CHICOPEE – The Department of Developmental Services Holyoke/Chicopee Area Citizen Advisory Board is hosting its 17th Annual Community Celebration of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Month. This year’s event is titled “Forging Your Own Path: The Importance of Community Partners.”

The celebration, which is open to the public, will be conducted on March 26, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the Moose Family Center, 244 Fuller Road.

“I’m excited to honor people who legitimately partner with people with disabilities to achieve their goals,” said Mary Birks, the president of the Department of Developmental Services, Holyoke/Chicopee Citizen Advisory Board.

Among the honorees are two members of the area’s disabled community who are being honored for having achieved their goals, along with the non-disabled community partners that aided them.
   

Gift & Coffee Shop, for recognition. Jamieson started her own greeting card company, Handmade with Love by Emma J., and with Fite’s help, Jamieson was able to sell her cards in the gift shop.

Joshua Gregoire, of Chicopee, a martial arts enthusiast, was inspired to become a board-breaking champion. His mentor, Ken Goodrich, the owner and instructor of Center for Martial Arts and Fitness in Chicopee, helped him pursue his goal. Gregoire, who was nominated by his caseworker at the Department of Developmental Services, competed against challengers with and without disabilities. He won the competition and was able to achieve his dream.

Also being honored are eight of the area’s Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools: Chicopee Comprehensive High School, Chicopee High School, Granby High School, Holyoke High School, Ludlow High School, Monson High School, South Hadley High School, and Palmer High School.

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program promotes an atmosphere and culture of inclusion through, “inclusive sports, inclusive youth leadership opportunities, and whole school engagement,” states the Special Olympics website, and “these are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.”

The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is a collaboration between the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the Special Olympics. Birks said she thought it was important that this program was added to the MIAA.

“[The program helps] to really develop a school culture of dignity and respect for different communities and cultures,” Birks said. Unified Champion School teams, which are composed of both students with and without disabilities, compete with others in the area in either basketball, track and field, or bocce.

“It lets [people with disabilities] participate in high school life in ways similar to non-disabled students,” Birks said of the sports aspect of the program.

“What impresses me is the way the partners without disabilities support the students with disabilities. They give them the opportunity to be successful and to shine,” said. She said the unified teams also give the students with disabilities the chance to develop skills within the gameplay.