Disability awareness is a slam dunk

GRIFFITH | Thom Howell, Griffith High School business teacher, was recently presented with the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities Community Spirit Award for 2011.

This award is presented to an individual and/or group for outstanding efforts to promote Disability Awareness Month in schools, businesses and/or communities. Only two winners were selected last year from the many nominations submitted, Howell and The Down Syndrome Family Connection from Bloomington.

Howell was recognized for organizing an exemplary Disability Awareness Month campaign for Griffith High School and Middle School.

"I thank the community of Griffith, students and faculty of Griffith Middle and High School and all those who worked with me to make Disability Awareness Month 2011 a big success, without whom this would not have been possible," Howell said.

The award was presented to Howell during opening ceremonies at the 17th Annual Governor's Council for People with Disabilities Conference in Indianapolis. "Your commitment to an annual event, outreach to the community, and recruitment of volunteers and community organization sponsors was particularly notable," said Suellen Jackson-Boner, executive director of the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, in a congratulatory letter to Howell.

"We were recognized for our 2011 Disability Awareness Month activity, Wheelchair Basketball Extravaganza, held March 11," Howell said.  "Our theme was 'The Only Disability in Life...A Bad Attitude!'

"This event is a basketball game pitting middle school/high school student/faculty teams against the Rollin' Hoosiers Wheelchair basketball team and the Chicago Bulls Wheelchair Basketball team, one of several professional wheelchair basketball teams sponsored and supported by the NBA," Howell explained.

"The entire high school and middle school, staff, teachers, administrators, and parents were in attendance, totaling more than 1,000 people," Howell added. The event generated $1,700 through the sale of 400 student-designed T-shirts donated by Kessler's Team Sports.

Pregame festivities included an appearance by Rusty, the SouthShore Gary RailCats mascot, and the singing of "The National Anthem" by the Griffith High School Choir. Half-time entertainment was provided by Rusty, the Griffith Middle School/High School cheerleaders and the Pantherettes.

Tom Lounges, of Radio One Communications and columnist for The Times Media Company, provided color commentary while Tracy Sines, Griffith MS Special Needs coordinator, ran the score board and assisted with game day organization.

Lea Dumezich, Griffith HS Special Needs coordinator, was the resource person, and assisted in coordinating the event and played on the faculty team.

To recognize sponsors, Delincia Smith, Griffith HS information technology instructor, with her computer class, designed banners to hang in the gym.

"What made this event even more memorable is that four Griffith HS students play for the Rollin' Hoosiers - Jessica Hicks, Jackie Morales, Jodi Morales and Allison Nolan," Howell said. "The success of this program was a team effort."