March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and local schools have partnered with Wood Lane to offer their students an interactive awareness program during March. The name of the program is #WoodLanePride, and the program is reaching over 6000 students.
The program is also linked to a display at the Wood County Library for younger children.
The objective of the #WoodLanePride program is to help students understand that an individual with a developmental disability enjoys and is able to do the same things as a person without a developmental disability. They like to participate in sports, go to school, hang out with friends and do all the activities that any student enjoys doing.
How the Program Works… A Wood Lane Wildcat stuffed animal was given to each participating school. (The Wildcat is Wood Lane School’s Mascot.) The Wildcats were delivered with a message on them that says: “Anywhere that you can take me, an individual that has a developmental disability can go too. I enjoy doing the same kind of things YOU DO!” Take pictures of me participating in activities with you at your school.”
From March 9-16th schools throughout Wood County have one week to move the Wildcat around to classrooms, administrative offices, sports functions or other school related activities to gather as many different pictures as possible with the Wildcat in them. Pictures are being posted on Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #WoodLanePride. The school with the most pictures posted wins!
Participating schools include: Otsego Local Schools (entire district), Northwood and Olney Elementary, Northwood High School, Perrysburg High School, St. Louis School, Lake Schools (entire district), St. Aloysius, BG City Schools- Kenwood and Crim Elementary Schools, Elmwood Kindergarten and the Montessori School of BG.
Community members can also take part in this fun event by visiting the display for #WoodLanePride at the Wood County Library. The display features several plush wildcats, as well as an interactive 3-foot sign where individuals can have their picture taken as a Wood Lane Wildcat. Pictures from that display can be shared on Facebook or Twitter with the #WoodLanePride for a chance to win a plush Wood Lane wildcat (Posts must be public to be entered to win.)
For more information contact Penny O’Connell at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or at 567-213-1716 (cell).