Cheerleading a Charmed Life

by Rob Rogers from The Billings Gazette:

The tryouts were closed to everyone, parents included.

“She had done dance forever and so we thought she’d do dance,” said Kristy Schnetter. “But she didn’t want to do that. She wanted to be a cheerleader.”

Aspyn Schnetter, 15 and a freshman at Senior High this year, finished at Lewis and Clark Middle School in May and decided she was going to try out for the high school’s cheer squad.

For Kristy, it was a little concerning. But not necessarily surprising. It was just one more example of her daughter’s indomitable enthusiasm and life-loving drive. Aspyn has Down syndrome.

And so Kristy knew the experience would be fraught with peril. She wanted to be in that tryout for no other reason than to at least show support for her daughter.

“I was really nervous,” Kristy said.

Katy Perry contest: Verrado High School creates inspirational video for GMA contest

by Rudy Rivas from ABC 15:

Can you hear Verrado High School ROAR?

On Sept. 6, ABC's "Good Morning America" and pop star Katy Perry teamed up to challenge high schools across the country to create the best music video using Perry’s song “Roar.”

The school that creates the best two-minute video will win a live Perry concert at their school on Oct. 25.

Verrado High School in Buckeye saw this challenge and decided to create their own rendition.

A Verrado student told ABC15 their video showcases a senior born with a learning disability, who has become an inspiration on their campus.

She has been on the cheerleading team all four years and has been its heart and soul.

The contest ends Oct. 1, and the winner will be notified Oct. 10.

Girl with Down syndrome excited to be first-time cheerleader

By Alex Cabrero from KSL.com:
With the school year winding down, many students are trying to figure out what to do this summer. But one junior high student already can't wait for the next school year.
Lily Smith is 14 and will be in ninth grade next year at Eisenhower Junior High, and she's going to be on the cheerleading team for the first time. It's also the first time this school will have a cheerleader who has Down syndrome. It seems so simple — cheerleaders cheer to get crowds to cheer. But any cheerleader can tell you it's so much more than that. There's makeup, pictures, pom-poms, and hugs — lots and lots of hugs. Something Lily is good at.

Middle school cheer squad welcomes new member with Down Syndrome

from WCSH 6 Portland by Michele Mullen:
A 13-year-old girl is learning it isn't easy being a cheerleader.

"I think it's pretty cool that I'm a cheerleader," said Sarah Hill.

Hill's 30 new teammates think it's pretty cool that she's with them.

"It definitely has pulled us closer, cause like, everybody is helping Sarah, so it's like a team basically now," said teammate Rashel Vega. "Usually it was like, eighth-graders on one side, seventh-graders on the other, sixth-graders on the other, and like everybody had just joined together into a really big team."

The seed was planted in Hill's mind in early March while watching a cheer performance. The eighth-grader, who has Down Syndrome, turned to her aid and said she wanted to join the team.

"She said, 'Jessica, I'm going to be a cheerleader someday,' and I looked at her and I got a little teary-eyed and I said, 'Yeah, you are.'" said aid Jessica Ortiz.

Calls were made and a plan was put into place, a day later, Hill was invited to join the New Brighton Middle School team.

"It just make me proud, proud of what we can do as people for each other, and Sarah's done a lot more for me than I've done for her," said cheerleading coach Jen Walker.

River Hill cheerleader gets birthday wish

by Brandon Hopp from the Baltimore Sun:
Under the bright lights of M&T Bank Stadium, River Hill cheerleader Corissa Anderson got to celebrate a magical birthday.
Anderson, who has Down syndrome, saw her wish of cheering on the field at Ravens Stadium come true. The Hawks earned the school’s fourth state football title on Nov. 29 with an 18-14 victory over Huntingtown, and Anderson was front and center to help push them to victory.
An honorary cheerleader for River Hill the past three years, Anderson was able to stand on the same field that members of her favorite professional football team plays on Sunday afternoons.
“She is very social and feeds off the excitement of the crowds,” said her father, Chris. “Being included in this way has also helped her feel more a part of her school and community, which is often the biggest challenge for individuals like Corissa who have special needs such as Down Syndrome.”
Corissa really enjoyed the bus ride from Clarksville to downtown Baltimore with the other cheerleaders, football players and band members. The team on her bus sang happy birthday and had cupcakes prior to the start of the game. 
Anderson has been cheering since elementary school for the Columbia Ravens youth team and currently cheers for the Unique All-Stars Unified team. She works out daily with her father, mother Janet and sister Jenelle. 
“Everyone has been very supportive and Corissa is very grateful to everyone at River Hill and in the community, since she loves to perform, cheer and motivate people,” Chris said. “Corissa hopes to one day work as a special education assistant helping and inspiring other kids with special needs.”

