When COVID-19 first struck, Aktion Club members quickly started getting together via Zoom calls to keep in touch with each other and to stay healthy and safe. The more they met, the more ideas they had of fun activities they could do via Zoom- thus Painting Party was born! Each week a small group of folks get together to paint, act silly and have a wonderful time!

Happy Holidays from everyone at the Knox County Board of DD! People from all across our county submitted pictures of them creating beautiful artworks and crafts celebrating this joyous holiday season. We hope you enjoy their amazing talents!

We hope you have a wonderful and magical holiday season!

If you’ve ever been to the cafeteria at MVNU, you’ve probably ran into Brad. Brad has been working there for many many years and loves the opportunities he is given! He works hard in the dish room ensuring all the dishes, pots, pans and utensils are clean for the kitchen staff to cook with and the guests to eat off of. He enjoys the fast pace of the lunch rush and loves making jokes with his coworkers.

Erik has been working for Park National Bank for almost a year— and he has been enjoying this wonderful opportunity! He does a wonderful job sorting through the mail, delivering the mail to the different departments, organizing bank deposit sheets, putting postage on outgoing mail and more. He enjoys that he is able to work at his own pace and he is able to meet new people. Erik has become a valuable asset to Park National Bank.

Thank you, Park National Bank for this partnership!

Will and Peter keep busy by participating in many different activities!  A few years ago, they found out about the Adaptive Sports Connection in Powell, OH which provides adaptive technology to help empower anyone with physical and cognitive challenges through sports and therapeutic outdoor recreation!  The mission of the Adaptive Sports Connection is to help people with challenges stay healthy and happy by focusing on their ABILITIES. 

While at Children’s Hospital for one of Will’s appointments, they have met many other families who help encourage and provide resources to each other.  One of the resources that Will and Peter learned about was the Adaptive Sports Connection program.  Will and Peter try to regularly go to the kayaking, water skiing and downhill skiing programs.  Will’s favorite is the skiing--- he loves speed!  Each time Will goes, the instructors and volunteers try new ways of adapting the equipment to make Will’s experience as enjoyable as possible. 

Once the custom pieces of adaptive equipment are added to the kayak, Peter and the instructors load Will into his tailored kayak, get different pieces of foam to strategically add around his body to ensure he is able to sit upright and get his paddles ready!  Once it’s his turn to load into the water, a float with wheels is loaded under his kayak and he is wheeled down to the water’s edge.  His kayak has a set of outrigger floats on the back to help prevent him from tipping it over.

Each time Will goes out kayaking, he has his father Peter, as well as a volunteer (Christina) and the instructor (David).  As a group they work diligently to learn how Will kayaks and what can help him have a better experience.  Each time he goes out, he builds his stamina and is able to kayak longer than the last time!  Once he gets tired, he can either paddle himself back in or his volunteer can tether their kayak to his and paddle him back in. 

If you are interested in participating in one of the great programs offered by the Adaptive Sports Connection, please go onto their website to learn how to get involved!  https://adaptivesportsconnection.org/

For the past 5 years the Knox County Board of DD has hosted their "Imagine The Possibilities" 5k and 1 Mile event!  This  year we partnered with #FeedTheVERN to help feed hungry children in Mount Vernon.  

Thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers and participants who came out to help support our event!