“It was a great for special needs kids to participate with others on a field where everyone could be themselves and make friends. This event could not have turned out better and I am so happy I was given this opportunity to change my community.” – Angela
Angela has a personal passion for working with children, particularly children with disabilities.
Motivated by her younger sister, who has Down’s syndrome, Angela made it her mission to show the world that all people are intrinsically the same – no matter what challenges they may face. For her Gold Award, she worked with coaches, athletes and established sports teams to host Kids Being Kids, a baseball and soccer clinic, for children with challenges and those without.
“I see my little sister with Down’s syndrome want to play with other kids in our community, but they often look down at her. Hosting this clinic was important to me since it was an opportunity to show the people not familiar with challenged kids that we are all the same,” said Angela.
Raising awareness about children like her sister, and interaction amongst the challenged and non-challenged was important.  As many children with disabilities often interact exclusively with one another, having children without disabilities join the games was imperative to  establishing understanding and acceptance of the disabled in her community. Not only did the two groups of children have fun together, friendships were born.
Angela discovered that her community was eager and willing to help make a difference while preparing for the event. Â She and the coaches agreed that, due to Kids Being Kids’ success, the event will be held annually as many of the participants were eager to attend again.
“It was a great for special needs kids to participate with others on a field where everyone could be themselves and make friends. This event could not have turned out better and I am so happy I was given this opportunity to change my community,” said Angela.
Angela has also contributed to our Girl Speak section, you can read her first-hand account here.
Girl Scouts Now! GSSGC Blog 
My entire family attended and all of us had a good time. Carson can’t wait for the next one! Thanks for making this event fun and including all 3 of my children!
Thanks again,
Tina Schumacher
yep!! The whole Austin family showed up too, and we had a blast!! Let us know when you get the next one scheduled Angie.. we don’t want to miss it..:)..
Congratulations Angela! Your sister is truly blessed to have you as her sister. I have three children, 1 biological and 2 adopted with special needs/challenges. Because of being around such children when we were foster parents, our biological daughter has decided she will NOT have children of her own. She wants to work with and adopt children. We need more people like you and our daughter. God Bless you and your sister.