Down Syndrome Champions Complete Fourth Game of the Season

The Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia’s (DSANV) Champion Football League of Northern Virginia (CFL) played its fourth successful game of the season, Sept. 29, at Freedom High School in South Riding, Va.

“It is amazing to see the passion, dedication and hard work of every player in the CFL. Each individual has unique abilities that help form a strong team when everyone unites and works together,” said Bryan Ray, president of DSANV.

The league was founded last year by the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia and is the first football league in the Northern Virginia area serving individuals with disabilities.

In its second year, the CFL has seen a significant increase in enrollment. The Sept. 29 game had close to 40 champion players on the field, with over 30 players from Freedom High School’s football team serving as coaches and mentors to the Champion players.

In addition to the Champion players, the CFL has added cheerleading to their games this season. There were six Champion Cheerleaders coached by 15 Freedom High School Cheerleaders, totaling 21 cheerleaders for the game on the Sept. 29.
“We are thrilled to have cheerleading at all of the CFL games this season. Their excitement and team spirit really inspires the crowd to show even more support for all of the Champion players,” Ray added.

To start off the game, each player and cheerleader made their way through the tunnel on to the field as their names were announced over the PA system. The crowd filled with nearly 100 family members, friends of the players and cheerleaders, and other onlookers, was very supportive and enthusiastic throughout the whole game.

As is the case in every CFL game, every player scored a touchdown and the score ended in a tie, making for happy teams and players on both sides.

“At DSANV, we hope that as the CFL season continues, every player and cheerleader will experience the dynamics of teamwork, sportsmanship, and leadership. Through the CFL and Champion Cheerleading, we want every participant to grow as football players, cheerleaders, and as people who will make a positive impact in their community,” Ray finished.

The CFL meets at Freedom High School in South Riding, Va. each Saturday at noon through Nov. 3. 

Teen with Down syndrome crowned homecoming queen

By Dana Macario from Today Moms:What do you know, another cheerleader has been crowned homecoming queen. Except 19-year-old Allyssa Brubeck isn’t just your typical popular teen, she also has Down syndrome. While her coronation is reason enough to celebrate, what may be the most touching of all is her classmates’ reactions to all the fuss surrounding their new royalty. They just don’t understand what the big deal is. Who cares that she has Down syndrome? She’s just Allyssa, a happy, friendly cheerleader. As The Kansas City Star reports, the student newspaper journalists didn’t even think to mention her disability when writing the story of the Homecoming election results. Their adult supervisor had to convince them that it was worth noting. During her four years at Park Hill South High School in Kansas City, Mo., Allyssa has become an active member of the student body and a teen who seemingly has a hug and a smile for everyone. When the school district posted the story on its Facebook page, the kids couldn’t believe the amount of attention the story got.“Everyone in the stands was crying,” 18-year-old classmate Leah Smith told The Star. “Everyone loves her.”
“She deserved to be homecoming queen,” said Sam Boling, 17, who was a runner-up for queen.
While the teens at Park Hill South High School are taking this all in stride, adults are much more impressed with this year’s queen – and what it says about her fellow students. We can all hope that this is a sign that kids with disabilities are one step closer to being accepted as just another kid.
“They’re growing up together,” Amy Allison, executive director of the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City, told The Kansas City Star. Disabilities among classmates “are negligible to kids. They see the challenges they face, but they see they are happy and they want to help.”
Allyssa’s mother, Cindy Small, was touched by the support for her daughter, whom she describes as fearless. She told the Kansas City Star that Allyssa had always kept up with her younger sister, 17-year-old Annabelle; whether it was biking, golf or swimming. When Alyssa decided she wanted to be a cheerleader, she went for it. And got it.
As for Allyssa, like any teen girl, she’s just thrilled to be her school’s Homecoming Queen. “I’m a winner,” Allyssa told The Star. “I feel awesome.”
Dana Macario is a Seattle area mom who’s incredibly impressed with Allyssa and her classmates.

