BPDD has awarded 4 Sparks Grants to the following communities to help people with disabilities develop meaningful relationships and be part of their communities.  Please join us in congratulating them!

Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Seymour, WI will host an inclusion day to introduce the community to their accessible park.  The author of the Able Fables will work with children under the age of six on friendships.  Later in the day, the adults will participate in a resource fair and panel.  Many follow up activities are planned to keep the community engaged. 

Innovative Services, Inc. in Green Bay will connect people with disabilities living in adult family homes to businesses and community members to participate in monthly recreational activities based on the person’s interests.  The project is set up to better handle the scheduling and transportation barriers that people with disabilities living in congregate settings often experience. 

McFarland Recreation Aquatics and Play is creating an advisory board of community members to evaluate the recreation programs and ensure all programs are accessible to anyone interested in it.  They will create new programming for children under the age of three and provide more activities for adults with disabilities. 

Portal, Inc, in Grafton is working with six civic organizations like Kiwanis and the Lions Club to pair a civic member with a person with a disability as a mentor to help immerse them in the club and get to know others.  The project helps people with disabilities get out in the community and meet community leaders and employers while clubs enjoy increased membership and volunteerism.   

You can find out more about SPARKs Grants by clicking the button below!