Special needs served for patrons and volunteers alike
Laura Hahn
All through the Munroe-Meyer
Institute, or the MMI, you can hear the pounding of running feet and the
laughter of children. Today the
children and teens that attend the after school program at MMI are playing
basketball. These kids are normal
people except for one difference, they all have developmental disabilities.
"Munroe Meyer Recreational
Therapy helps give kids and teens with special mental or physical limitations
become the majority rather than the minority," said senior service site leader
Christine Geistkemper. "It's a
place where they can have fun and enjoy activities like anyone else."
The Munroe-Meyer Institute's
mission statement says that MMI strives to "Improve the quality of life for
persons with disabilities and their families." About 400 families a year send their children to MMI, where
they can enjoy many activities such as art, music, dance and cooking. "We give them opportunities that their families
can't provide for them," said Assistant Director of recreational therapy,
Kelley E. Coutts
Munroe Meyer has a wide
range of activities to appeal to all age groups. There is a recreational room with a ball pit and a wheel
chair accessible swing. The
institute also has a pool that is always kept at a temperature around 95
degrees and new playground equipment. "There is everything imaginable a kid
would want to have fun," said Geistkemper, who began volunteering at the
institute about three months ago.
With each changing season,
there are new activities for both the volunteers and the participants including
craft projects and baking activities.
Senior Maria Scarpello
enjoys volunteering at the facility.
"After you've had a really long and stressful day, it's really a stress
reliever to play with the kids and to just learn about the kids and their
personalities."
More than 300 people
volunteer and more than 10,000 service hours are achieved each year at
MMI. Senior service site leader
Krissy LeClair said, "It's a great way to meet friends. I like learning how to react to people
with special needs. You learn you
don't have to change yourself in front of them."
Volunteering can be a very
rewarding experience. "One of the
best things about it [MMI]," said junior Sam Gruidel, "is seeing all the kids
really happy to come back."
The Munroe Meyer institution
has been around since 1959. It has
helped to give children and teens with disabilities a place to go and just be
themselves. Special Projects Coordinator
for the recreational therapy programs, Nicole Norlin-Giron said, "You get to
know them as kids, not their disabilities."
Munroe-Meyer Institute has
many camps and after school programs that need many volunteers. "Give it a try. If you have an interest in special
education or recreational therapy, working with these teens and children can
change your life," said Geistkemper.
To find out more about Munroe-Meyer Institute and how you can get
involved contact Geistkemper in homeroom 211 or LeClair in homeroom 213. You can also visit their website at http://www.unmc.edu/mmi.