Football and Cheer Camp with the Denver Broncos

from Our Colorado News by Ryan Boldrey:

All the excitement surrounding the Broncos this offseason no doubt has to do with Peyton Manning.

Yet another longtime veteran of the game, Jack Del Rio, is already making a difference in his new community. The squad’s new defensive coordinator, along with the recently retired all-pro Brian Dawkins, spent the morning of June 23 coaching a pair of teams comprised of children with Down syndrome to an 18-18 tie at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch.The third annual event at Valor was once again organized by former Broncos standout Ed McCaffrey, whose sons Christian and Max both starred on the gridiron this past year for the Eagles. The three-time Super Bowl champion receiver teamed up with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation for the event, giving those with the disorder a chance to shine and have some fun.
The game is the pinnacle of a two-day camp to give those with Down syndrome an opportunity to learn and play the game of football, while working with the former Broncos and a state-championship high school football team.
“Ed (McCaffrey) and I got together and we gave the (kids) a buddy that would be with them every day, take them through it, and get a good close relationship,” said Valor head coach Brent Vieselmeyer, who has watched the program grow each year. “Their buddy would help them out, get them lined up and then they would play.
“It was a great opportunity for our kids from just a Valor perspective of we really get to see kids being unselfish. You hear so many terrible things about this generation and here you’ve got kids that are trying to be something more than just themselves. It’s a pretty neat experience. It’s a blessing for them and frankly, for our team it’s the most fun they have, this event, all summer.”
The day featured everything from skydivers to the Denver Broncos cheerleaders, mascots Thunder and Miles, the Mile High Tumblers and Drumline and a celebration party afterward that featured a bouncy house, face painting and more.
“Coming out here, having these games, and just playing football period it makes their day every time they come out here,” said Gabriel Watkins, one of the buddies and a Valor sophomore who plays both linebacker and fullback for the Eagles. “It’s a lot of energy and a lot of work, but it’s great to see them happy.
“It feels good on the inside to let you know not only is our school getting things done like we said we would, but that I did something to help, and now I feel good because I actually did something positive not just for myself but for countless other kids.”
Not just for boys and young men, the Broncos cheerleaders also put on a halftime show with some young cheerleaders who have Down syndrome.
“While we held just a couple practices before the camp, the cheerleaders worked with the girls for over a month,” Vieselmeyer said.

Program offers football, cheerleading for kids with Down syndrome

By Pamela Wood - Capital Gazette:

