La Salle University - Explorer Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

Page 23 text:

Children or Heorr Ploy Doy, a day of ocriviries for speciol children and rheir fomilies, was devel- oped losr spring by Lo Solle ' s Council for Exceprionol Children. A srudenr orgonizo- non dedicored ro serving special children, rhe Council for Exceprionol Children (CEO wonred ro bring handicapped children and rheir families rogerher ro experience rhe joy of play and ro rediscover one onorher as children or heorr. Thirry chil- dren who were eirher severely and profoundly impaired or rroinobly men- roily rerarded were invired ro parrici- pore along wirh rheir parents or guordions. The members of CEC en- couraged all of Lo Salle rojoin rhem in spending rhis rewarding, heorr warm- ing day wirh exceprionol people in whor rhey hoped would become on onnuol campus evenr. Like srudenrs in any orgonizorion planning on acriviry, rhe members of CEC spenr many lore afrernoons and free periods preparing for Ploy Day. Their efforts were visible ro all on cam- pus OS rhey sponsored o Cookie Day and popcorn sole in rhe College Union ro raise money for rheir Ploy Day fund. Mosr imporranrly, rhey drew upon rhe lessons rhey learned in rheir education dosses and rhrough rheir field work ro prepare for rhe special needs of rheir guesrs. Speciol Education mojors or La Salle, who ore participating in one of the best Special Educotion programs in rhe state, ore exposed to exceptional children ond professionals practicing in rhe field dur- ing each phase of rheir underg roduore co- reers. Throughour Play Day, CEC members were assisted by volunteers from rhe fro- rerniry Pi Koppo Phi and rhe sororiry Gom- mo Sigma Sigma in decorating rooms, serv- ing lunch, ond ushering people throughour rhe College Union. CEC members directed their guesrs in individual os well os group ocriviries aimed or enhancing motor devel- opment and fostering cooperative ploy. The group ocrlviry beor rhe drum, for ex- omple, wos designed ro encouroge eye- hand coordinorion ond orrending skills. The recreorionol and educorionol ocriviries also included boll rolling, sponge pointing, hot potato ond dancing. CEC members hoped to give the fomilies something which they could continue doing with their children long ofrer Ploy Day wos over. Recognizing rhot regression, one of rhe biggesr problems in rhe field of speciol education, occurs most often outside of the school setting, rhey prepored o rouch board for rhe children ro roke home wirh rhem. This consisred of o piece of cardboard ond moreriols of varying rextures which could be posred on rhe board in rhe shape of rhe child ' s hand and feir for roctile stimulo- rion. One kindhearted CEC member even donated trophies ro give ro eoch special child in orrendance. Dur, Judging from the smiles and loughter of rhe children, porrici- porion in Play Day wos prize enough. Joanne C. Kelly Koren O ' Grady helps o child wirh her play dough creorion. Joanne Romano watches o young orr- isr or worl ' , Mario Hryczynsky, Michelle McGee, ond Frank Corron direcr o boisterous musi- cal acriviry.

Page 22 text:

special Arhleres With rhe ceremonial lighting of rhe rorch, rhe firsr annual Lo Salle Eosrern Regionol Pennsylvania Special Olympics swim comperirion began in Hoyman Holl on April 30, 1983. The Special Olympics become o reali- ty or La Solle mostly through the help of the Philodelphio Sports Association and through funding and volunteers from Syntex Dental Products. Each of the seventy special orhletes in attendance competed in different swim- ming events throughout the day. The A special athlete plays soccer berween swimming evenrs. Jubilant competitors and buggers cele- brare rhe finisin of o swimming roce. Ralph Lewis, Alberr Truck Burrs, and Phil Durron conducr o bosi erball clinic. events included freestyle, breoststroke, bockstroke, and relay. The athletes were also grouped according to age ond sex. Five othletes were involved in each event and all who participated received medals. Each othlete was given ot least one hugger . These buggers, many of whom were Lo Solle students, cheered their athletes on during their designoted events. Between swimming events, athletes hod the opportunity to ploy bosketboll or soccer. Aerobic dancing and on activity room were also provided for all those interested. Lunch was served for every- one in the ballroom, followed by a vari- ety show thot included a magician, o gymnast, and o juggler. Some speciol guests who portidpoted in the Spedol Olympics induded AM Philodelphio ' s Jonet Dovies, Brother Por- nck Ellis, assorted clowns, and Lo Salle ' s own Explorer. Brorher Patrick helped open the Special Olympics with his rendi- tion of the National Athem. Ms. Dovies acted OS a hugger ond distributed med- als to all of the portidponts. The clowns provided toys for rhe athletes while the Explorer enrertoined them. All those involved deemed the event on overwhelming success. Ve hod a great time, remarked Associate Athletic Director Joe O ' Donnell. We hope to do it again. Kothy Lutz

Page 24 text:

Philadelphia landmarks ore even more copri- varmg or nighr. Ciry Holl rower dominores rhe shy- line, lighrs on Doorhouse Row ond rhe Arr Museum reflecr off rhe Schuylkill Riiver, end norives ond visi- rors oliKe flock ro famous Par ' s Sreoks ar 9rh and Possyunk. a 20