A Smile as Big as the Moon is an inspiring story about a class of special education students who dream of going to Space Camp. What began as a memoir written by real-life special education teacher Mike Kersjes has now been made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie of the same title. Kersjes, played by John Corbett (Sex in the City, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), is also a main character in the film. He decides that participating in NASA's Space Camp would do wonders for his class's self esteem. The class itself is made up of young people with learning disabilities, Tourette's syndrome, emotional problems, and one boy with Down syndrome who dreams of becoming an astronaut. What seems an impossible feat–to bring a group of struggling students to a competitive education program designed for gifted science learners–is made possible with the help of a fellow teacher and nine months of rigorous teaching, training, and fundraising. Many of the characters in the class are played by young actors with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. The story focuses on their ability to work together to overcome numerous obstacles that stand in the way of achieving their dream. The great thing about Kersjes is that he does not talk down to his students. His belief in their ability to achieve great things is a large part of what propels his students toward their goals. A Smile as Big as the Moon debuts this Sunday,...

Special Ed students aim for Space Camp in 'A Smile as Big as the Moon', a film based on a true story, starring John Corbett.

Special Ed Kids Go to Space Camp in New Film

  A Smile as Big as the Moon  is an inspiring story about a class of special education students who dream of going to Space Camp. What began as a memoir written by real-life special education teacher Mike Kersjes has now been made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie of the same title. Kersjes, played by John Corbett (Sex in the City, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), is also a main character in the film. He decides that participating in NASA's Space Camp would do wonders for his class's self esteem. The class itself is made up of young people with learning disabilities, Tourette's syndrome, emotional problems, and one boy with Down syndrome who dreams of becoming an astronaut. What seems an impossible feat–to bring a group of struggling students to a competitive education program designed for gifted science learners–is made possible with the help of a fellow teacher and nine months of rigorous teaching, training, and fundraising. Many of the characters in the class are played by young actors with disabilities such as autism and Down syndrome. The story focuses on their ability to work together to overcome numerous obstacles that stand in the way of achieving their dream. The great thing about Kersjes is that he does not talk down to his students. His belief in their ability to achieve great things is a large part of what propels his students toward their goals.  A Smile as Big as the Moon debuts this Sunday,...

Special Ed students aim for Space Camp in 'A Smile as Big as the Moon', a film based on a true story, starring John Corbett.

It all started with a documentary from Iceland called A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism. The film needed an English-language narrator, and Oscar-winner Kate Winslet was sent a copy to watch. The story of Margret Ericsdottir’s journey to discover whether her severely autistic 11-year-old son, Keli, would ever be able to speak moved the actress. It changed her. "I . . . knew I couldn't just lend my voice to this documentary and go home," she says in an interview with Ladies' Home Journal. Winslet and Ericsdottir became close friends since meeting for the film. After A Mother's Courage was released in 2010, Winslet helped to organize the Golden Hat Foundation, which raises money and awareness for autism. The name of the foundation refers to a poem Keli once wrote about having a "golden hat" to help him speak. One of Winslet's projects for the cause is a coffee-table book of self-portraits in which celebrities wear the same trilby hat. The book, which will be released this spring, is called The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism. The idea for the book came about when Winslet was brushing her teeth one night. She was looking for a way to connect the nonverbal world with a world of people who had found success through their abilities to communicate. She then was struck by the thought of having all these people in the public eye take pictures of themselves wearing a hat she had. Winslet recalls some of the things she...

Kate Winslet narrated 'A Mother's Courage' doc, founded Golden Hat Foundation for autism, and created a fundraising celeb photo book.

Kate Winslet, a Hat, and Autism Awareness

It all started with a documentary from Iceland called A Mother's Courage: Talking Back to Autism. The film needed an English-language narrator, and Oscar-winner Kate Winslet was sent a copy to watch. The story of Margret Ericsdottir’s journey to discover whether her severely autistic 11-year-old son, Keli, would ever be able to speak moved the actress. It changed her. "I . . . knew I couldn't just lend my voice to this documentary and go home," she says in an interview with Ladies' Home Journal. Winslet and Ericsdottir became close friends since meeting for the film. After A Mother's Courage was released in 2010, Winslet helped to organize the Golden Hat Foundation, which raises money and awareness for autism. The name of the foundation refers to a poem Keli once wrote about having a "golden hat" to help him speak. One of Winslet's projects for the cause is a coffee-table book of self-portraits in which celebrities wear the same trilby hat. The book, which will be released this spring, is called The Golden Hat: Talking Back to Autism. The idea for the book came about when Winslet was brushing her teeth one night. She was looking for a way to connect the nonverbal world with a world of people who had found success through their abilities to communicate. She then was struck by the thought of having all these people in the public eye take pictures of themselves wearing a hat she had. Winslet recalls some of the things she...