Stephen Nowak dreams big: He wants to be the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens.The 19-year-old from Churchton, who has Down syndrome, came pretty close to living his dream Saturday, playing football on the artificial turf of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.“This is as good as it gets,” said Stephen’s mom, Marla. “This is a lifetime memory.”
Stephen was among several dozen young people with Down syndrome who got a chance to play football and cheer on the sidelines through a two-day camp sponsored by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. The event was a first for Annapolis.
On Friday, the players and cheerleaders learned fundamentals. Then, on Saturday, they got to participate in a game, complete with a professional announcer, scoreboard highlights and celebrity coaches.
Stephen, who wore a white No. 7 jersey for the Dragons, said his favorite part of the game was “getting the touchdown.”
His little sister Lila, 14, was the only girl on the football field, wearing 22 for the Dragons. She said the best part was running.
The Nowaks’ team, the Dragons, was coached by Mike Shanahan, coach of the Washington Redskins.
Across the field in blue were the Honey Badgers, coached by former Baltimore Ravens coach and current TV analyst Brian Billick.
In the end, the teams tied, 35-35.
Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by an extra chromosome. Individuals affected have mild cognitive delays and physical characteristics that include slanted eyes and a flattened nose.
The Global Down Syndrome Foundation, which is based in Colorado, had previously teamed up with former Denver Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey for Dare to Play football and Dare to Cheer cheerleading events out west.
McCaffrey enlisted the help of Shanahan, who coached him in Denver, and Billick, who coached him in college at Stanford University, to put on the Annapolis program.
“This is one of the biggest blessings I’ve ever had in my life,” McCaffrey told the crowd. “We’ve had so much fun doing it in Colorado. We’re so happy to be in Annapolis to do our first one here.”
Billick hopes Dare to Play and Dare to Cheer becomes an annual event in Annapolis.
“This is the first time I’ve been a part of this, and I plan on doing it going forward,” said Billick, who lives on the Eastern Shore. “Hopefully we can build this event to a larger event here in Annapolis.”
The football players were teamed up with players from the Naval Academy, who guided them on the field. Boys from the Severn School in Severna Park shouted encouragement from the sidelines.
Navy seniors Matt Shibata of Hawaii and Jerad Fehr of Utah said they were inspired by the passion of the young players.
“These kids love the game — shoot, maybe more than we do,” said Fehr, a safety.
Shibata said working with children with developmental disabilities reminds him to be grateful for the abilities he has.
“You learn to appreciate the things you have,” said Shibata, a wide receiver.
The game was kind of managed chaos, but a happy chaos. The players ranged from pipsqueaks too small for their jerseys to teens who could run fast and throw some juke moves to evade defenders.
There were as many coaches and volunteers on the field as players.
Narrating the action was Chris Russell, a Redskins radio personality on ESPN 980 AM. His 10-year-old son Tyler has Down syndrome.
Russell roamed the field, calling the action over the public address system. A video crew taped the event and played highlights on the end zone scoreboards.
In front of the stands, the cheerleaders wore navy and orange uniforms and waved white pompoms with the help of professional cheerleaders for the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins.
Greg and Lisa Custer of Arnold beamed as they watched their 17-year-old daughter, Valerie, perform with the cheerleaders.
Valerie, who attends Broadneck High School, cheers with a special-needs squad sponsored by the Maryland Twisters club. But that’s a competition squad that doesn’t cheer at sports events.
“Just to give her a chance to be a real cheerleader on the field, to work with professional cheerleaders — it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Lisa Custer said.
Cathy Hill’s daughter, 19-year-old Victoria, also relished the chance to cheer in a big stadium. She’s also a member of the Maryland Twisters.
Hill praised the professional cheerleaders for helping foster friendships among the girls and the two boys who cheered.
“The biggest thing is, the kids are happy,” she said.

How a cheerleader with Down's Syndrome became homecoming queen and touched a community

from The Daily Mail:
It can be a difficult time for many teens.
But high school for Barbara Behlmann has been exhilarating. 
The 19-year-old has inspired her classmates at Hazelwood West High in St Louis - not because she was crowned homecoming queen or is a star cheerleader - but because she has Down's Syndrome.

One of her teachers, Jodi Schutzenhofer, explained to STLToday.com: 'Unknowingly, Barbara has taught us all that nothing is impossible if you are willing to work for what you want.'As the website reports, Barbara was four-years-old when child welfare workers placed her in the foster home of Gary and Karen Behlmann - malnourished at 22lbs.

Her birth parents had neglected and abandoned her; by then, she had already lived in 17 other homes and had extreme difficulties communicating.Doctors described her as having 'failure to thrive.'

But the Behlmanns, STL Today reports, said slowly with nurturing and intense speech and language therapy, she began to flourish. Today, she is considered one of the most outgoing students at Hazelwood - and one of the most popular. 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2145522/Barbara-Behlmann-Cheerleader-homecoming-queen-Downs-Syndrome-inspires-classmates.html#ixzz1v99xq4rj

A girl's life successes after open heart surgery

from Ealing Gazette by Poppy Bradbury:

A young girl with Down syndrome has come leaps and bounds since surviving open heart surgery as a newborn.

Ten-year-old Lucie Fickling weighed just seven pounds at birth and under went major surgery for a heart defect aged just three months old.

Despite a difficult first year, the sprightly youngster has gone on to win top awards in scouting and gymnastics.

Lucie joined the First Northolt Sea Scouts, based in Dabbs Hill Lane, Northolt, as a beaver four years ago. After months of hard work to collect 15 badges, two weeks ago she was awarded the Chief Scouts Silver award - one of the highest accolades for a young cub.

But that was not her only taste of success.

