Northeast Elementary

March 13, 2024

Principal: Michelle Million

Grant in Action: Sarah Wingard, Special Education Teacher

Sarah Wingard received a grant for adaptive seating, two wagons (a Wonderfold 4-seater wagon and a Radio Flyer Push Wagon), and a sand table with various sensory items: sand, pinto beans, and rice.

The chairs have been wonderful additions and have been used way more than she imagined. The large Bumbo has been used inside the classroom during various classroom activities and on the playground for the students who need a little extra core support. The red bouncy chair has been a great seating option for students who have a weak core. It gives them a safe place to sit where they can get out of their wheelchairs for a bit and enjoy classroom activities. The biggest surprise has been our students who are ambulatory and use the red chair to meet their need for proprioceptive input (received from sensory receptors located in the skin, muscles, and joints). They love sitting in the chair and bouncing to their heart’s content.”It has brought us so much joy!”

The wagons have helped the class attend various school activities, safely exit the building during fire drills, and go on adventures outside and around the inside of the school. The sand table has also been a huge hit. All the kids love using it when they play outside. “We added mini trees, sand buckets, shovels, and other fun seasonal items. We are excited to try the pinto beans and rice filler once the weather warms up a bit and we are able to go outside more”, said Ms. Wingard.

Thank you, OEF, for making these students’ school days more mobile and inclusive.