Highlands Elementary Receives Remake Learning Ignite Grant
CONGRATULATIONS to Highlands Elementary School speech therapist Mrs. Allyson Dohn, who was awarded a $1,000 Remake Learning Ignite Grant for her proposal of a community-based, sensory-conscious STEAM program for students with exceptionalities.
Ignite Grants were launched this year with the goal of supporting schools, educators and non-profit organizations with $1,000 to provide an "extra nudge" to cultivate critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity while supporting learners of color, learners impacted by poverty, learners in rural areas, girls in STEM, or learners with exceptionalities.
Activities that are provided during STEAM and TEAM times at Highlands Elementary gives all of the students the opportunity to explore and create using different modalities, which is crucial to fostering their young, creative minds. However, for those HES students with different exceptionalities, which include Autism, Down syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Emotional Disturbance, and other learning disabilities, unstructured time and activities can prove to be more difficult and overwhelming.
"Sensory needs and sensory overload can have a negative impact on what otherwise is a great opportunity for learning and growing," said Mrs. Dohn.
Her goal is to provide sensory-conscious STEAM activities within a community setting, such as the local community center as well as the community library. As transportation can be a barrier for some of our families, having the ability to take these activities into the community would provide a bridge between school and the community.
Out of 200 requests for funding, Mrs. Dohn is one of 103 Ignite Grantees who each received $1,000 to support their innovative learning project or program.