The sporty youngster has travelled to Florida to compete in the World Cheerleading Championships and recently won two silver medals for the vault and floor at the regional finals of the Gymnastics Movement for People with Disabilities.

And now Lucie has been nominated as Young Person of the Year in the Ealing Gazette's annual Pride in Our People awards by her proud godmother Dawn Ward.

She said: "She's so enthusiastic in everything she does despite her disability and she never lets it hinder her. She does find things difficult but she perseveres and perseveres until she gets there."

Her mother Tracey Fickling said: "The first three months of her life she slept and we couldn't do anything with her because of her heart. She was in hospital for three weeks and slowly progressed.

"She's excelled so much. She loves her gymnastics. She works so hard and she's a determined little girl. It makes me so proud because she has to work so hard to achieve what she does."

Tracey said joining the scouts was a great opportunity for Lucie, who attends Hedgewood Special School in Hayes, to mix with mainstream children.

Delaware cheerleaders embrace special teammate

from 6ABC.com by Brian Taff:


When the boys' basketball team at Newark High School takes the court, there is an equally impressive show on the sideline. That is where Rachel Rhea and her teammates are churning out cheers. And this is definitely a team with spirit. Because as good as they are in cheerleading, they may be even better at leading by example.


Rachel has Down syndrome, a fact that in many places might have meant she wouldn't have gotten a chance to be on the high school cheerleading squad. But THIS high school team saw that this girl has skills. "We watched her do one of her cheers," said cheerleader Kristin Hilliard. "We saw how fast she does cheers and how she picks them up and then we brought her to the coach." And the coach brought her on the team, and, as it turned out, into something like a family. "The whole school has embraced her as part of our team," coach Jacqui Fournier told Action News. "She's just one of the girls with the rest of 'em."


For Rachel's family, that's the best part. For a little girl who is used to standing out, blending in is a joy too big to fully understand. "For her to cheer on the team, it means a lot to us," said Rachel's mother, Pam. "It's a nice experience, part of the high school experience." And it appears that joy may be contagious, because when Rachel is on the sidelines, very often there's just one team in the stands.


"The crowd does notice Rachel," said Fournier. "And I don't know who the people are in the crowd. But you do hear, when Rachel's on the floor, you hear from above or the other side of the gym, 'Go, Rachel!'" Which means, these cheerleaders may stand on the sidelines, but they've already won the game.

cheerleading, teamwork and respect

from Particularly Perfect:


The spirit, joy and enthusiasm on the team is beyond contagious.  When they smile, you smile.  When they cheer, you cheer.  It is a team of kids with special needs...accompanied by "typical" middle and high school cheerleaders that work with the team because they want to.  Giving up an hour or two every week to practice.  Sending a message of acceptance to all of those around them...it's a beautiful thing.  I am so grateful for the coach who opens the gym to our team and the kids that work with Kayla and her friends.

This past weekend was their first competition.  They were the first to take the floor...and the only team of athletes with special needs.


Go Wings!


When their routine was over and the crowd was moved to their feet {the one and only time that day}, I couldn't control the tears.  They were tears of happiness, of course.  Tears of pride.  Tears because my girl and her friends got the one thing that I want for her in life...RESPECT.  The crowd respected them.  The judges respected them.  The other cheerleaders respected them.

Sunday we delivered a message.  In a world of "typical" cheerleading squads...people with disabilities can compete, too.  People with disabilities can cheer, have fun, laugh...and just be "typical" kids.


They can be exactly who they were meant to be...perfect just the way they are.  I mean seriously...at the end of the day does it really matter if you land a jump perfectly or dance right to the beat or remember every step of the routine?  Are those the things in life we remember from childhood?  No.  It's the memories.  The memories of having fun.   Life should be one big hot fudge sundae filled with scoops of happiness, drizzled with love, dollops of laughter and sprinkled with friendship.   But to me, the cherry on the top...the one thing that will make the sundae perfect...will always be respect.

2012 Celebrating Differences calendar

from Darien Patch:

About the only thing nine-year-old Sara Davis isn't is idle.

The 3^rd grader with Down Syndrome at Concord Elementary in Darien and resident of unincorporated Downers Grove is a swimmer, cheerleader, basketball player, dancer and Special Olympic medalist equestrian rider. And now, for the third year in a row, she's a calendar model.

