For people of all abilities
Join Hand in Hand at Big River Bowling (on the corner of Kimberly Road and Elmore Ave.) every Monday April 5 to May 24 from 4pm - 5pm. Hand in Hand will provide care for participants using waiver hours with Hand in Hand. Those utilizing waiver hours with a different provider will need to arrange for their own supervision (a care provider, parent, or other responsible adult).
Aceing Autism is a program that offers private tennis lessons for children on the spectrum. Children on the spectrum are matched with two volunteers who guided then through the basics of tennis.
The program may potentially be free for children on the spectrum. The Autism Society of the Quad Cities may pay the $120 registration fee for participants.
For more information, contact Holly Humes at 309-798-4379.
To register, go to the website at Aceing Autism
Special needs bowling is on select Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at the Family Entertainment Center Lanes, at 4401 44th Ave, Moline, IL.
The cost is $3.00 per game. Bowlers throw two games games per evening. The Family
Entertainment Center provides free shoe rental. Be sure to tell them at the front desk
that you are bowling with the special needs league.
Contact Mel Woolfolk at melwoolfolk19@gmail.com at
the telephone or Bob Cawley at (309)787-2213, email at
bottlesbob@gmail.com.
The Augustana Department of Theatre Arts and the Center for Living Arts in Rock Island are partnering to launch the Quad Cities Penguin Project, a program designed to create performance opportunities for children with developmental and learning disabilities including autism.
The Penguin Project® is a national non-profit organization with the vision of creating opportunities for children with special needs to participate in community theater and display their creative talents. This is accomplished with the assistance of multiple sites across the U.S.
Productions casts are children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autism, learning disabilities, and other neurological and developmental disorders. They are partnered with Peer Mentors – a group of children who volunteer to work with the “Penguins” side-by-side through rehearsals and on stage.
The Penguin Project® demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability need not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences. Individuals with special needs are fully capable of participating in community activities with the same dedication and enthusiasm as others, if given the opportunity and support.
The Penguin Project®, founded by Dr. Andrew Morgan in 2003 in Peoria, Illinois, is a national non-profit organization with the vision of creating unrestricted access for children with special needs to the performing arts. This is accomplished with the assistance of multiple sites across the U.S. that produce a modified version of a well-known Broadway musical.
What makes these productions unique is young artists with special needs fill the acting roles. They are joined on stage by their “Peer Mentors,” a group of children the same age without disabilities, who have volunteered to work with them side-by-side and guide them through four months of rehearsals and the final production. The Penguin Project® demonstrates that the special challenges of a disability need not handicap a child’s ability to participate in life’s experiences.
The origin of the name “Penguin Project” comes from the unique characteristics of
penguins. They are extremely playful and curious, and work well together. More
importantly, they have a “disability” that distinguishes them from other birds – they
can’t fly. Instead, penguins waddle and toboggan on their bellies over the snow, and
are excellent swimmers in the water. So, like our young artists, they have adapted to
the challenges of their environment and have not allowed their unique difference to
interfere with their lives.
“Our penguins may not be able to fly, but that does not prevent their spirits from soaring.”
To learn more about the national Penguin Project of which the Quad Cities project is a chapter, look at this website: http://penguinproject.org
The Center for Living Arts is at 2008 4th Avenue, Rock Island. (309)788-5433 Center of Living Arts
Additional information is available from:
Professor Jeff Coussens
Chair, Department of Theatre Arts
Augustana College
639 38th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201
(309) 794-7320
Acoustics is for young adults interested in music. Meetings are Tuesdays from
4:40 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at River Music Experience, 129 N. Main Street, Davenport.
The website is www.rivermusicexperience.org
Participants share music they like, play musical games, play musical instruments, and
have performers attend to play concerts for them. West Music, which formed the group,
has specially trained personnel who will teach music lessons to those with disabilities.
For more information call West music at (309)764-9300.
League members bowl on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at the Quad City Entertainment Center, 4401 44th Avenue, Moline. Call (309)517-1158 for more information. The bowlers have a variety of mental and physical disabilities.
A division of Little League the Challenger Division offers girls and boys, beginning
at age 5 and up with physical and mental disabilities, the opportunity to play
unrestricted baseball regardless of their ability.
Contact Information: Pam Swim (309)786-3097 or Jan Garlock (309)786-8319
Email: rpswim@mchsi.com or jgarlock55@hotmail.com
Website: www.molinechallengerleague.com
To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of
Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving
them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage,
experience joy and participate in sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their
families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Contact Information: Iowa-Nancy Shannon 563-285-8185 or nsshannon@aol.com
Illinois-Cathy Betar: 309-734-5903 or cbetar@soill.org
Website: www.soill.org
Provides therapeutic horseback riding program known as “Mounted Achievers” this is an
alternative type of physical therapy and rehabilitation to the mentally and physically
handicapped of the Greater Quad Cities and surrounding communities. NKT provides
affordable riding lessons to people representing ages ranging between three and adult
with a variety of disabilities.
Contact Information: 309-787-0627 or 309-764-4220
Website: www.nktriders.org
Email: nktriders@infonktriders.org
