FOR ACE COMMUNICATORS, DREAMS SHARED...AND REALIZED --
Whether it's living independently, owning their own business or becoming an electrician, the 11 people with significant speech and physical disabilities in Temple University's ACES (Augmentative Communication and Empowerment Supports) program are learning how to use computer technology to publicly proclaim their dreams--and how to work to realize those dreams.
"People don't ever ask kids with disabilities what they want to do when they grow up, so our sessions on dreaming and future planning have been very important to the adults in our program," says Kevin Cohen, ACES' augmentative communication specialist. "ACES participants are given a voice--and information on how they can develop their literal, social and political voice." Hailing from five different states and Germany, ACES participants are living in Temple's residence halls while attending the two-week program, which includes intensive communication, computer and empowerment classes. The program ends Friday, July 28, with an emotional graduation ceremony in Shusterman Hall on Park Mall, each participant will give a speech using the technology they have mastered. For some it will be the first time they've spoken publicly using their "talking" computers.
Reach Cohen through the Office of News & Media Relations, 215-204-7476.
CITY TEENS TRAIN TO BE THE NEXT AFRICAN-AMERICAN TENNIS STARS --
Seventeen eighth- and ninth-grade girls from Strawberry Mansion High School have been learning tennis with Traci Green, one of the top amateur tennis player's in the country and former City of Philadelphia High School Athlete of the Year, as part of the Youthworks College Bound/Youth Foundation Sport Writing Program being held at Temple. Sponsored by the Black Women in Sport Foundation (BWSF), the program teams athletics and academics to introduce the girls to a sport not traditionally played by many African-Americans while also improving their writing skills.
Participants spend an hour and a half each morning and afternoon practicing tennis and the rest of the day in the classroom working on their writing skills, learning about non-athletic sports careers, and touring Temple's campus. The program was developed by Green's mother, Temple professor Tina Sloan-Green. The elder Green is a former All-American lacrosse player and in 1974 became the first African-American head coach in women's intercollegiate lacrosse when she took the job at Temple. The younger Green graduated from the University of Florida this Spring and will soon make her pro tennis debut. The program ends with a tournament and awards ceremony on July 28.
For more information, call the Office of News and Media Relations.
CAMPERS LEARNING ABOUT SPORTS AND HAVING FUN --
Hundreds of Philadelphia-area children are honing their sports skills at Temple University's National Youth Sports Program. "We teach them the fundamentals and the rules of the games with hope that they will find a sport they like," says Tribit Green, director of Temple's summer sports program.
"The NYSP camp is designed to expose the children to as many sports as we can." Campers are being instructed by specialist coaches and helpers in tennis, golf, basketball, soccer, gymnastics and other sports. They are also learning math and science and about health and fitness issues.
To reach Tribit Green, call his office, 204-4783, or contact the Office of News and Media Relations.
VISIT THE NEWS AND MEDIA RELATIONS WEBSITE:
www.temple.edu/news_media
# # #
RSS