Sara shares the month of February with her friend David in the 2012 Celebrating Differences calendar, a calendar and organization created to promote abilities over disabilities in area youth. Celebrating Differences, a not-for-profit out of Oswego, was created in 2007 to provides resources, educational workshops, networking and other services for children with special needs.

“It's for kids with all kinds of disabilities,” Sara's mom Marcy said. “That's important because our community is more than just one type of disability.”

For Sara, the calendar is just one activity on a list of many that keeps her—and her mom—busy on a daily basis. On Monday, it's horseback riding at the Hanson Center Barn in Burr Ridge. On Wednesdays, Sara does gymnastics at Elite Gymnastics. Thursday is dance at Expressions Dance Studio in Westmont, and Saturdays are a split between cheerleading on the Believe team out of Naperville and Special Olympics basketball. And whenever she can, Sara squeezes in swimming. That's not to mention the homework—Sara's current favorite subject is spelling, though she changes her opinion on a regular basis—Sara gets from school, either. Add all that up and you get a good idea of how active Sara is. Oh, and she also likes going to church on Sundays.

“She's a very smart, eager and fun-loving girl who wants to be part of her community,” Marcy said.

Sara got interested in the Special Olympics this year after seeing her friend David participate and win a lot of medals. In her first year participating, she's already a medalist, taking a bronze medal in September in the Equitation class, which was a series of skills courses combined with managing and walking her horse.

“She's just like everyone else and wants to be doing whatever everyone else does,” Marcy said.

If you'd like to purchase a Celebrating Differences 2012 calendar, you can do so by following this link.

Meet Do Something Awards Winner Sarah Cronk

from dosomething.org:

Sarah won a $100,000 Grand Prize at this year's Do Something Awards on Vh1. Check out what inspired Sarah to start her program in her interview below.

Sarah Cronk watched her older brother Charlie struggle to fit in during high school because of his disabilities. He was depressed and anxious, until the captain of the swim team invited him to join. Suddenly, the cool kids welcomed him, and he found a new group of friends. Inspired by Charlie, Sarah co-founded the first high school-based inclusive cheerleading squad in the nation. Today, The Sparkle Effect has generated 26 squads in 15 states and South Africa, encouraging a culture of acceptance in every community.

Interview with Sarah Cronk

DoSomething.org asked Sarah how she got started with her project and what advice she has for other young people.

DoSomething.org: How did you feel when you first learned of the problem you are addressing?

Sarah Cronk: When I first began to see that most high school students with disabilities are excluded from high school sports (and the accompanying social benefits), I felt disheartened. My older brother Charlie was born with a disability that prevents him from fully understanding social cues, yet Charlie is very socially motivated and one of the kindest people I know. Transitioning into high school was rough for Charlie. Then, a popular upperclassman invited Charlie to join the swim team. The swimmers accepted Charlie into their social group and gave Charlie a place where he belonged. To me, this idea of belonging–of being an accepted part of a high school community–shouldn’t be considered a privilege available only to some students. Rather, we should consider it a basic human right.

DS: How do you feel about it now?
SC: I feel very optimistic! I have seen first-hand the willingness teens have to accept and include their peers with disabilities. I also feel that teens are perfectly positioned for this important task. Adults, no matter how well meaning, simply cannot provide the social acceptance that every teen wants. Only teens can lead the social inclusion movement.

DS: What person or experience sticks with you from when you first started your project?
SC: I will never forget my experiences with one of the girls on our local Sparkles squad. Alison arrived at the first practice with a unique set of challenges. She felt uncomfortable with the texture of the practice mats and refused to stand on them. For several practices, she came dressed in a variety of different wigs. She spoke only if called by the name of the particular character (like Hannah Montana) she had dressed as that day. At first, I didn’t know how to handle the situation, so I looked to Alison’s mom for guidance. Her advice: just go with it. Following her mother’s lead, I decided to meet Alison where she was, even if that meant calling her Hannah Montana for a few weeks. For a while, I let go of teaching Alison cheerleading skills altogether. Instead, I worked on building trust.
During the first few football games, Alison attached herself to one of our peer coaches–literally. Alison clung tightly to her arm, and would not to let go even to clap or jump. Eventually, about four months into the program, we began to see a shift. Bit by bit, we saw the wigs and costumes less often. Alison began to respond to her own name, to interact with the other girls, and to participate right along with everyone else. She even began calling her teammates in the evenings and arranging for movie dates and shopping excursions on the weekends.
Now, it is always Alison, not Hannah Montana, who shows up to practice. It is Alison who cheers in front of hundreds of fans. It is Alison who struts out onto the basketball court independently, confident that her teammates are there if she needs them, but also confident that she can perform beautifully in front of the students.

