WINGS

Working Inclusively to Navigate Greater Success

SNAFU is excited to present a new program called WINGS – Working Inclusively to Navigate Greater Success.  WINGS is a gift program that is available to parents, teachers, administrators, service providers and other caregivers of special-needs children. 

There are many “hidden” costs of educating children with special-needs.  All parents and teachers spend their own money on “extras” to foster success in their students.  However, the “extras” needed to foster success in special-needs students can be cost-prohibitive.  With this program, SNAFU aims to assist parents, teachers and others with some of these requests by purchasing needed items and donating them to the requesting party.  Some examples of needed “extras” include pencil grips, edible and non-edible reinforcers, visual schedules, slant boards, special paper, special pencils, special scissors and much more. 

These items may also foster inclusion such as sand toys for a sand box, or a playground ball that is textured for easier grasp.  These items may also allow everyone to feel included such as Handwriting Without Tears pencils for a class, or stickers charts for a class.  Sometimes a disability becomes invisible when we treat everyone the same. 

Ideally, these items should be written into a special education student’s IEP.  However, this is not always the case.  SNAFU realizes school districts are working with very tight budgets and we endeavor to assist the school district in helping special-needs children with this program.  Additionally, many times, students need these tools quickly – in a matter of days.  The school district purchasing process can take months of precious time.  SNAFU can help with some requests by loaning tools to fill in the time gap until the school district’s purchase order can be filled. 

You can apply for a WINGS Gift by filling out an application.  You can also help bring WINGS to your school district by presenting the program information to your principal, special education director and school board.  Information and applications for WINGS can be found HERE.