One of senior Minden Newman’s fondest memories from the last three spring semesters is a simple walk to the car. After a fun-filled evening of play, Newman would share a walk to the car with Krista, 11, and her mom. She buckled up Krista, who has multipledisabilities, and saw her off every Tuesday night. The walk to their car was so rewarding that Newman gleams when she tells the short story.

For the past three spring semesters, Tuesday nights have been drastically different for Newman, a student in the kinesiology adaptive physical education credential program. That’s because some of Newman’s fondest and most rewarding memories developed during sessions of Project Play-Oriented Lifetime Activities for Youth (Project PLAY).

“It’s just a joy because I know she looks forward to it,” Newman said.

Scott Modell, associate professor of kinesiology, created Project PLAY, a fitness and leisure education program for individuals ages three to 21 with disabilities. It runs from March until May and is sponsored by United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Sacramento.

Modell created this program because he wanted children and adults from the community to be able to have an opportunity to interact with college students. He also wanted to provide an opportunity for college students to work with people with disabilities and for parents to use the program as a networking system.

Playing involves a variety of different motor and social skills. The younger kids work on their motor skills while the older kids do more recreational activities. Activities consist of riding bikes, tossing a football, getting some coffee with the older students, talking or one of the most popular activities, swimming.

The waiting list for Project PLAY has about 60 people on it. The program is full, and has 50 participants and 100 student volunteers.

The program, created over a decade ago, has fulfilled many of Modell’s goals, but it has also changed the lives of students like Newman.

Newman said sometimes Project PLAY would be the only bearable part of her day. After getting back a poor test score, sitting through multiple lectures and getting even more homework, she would often find herself counting down the hours until Project PLAY. Newman said it was relaxing because she was able to focus on playing with her partner.

“Just the smile on her face, just to hear her laugh, you forget. You can’t help it,” Newman said.

Newman is from Lake County, where her graduating high school class had more than 90 students. Her closest encounter with another person with a disability was her best friend at the time, whose brother was autistic. But Newman said the mere remembrance of her friend’s brother wasn’t a significant part of why she’s fallen in love with learning and interacting with people with disabilities. Newman, initially concentrating in physical therapy, changed her concentration to adaptive physical education, and gives credit to Krista.

“I told her mom: ‘Because of your daughter, I found what I was good at,'” Newman said.

For parents like Sonia Lewis, whose 4-year-old daughter Micah has cerebral palsy, the program has fulfilled Modell’s networking goal.

“It’s a really great experience to meet parents who experience things with the school system and can give you insight,” Lewis said.

One of Lewis’ favorite memories of the program was when the volunteers made Micah a photo album.

“The volunteers are very encouraging and make her feel like she’s the center of the universe,” Lewis said. “I love that.”

Gloria Stanier, whose son Michael has pervasive development disorder, said that Project PLAY taught her son how to play ball.

Even though Michael can’t speak, Stanier said the program is one thing that he continues to enjoy. She knows this because he will look at their home calendar and, under Tuesdays, Stanier has the words “Project PLAY” written. Recognizing it, Michael will point to it, get really excited and smile. The program is something that she believes Michael consistently wants to go to.

Stanier said it’s great to see her son happy and active.

“He’s passive, so he doesn’t show much emotion,” she said.

Stanier said that Michael has only missed Project PLAY twice since they’ve been involved in the program from its beginning.

Newman said relationships bloom between the parents and volunteers.

“(Parents will) thank you, but we don’t need to be thanked,” Newman said. “We should thank them.”

Newman said she has gained patience and has been able to figure out why the children act certain ways with the guidance of Modell.

“He’s very helpful,” Newman said. “If you want to know more about their disabilities, you just ask.”

One of the hardest parts of the program is saying goodbye until next year, Newman said. She said many of the kids cry because they know it’s over.

But for Newman, the playing doesn’t end with the program. She works for Sacramento County and continues to interact with children who have disabilities, including Krista.

“There’s a lot of kids in the program and I think they’re (a big influence on) the college students,” Modell said. “The kids love hanging out with the college students because it makes them feel like they fit in more.”

Commitment is a value that Modell tries to engrave into the volunteers. When a student is unable to make it, he doesn’t want to hear an excuse. If you know you have an exam, you should make arrangements to study beforehand, he said.

There are two students per child, he said. If one volunteer doesn’t show up, then the other takes over and if none show up, then Modell mixes and matches the participants with the other students.

What Modell hopes the students will gain from being a volunteer is a better understanding and care for people who are disabled and find reward in something free. Though it’s hard for Modell to choose any favorite experience, one memory did stick out during Project PLAY.

Chyrlie Cook, who has an intellectual disability, had difficulty waiting for the lifeguards to be ready before she went into the pool. To help her wait, Modell would dance with her before she entered the pool. A photo of the two dancing now hangs in Modell’s office.

“I think (students) take out of it that it’s not as difficult that they thought and it’s extremely rewarding,” Modell said.

Modell said there is a huge need for more programs like this, and he is trying to create an autism program on campus.

The first session of Project PLAY was on March 6.

Newman admits that the first night, many volunteers were scared away. But she said the whole situation is a learning process and hopes that students can give these participants a chance because the whole experience is very satisfying.

“A lot of people will take life for granted. You can walk, talk, grab things. But (the kids in the program) don’t have a ‘disability.’ It’s amazing what they can do,” Newman said.

Newman said she hopes all students have a chance to volunteer for the program. Students can volunteer for next spring by calling Modell at 916-278-5041. Gia Vang can be reached at [email protected]