DS: Who or what is your inspiration to keep going?

SC: My biggest inspiration is hearing back from cheerleaders, students with disabilities, and their parents who have benefitted from their own Sparkle Effect squad. I also love to hear from teachers and administrators who say The Sparkle Effect has inspired a resurgence of school and community spirit. Cheerleaders across the country have reported that they love their work with The Sparkle Effect so much that the trajectory of their lives has changed. Some have decided to go into special education. One girl even went on to create another inclusive club within her school, which sponsors monthly inclusive social events, like pizza parties and movie nights.
My favorite stories are from parents. Parents of students on Sparkle Effect squads report that their children have improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater confidence, and higher self-esteem. Some parents have even reported that the benefits of inclusion on the field have resulted in better report cards in the classroom. One father told me that he heard his daughter say more in a 45-minute Sparkle Effect practice than he had heard her say in the past four years.

 

DS: Can you describe the moment you knew that you were actually making a difference?
SC: Our local Sparkles squad began practicing in the high school cafeteria in the summer of 2008. The Sparkles did a great job in the safe, sheltered environment of our school’s cafeteria. However, I worried about the student body’s reaction during the Sparkles’ debut at the first home football game. Our “front line” of seniors is known for being particularly rowdy, and I was concerned about how they would respond to our new group.
As it turned out, my fears were completely unfounded. As the Sparkles took the field with us, the entire student section—even the senior boys—stood up and began chanting, “Let’s Go Sparkles, let’s Go!” When we finished performing, the entire stadium full of spectators rose to their feet and began to cheer. At that moment, I realized that this unprecedented and unlikely squad was going to change my high school forever.

DS: What was the most difficult roadblock you faced when you tried to start your project? When you were growing it?

SC: While finding our first local Sparkles turned out to be relatively easy, the first few weeks of practice were bumpy, to say the least. One girl repeatedly threw tantrums. Another kept hitting, kicking, and scratching her teammates. Many of the girls lacked impulse control and all of the girls lacked focus. We decided to go back to basics. We focused a little less on cheering and stunting and a little more on games and exercises that would help us get to know one another. After a few weeks, the girls learned to trust us and one another. They actually began to skip into practice with bright eyes and huge smiles.
The Sparkle Effect came with a completely different set of obstacles. When I first created The Sparkle Effect, I had enthusiasm, passion, and a website that included all of the tools necessary for other teens across America to duplicate the success of our Sparkles’ program. What I didn’t have was money. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Without funds, I was forced to come up with creative ideas for getting the word out about The Sparkle Effect. I turned to national organizations focused on disabilities, high school sports, and volunteerism, and asked them to profile The Sparkle Effect on their websites cost-free. The support I received was both humbling and awe-inspiring. Within a few months, The Sparkle Effect was appearing on several national websites. Then, much to my surprise, in the fall of 2009, our local Sparkles squad captured the attention of the national media. After appearing in People Magazine and on Oprah, I received tons of e-mails. The national exposure invigorated and inspired hundreds of cheerleaders across the country.

DS: What’s been the biggest lesson through the process?

SC: I have learned that while having compassion is important, acting on that compassion is critical. I have also come to understand that social inclusion helps people learn to see the person and not the disability. I have thoroughly enjoyed turning on its head the stereotype of cheerleaders as self-involved elitists. Sparkle Effect teams instantly transform what was previously seen as the most exclusive group in high school into the most inclusive.

DS: What has surprised you the most about the journey that has taken you here today?

I started the Sparkles and The Sparkle Effect because I wanted to help students with disabilities find social connection. I didn’t fully understand that connection is a two-way street. Through my work, I have found levels of connection that I never expected. I thought that I would be teaching students with disabilities. I did not realize that they would be the ones teaching me.
The amazing, wildly enthusiastic support from student fans nationwide has been a surprise. When it comes to the social inclusion of students with disabilities, students are leading the charge and sending the message loud and clear to other teens and adults: Tt’s cool to care.

