2012 Operation Lamb under way
For the past 11 years, the Knights of Columbus Council #9492 has presented Rhonda Hill, exceptional children (EC) teacher at Polk County High School, with a check for the EC program. Last spring, she accepted a donation of $850 from the 2011 Operation Lamb Project.
Hill said the focus of the EC program has always been to address the individual needs of the students, to help them set and reach their goals and to help build their confidence to become responsible young adults.
“As new opportunities begin to open up for students with intellectual disabilities, we find ourselves looking more and more at needs related to transitioning from high school to post-secondary,” Hill said.
According to Hill, several four-year colleges and universities are beginning to offer certificate programs especially designed for individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities that allow them to fully participate in the college experience. Hill said in response to these new opportunities, high school EC programs are striving to add more instruction and simulation in building personal relationships, conflict resolution, home management, community inclusion and self-advocacy.
The funds donated through the Lamb project of the Knights of Columbus help the EC program obtain materials and create simulations that allow students to practice, under supervision, the skills needed to be successful following high school graduation, Hill said.
“This is a benefit to our entire exceptional children’s program because we have the ability to adapt these instructional units to the full range of individual skill levels and can address the educational, employment, independent living and leisure goals of all our students,” Hill said.
The Knights of Columbus’ annual Operation Lamb project supports all those with intellectual disabilities. The 2012 fundraiser will take place at the IGA in Tryon on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the Food Lion in Columbus on Saturday, Oct. 6 and at the BiLo in Columbus and Landrum on Oct. 12-13.
– article submitted
by Bill Mazurek