training.  It is expected that this award will continue  in the coming years.

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‘Tis the Season: Walk, Run and Wheel for Charity

By on May 6, 2013 in Lifestyle, Special Event

There are about 15 weekends every summer that can be used for outdoors fundraising events that benefit the disability community.  These include fairs, 5Ks and more.   These events are wonderful community builders as they raise vital funds for programs.   TheNemoNews is creating a ‘master list’ of summer events, so that any supporter, athlete or outdoors person can easily find a way to  have fun and do good in our area.

To get on the list, fill out the following form:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8T66BQ3

If you have questions, contact mary@thenemonews.com.

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