DS: What advice do you have for other young leaders who are having a tough time getting their ideas off of the ground?

SC: Adopt an unwavering belief that you can and will make a difference. If and when you get stuck, let go of the uncertainty about the big picture. Refuse to see roadblocks. Instead, see signposts. Understand that roadblocks are actually arrows pointing to a new (and usually better!) path to your destination.
Also, assume that people are good and helpful and well-meaning (people love positive reinforcement).
Finally, never be afraid to be totally excited about your work. The world needs more unbridled enthusiasm.

DS: If you could have done one thing differently based on what you know now, what would it be and why?

SC: I would have sought advice and assistance earlier than I did. I [knew that I would] only generate squads if people knew about them. I decided to mail 100 letters to high school cheer squads nationwide, telling them about The Sparkle Effect and urging them to start a squad. This work generated not a single squad.
Then, in a moment born more of desperation than inspiration, I contacted Jeff Webb, the President and CEO of Varsity, Inc. and the Universal Cheerleading Association, the two largest and most successful cheerleading companies in the world. Mr. Webb had started his extraordinarily successful company by himself out of his tiny apartment, so I thought that maybe he would be willing to offer advice. Not only did he offer advice, Mr. Webb has turned out to be one of my most ardent and effective supporters. His companies have featured The Sparkle Effect on their websites, in a video that aired on closed-circuit hotel television at the Walt Disney Resort during the National Cheerleading Championships, and at cheerleading camps across the country. Mr. Webb also agreed to partner with me to provide cheerleading uniforms to new Sparkle Effect squads throughout the country. His company, Varsity Spirit Fashions, matches Sparkle Effect grants dollar-for-dollar and adds a 20% discount to all uniform purchases. Through Mr. Webb’s unwavering support, The Sparkle Effect has reached virtually every high school cheerleader in America and outfitted seventeen squads nationwide. Now, whenever I need help, I ask for it!

DS: What’s next for your project?

SC: The Sparkle Effect will continue to generate and outfit squads coast to coast! The Sparkle Effect is enjoying tremendous momentum. We have generated twenty-seven squads, twenty-three of which were created in the past fourteen months alone!
In the highly competitive world of high school sports, teens are taught to perfect their skills, to conquer, to win. Sparkle Effect squads are not about perfection; they are about connection. In many towns across America, Friday night football and basketball games are the main event. Sparkle Effect teams nationwide are throwing a big, bright spotlight on the richness that results from inclusion. Fans are leaving sporting events entertained and inspired. I know that the magic of The Sparkle Effect can easily reach into every high school in the country. When it does, game night in America will never be the same.

Bonus Question: If you could have any celebrity film a PSA for you, who would it be and why?

SC: Jane Lynch! On the hit show Glee, Jane plays Sue Sylvester, a wonderfully wicked high-school cheerleading coach. Sue defied expectations when she allowed a sophomore girl with Down syndrome to join the Cheerios squad. It was soon revealed that Sue has a sister with Down syndrome. The close relationship between the sisters exposes Sue’s tenderness and humanity. I believe that Jane Lynch appeals to teens and adults alike and she would be the perfect celeb to promote The Sparkle Effect!

Lauren Potter with 2011 Do Something Award winner: The Sparkle Effect

from wetpaint:

Cheerleader Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter) is by far one of the most adorable characters on Glee — so we always love it whenever the actress decides to make a public appearance!

On August 14, Lauren popped up in Hollywood as a presenter at the 2011 VH1 Do Something Awards. Afterward, she posed for photos with co-star Jane Lynch (Sue) — who hosted the awards — and 2011 Do Something Award winner Sarah Cronk.

Sarah received the award for creating The Sparkle Effect — a community program that creates opportunities for students with disabilities to participate in cheerleading squads and other sports.

Sounds like something that would be right up Becky and Sue’s alley!

from International Business Times:

Actress Lauren Potter (L) congratulates Sarah Cronk, the "Do Something Winner", at the end of the Do Something Awards in Los Angeles, California August 14, 2011.