Mikaylas Voice

CHALLENGE KIDS TO CREATE A KINDER WORLD WHERE EVERYONE HAS A FRIEND. MIKAYLA'S VOICE UNIQUE SCHOOL- AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS ALLOW KIDS TO ENJOY AND DEMONSTRATE SUCCESSFUL INCLUSION AS THEY WORK AND PLAY TOGETHER. DESIGNED TO SHOWCASE CHILDREN'S TALENT AND CREATIVITY, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING IN EDUCATION, THE ARTS, AND SPORTS AND RECREATION GIVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND CREATE CULTURAL CHANGE BY PROVING INCLUSION IS POSSIBLE IN ALL ASPECTS OF LIFE.

"WHEELS OF FRIENDSHIP" - IN THIS UNIQUE PROGRAM DEVELOPED AND COORDINATED BY MIKAYLA'S VOICE, CHILDREN PAINT NOT WITH BRUSHES, BUT WITH THE WHEELS OF A WHEELCHAIR (OR WALKER) AND THE PAWS (AND TAIL) OF A SERVICE DOG. HAVING STARTED WITH A FOCUS ON THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES, THE PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO REPRESENT ADDITIONAL DISABILITIES. PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN THEIR SCHOOL, WHEELS OF FRIENDSHIP STUDENT ARTWORK HELPS BUILD POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE, LIMIT BULLYING, AND PROMOTE KINDNESS. WHEN SCHOOLS CLOSED, MIKAYLA'S VOICE CREATED A HOME-BASED ALTERNATIVE SO GROUPS OF STUDENTS COULD WORK TOGETHER EVEN AS THEY WERE APART. DESIGNED AS A PART OF A LARGER COLLABORATIVE ARTWORK, STUDENTS CREATE THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL CANVASES AT HOME, AND WHEN THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL THEIR ART COMES TOGETHER AS WELL. MIKAYLA'S VOICE SUPPLIES 24 INDIVIDUAL ART "KITS, AND FACILITATES A LIVE VIRTUAL GROUP ART LESSON. A VIDEO TUTORIAL LINK IS ALSO PROVIDED SO INSTRUCTION CAN BE REVISITED, IF NECESSARY. FINALLY, WRITTEN DIRECTIONS, INCLUDING PHOTOS, MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR STUDENTS WITHOUT COMPUTER OR INTERNET ACCESS TO PARTICIPATE AS WELL.

"LET'S PUT INCLUSION TOGETHER" - WE BEGIN K-12 SCHOOL-WIDE INCLUSION ASSEMBLIES BY SHARING THE BOOK OUR FRIEND MIKAYLA, AND ARE JOINED BY A CO-PRESENTER (STUDENT OR YOUNG ADULT WITH A DISABILITY) WHO ALSO SHARES THEIR PERSONAL STORY. WE ENCOURAGE ALL QUESTIONS, PROVIDING HONEST ANSWERS AND FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING A FRIEND WITH A DISABILITY. EACH PRESENTATION CONCLUDES WITH AN INVITATION FOR ALL STUDENTS TO SERVE AS MIKAYLA'S "VOICE." ASSEMBLIES CAN BE DELIVERED IN-PERSON OR VIRTUALLY.

"TRI FOR INCLUSION" IS A PRICELESS OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. KIDS OF ALL ABILITIES HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE SIDE-BY-SIDE AND TOGETHER IN SOMETHING THEY HAD LIKELY NOT DREAMED POSSIBLE OR EVER PLANNED TO DO. KIDS ARE ABLE TO SIGN UP TO COMPETE IN THE SWIM, BIKE AND RUN OR JUST ONE EVENT AS PART OF A RELAY TEAM. THEIR EFFORTS SHOW OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY TO INCLUDE EVERYONE IN EVERYTHING.