07/23/08 - Institute, Hamilton Place Mall raise disability awareness

Date: July 23, 2008
Contact: Seth Seymour
Public Relations Specialist
423-648-1709
seth.seymour@siskin.org

Siskin Children’s Institute, Hamilton Place Mall raise disability awareness

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — What does a disability look like? Feel like? What would you do if you had one? What if you have one? Siskin Children\'s Institute is partnering with Hamilton Place Mall to address these questions and more with the interactive event, “Faces of Disability.”

On August 2 and 3 — Tennessee’s tax-free, back-to-school weekend — the Institute will host “Faces of Disability” at the Comcast Stage area inside the mall on the lower level near the Belk Women’s Store. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“With more children diagnosed with special needs than ever, we want to reach out to the community and educate people about disabilities,” said Jerry Jensen, president of Siskin Children’s Institute.

Children and adults can learn, ask questions and participate in hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of people with disabilities. Faces of Disability will include:
-free vision and developmental milestone screenings;
-a kids’ educational fun station featuring interactive activities to simulate physical, visual or developmental disabilities;
-nutrition and exercise information supplied by the Institute’s licensed dietician; and
-information on career and volunteer opportunities in the field of disability services.

“This is a chance to learn about disabilities, the people who have them and how everyone is more alike than different,” Jensen said.

Participants in “Faces of Disability” also will receive a coupon for a discount at Belk, a sponsor of Siskin Children\'s Institute.

About Siskin Children\'s Institute
Siskin Children’s Institute is a leader in serving children with special needs, their families and the professionals who touch their lives. The Institute serves children with disabilities – including autism, developmental delays and Down syndrome – and typically developing children in unique educational environments where children of all abilities learn side by side. The Institute offers families, educators and healthcare professionals training and support through a resource library, community outreach programs, workshops, family support and consultation services. In addition, the Institute conducts research focused on cutting-edge special education techniques through its Chair of Excellence at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. And in 2009, the Institute plans to open the area’s first behavioral and developmental pediatric clinic as well as a research center staffed with several doctorate-level researchers focused on early childhood education.

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