HOBART | "You've got to have friends," sang Bette Midler, and Hobart first-graders Serenity Smith and Abby Higel couldn't agree more.
That's because the duo, who met two years ago at a summer inclusion camp that brings both preschoolers with disabilities and those without disabilities together for two weeks, have resumed their friendship at Joan Martin Elementary School in Hobart this fall.
"I'm thrilled," said Michelle Higel, Abby's mother and the preschool program coordinator/grant writer at the Center for Possibilities - Cerebral Palsy in New Chicago, of the friendship.
Higel helped establish the inclusion camp, cosponsored by the Hobart Family YMCA and the Center for Possibilities, three years ago after securing a grant from the Bubel Aiken Foundation founded by Clay Aiken and a friend, Diane Bubel, to provided all children with opportunities for rewarding childhood experiences.
"Our vision was to bring all children together at a young age so they could play and learn together," said Higel, and have children without disabilities learn that everyone is alike and can do the same things, even if they are in a can't walk or hear, while children with disabilities learn that they can make friends and do everything other children can do.
Abby and Serenity just seemed to find each other in the camp sessions at the Hobart Y. "Serenity (who is non-verbal) was signing and Abby just started copying her and then they started making up their own language," recalled Higel. "Now, Abby signs 'I love you' to me."
Tracy Smith, Serenity's mother, said she signed her daughter up for camp after hearing about it as a YMCA member, and thought it was great. "Some of the moms stayed there during sessions and shared stories and support, and I didn't feel so alone."
Prematurity issues have hampered Serenity's ability to swallow consistently, so she has a tracheotomy tube and a feeding tube, and speaks with her hands.
When the parents enrolled their children for school this year, they learned that Abby and Serenity were both assigned to Jennifer Extin's class, and the girls quickly resumed their friendship. "First grade can be a little scary, and knowing each other has given both girls confidence," said Extin. "They play together at recess."
Higel said it could be expected that her daughter would be the active one, encouraging her friend with health problems to try new things. "But it's just the opposite," said Higel. "Abby would be just as happy sitting and talking, but Serenity has more energy than any child I know, and she comes and takes Abby to the swings and monkey bars, and it's great for Abby."
Tracy Smith said the two girls recently had a play date at the Smith home. "My husband, Peter, said 'Abby just (automatically) includes Serenity.' He was so pleased to see them together."
Abby and Serenity agreed they were surprised, but happy, to find out they are in the same class. "I like math best," said Abby, who helped Serenity convey her preference for music as her favorite school subject.
The two young friends also earned fame recently when their photo was featured on the program cover for the Bubel Aiken Foundations' annual dinner held in North Carolina.
"We were the first inclusion camp outside North Carolina to be funded, and just the third overall, and now there are 50," said Higel, who attended the foundation dinner and conference with Pat Starbuck, executive director of the Center for Possibilities.
Higel said she hoped that the inclusion camp would bring children together, and lead to the day when a camper without a disability would later see a classmate in a wheelchair, for instance, and go right up to them and be completely comfortable making friends. "I just didn't realize it would be the same kids," she added.