Kate Winslet narrated 'A Mother's Courage' doc, founded Golden Hat Foundation for autism, and created a fundraising celeb photo book.

Kate Winslet, a Hat, and Autism Awareness

Photo Credit: Freddie B. Photography™ Bruck An Der Mur (Bruck on the Mur, i.e. Mur River) is one of your everyday picturesque villages located in the Austrian state of Styria, having a population of approximately 13,500 people, and rich with culture and history, including a trade in scrape metal that dates back to around 800 BC. But this year, Bruck An Der Mur is one of the Austrian cities chosen as a Host Town for Special Olympic World Winter Games Austria 2017. During the Special Olympic World Winter Games, host towns provide accomodations for the various athletes from around the world and transportation to the various event venues. In addition, for three days before the games, the various host towns introduce and immerse the athletes to the local culture and traditions, and hold interculteral social events – experiences that no doubt will impact the lives of these athletes and forevermore enrich them with memories that will last a lifetime. On March 15th, Bruck An Der Mur had a cause for celebration – after being ignited in Athens, Greece in early March, the Flame of Hope (Olympic Flame for the Special Olympics) arrived at the quaint town on the final leg of it's 50 Austrian town journey by members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) comprised of 80 law enforcement officers from around the world; 10 which are from Austria, and 10 international Special Olympics athletes along with numerous police cadets from Austria. The LETR was founded in 1981 in...

Bruck An Der Mur welcomed the Special Olympics' Flame of Hope, celebrating with athletes, culture, and fundraising by law enforcement.

Special Olympic World Winter Games Host Town Bruck An Der Mur Welcomes the Flame of Hope

Photo Credit: Freddie B. Photography™ Bruck An Der Mur (Bruck on the Mur, i.e. Mur River) is one of your everyday picturesque villages located in the Austrian state of Styria, having a population of approximately 13,500 people, and rich with culture and history, including a trade in scrape metal that dates back to around 800 BC. But this year, Bruck An Der Mur is one of the Austrian cities chosen as a Host Town for Special Olympic World Winter Games Austria 2017. During the Special Olympic World Winter Games, host towns provide accomodations for the various athletes from around the world and transportation to the various event venues. In addition, for three days before the games, the various host towns introduce and immerse the athletes to the local culture and traditions, and hold interculteral social events – experiences that no doubt will impact the lives of these athletes and forevermore enrich them with memories that will last a lifetime. On March 15th, Bruck An Der Mur had a cause for celebration – after being ignited in Athens, Greece in early March, the Flame of Hope (Olympic Flame for the Special Olympics) arrived at the quaint town on the final leg of it's 50 Austrian town journey by members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) comprised of 80 law enforcement officers from around the world; 10 which are from Austria, and 10 international Special Olympics athletes along with numerous police cadets from Austria. The LETR was founded in 1981 in...

Bruck An Der Mur welcomed the Special Olympics' Flame of Hope, celebrating with athletes, culture, and fundraising by law enforcement.

As they are nearing the end of an amazing week of fundraising for the Special Olympic World Games LA 2015, I met with one of the organizers of the campaign, Megan Furey, Marketing and Communications Manager. She told me that not only are they encouraging the businesses in Westwood Village to support by donating proceeds for the Special Olympics, but they're also hosting a Torch Run. On July 24th, the day before opening ceremonies begin, the Olympic Torch will make it's way through Westwood Village before it enters the campus of UCLA, where a large portion of games will be held. UCLA is also housing many of the Special Needs Athletes during the event. Megan tells me that California Pizza Kitchen, Bella Pita, Michael K. Jewelers, Rocket Fizz, and Veggie Grill are just a few of the business's participating in the fund raiser. Upon speaking with one store owner, Jasmine Termechi of Rocket Fizz Candy and Soda Shop, she is willing to extend the fundraiser to all those who bring a copy of this article or her flyer provided by the Westwood Village Improvement Association. Just print out this article or flyer from Megan, and for the Fridays leading up to the event, Jasmine will donate 20% of that purchase to the Special Olympics LA2015. Jasmine Termechi tells this reporter that she feels everyone deserves a chance to participate in such an event. This Sunday, June 7th, the Veggie Grill at Westwood Village will go the extra...

Westwood Village supports Special Olympics with fundraising, a torch run, and business donations like 20% of sales from Rocket Fizz.

Westwood Village Improvement Association Supports Special Olympics

As they are nearing the end of an amazing week of fundraising for the Special Olympic World Games LA 2015, I met with one of the organizers of the campaign, Megan Furey, Marketing and Communications Manager. She told me that not only are they encouraging the businesses in Westwood Village to support by donating proceeds for the Special Olympics, but they're also hosting a Torch Run. On July 24th, the day before opening ceremonies begin, the Olympic Torch will make it's way through Westwood Village before it enters the campus of UCLA, where a large portion of games will be held. UCLA is also housing many of the Special Needs Athletes during the event.  Megan tells me that California Pizza Kitchen, Bella Pita, Michael K. Jewelers, Rocket Fizz, and Veggie Grill are just a few of the business's participating in the fund raiser. Upon speaking with one store owner, Jasmine Termechi of Rocket Fizz Candy and Soda Shop, she is willing to extend the fundraiser to all those who bring a copy of this article or her flyer provided by the Westwood Village Improvement Association. Just print out this article or flyer from Megan, and for the Fridays leading up to the event, Jasmine will donate 20% of that purchase to the Special Olympics LA2015. Jasmine Termechi tells this reporter that she feels everyone deserves a chance to participate in such an event.   This Sunday, June 7th, the Veggie Grill at Westwood Village will go the extra...

Westwood Village supports Special Olympics with fundraising, a torch run, and business donations like 20% of sales from Rocket Fizz.

GET INVOLVED AND SUPPORT AN ATHLETE 7,000 Athletes | 177 Countries | 25 Sports Los Angeles is a city full of movie stars and all-stars. But in 2015, thousands of Special Olympics athletes will be the true stars. Arriving from all corners of the world, 7,000 athletes will show the world incredible courage, unwavering determination, and sheer joy. It takes $2,500 to fund one athlete's participation in the 2015 World Games. Join the Support An Athlete campaign and raise funds with your family, friends, and colleagues. For each $2,500 you raise together, you'll be paired with an athlete competing at the World Games. You can follow your athlete's progress during the competition and cheer him or her on in person! START A FUNDRAISING PAGE Visit support.LA2015.org and click on Become a Fundraiser. You can easily create a fundraising page to share with your contacts.

Be a star supporter for 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 177 countries in 25 sports at the LA 2015 World Games. Fundraise now!

The World is Coming, Are YOU?

 GET INVOLVED AND SUPPORT AN ATHLETE 7,000 Athletes | 177 Countries | 25 Sports Los Angeles is a city full of movie stars and all-stars. But in 2015, thousands of Special Olympics athletes will be the true stars. Arriving from all corners of the world, 7,000 athletes will show the world incredible courage, unwavering determination, and sheer joy.  It takes $2,500 to fund one athlete's participation in the 2015 World Games. Join the Support An Athlete campaign and raise funds with your family, friends, and colleagues.   For each $2,500 you raise together, you'll be paired with an athlete competing at the World Games. You can follow your athlete's progress during the competition and cheer him or her on in person!    START A FUNDRAISING PAGE    Visit support.LA2015.org and click on Become a Fundraiser. You can easily create a fundraising page to share with your contacts. 


Be a star supporter for 7,000 Special Olympics athletes from 177 countries in 25 sports at the LA 2015 World Games. Fundraise now!

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Special Needs
Articles

Special Ed Kids Go to Space Camp in New Film

Kate Winslet, a Hat, and Autism Awareness

Special Olympic World Winter Games Host Town Bruck An Der Mur Welcomes the Flame of Hope

Westwood Village Improvement Association Supports Special Olympics

The World is Coming, Are YOU?

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Special Needs Articles

Special Ed Kids Go to Space Camp in New Film

Kate Winslet, a Hat, and Autism Awareness

Special Olympic World Winter Games Host Town Bruck An Der Mur Welcomes the Flame of Hope

Westwood Village Improvement Association Supports Special Olympics

The World is Coming, Are YOU?

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
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