Why Can’t Playgrounds Be For Special Needs Kids Too?

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“How come we never see a child with a disability at a park?” This casual remark from the parent of a child with a developmental disability inspired the idea of Kilikili, an organization dedicated to creating play spaces for ALL children, including those with disabilities. The founders of Kilikili realized that while some parks have [...]

Friends at First Sight – Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Dog

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They’re great friends, even though they’re as different as can be! They are Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the dog. This video shows that friendship and sharing can come in all shapes and sizes. Additional Resources: Here is an article with pictures of Suryia and Roscoe. Here is another inspiremykids story about an unusual animal friendship! [...]

Benjamin’s Hope – A Place Where We All Belong

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At 15 months old, Benjamin Mason was a typical toddler with a budding vocabulary and an active curiosity. But then, over the next few months, Benjamin started to withdraw, losing his vocabulary and turning completely inward. Doctors diagnosed Benjamin as having profound autism. Despite his autism, the Masons tried to give Benjamin a normal life. However, his severe autism made it hard for him to participate [...]

Emily’s Smile Boxes – Bringing a Little Joy to Sick Kids and Their Families!

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In 2008, 9-year-old Emily Lites became a big sister when her little brother Jude was born. However, Jude was not your average little brother. Jude had suffered a stroke before he was born and as a result was brain-damaged. Because of Jude’s condition, Emily spent a lot of time in hospitals supporting her brother. And she realized [...]

Twelve in Twelve – A Family Making a Difference, One Country at a Time!

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Think about your everyday life – school, family, friends, hobbies, etc. Can you imagine giving it all up for a year? Well, that is exactly what the Lewis family did. J.D. Lewis and his sons Jackson, age 14, and Buck, age 9, put their lives on hold for an entire year for a wonderful reason……so that [...]

Great Sports Quotes…..They’re Not Just for Athletes!

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Do you play sports? If you do, then you know the value of hard work, commitment, and determination in achieving sports success. It is these qualities, among others, that have spurred on the success of many of the world’s greatest sports heroes. But even if you don’t play sports, these qualities are also keys to accomplishing [...]

Claudette Colvin – A Brave Advocate for Racial Equality

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Most people are familiar with the inspiring story of Rosa Parks, the African-American lady who refused to give up her bus seat in 1955 during the civil rights movement. But did you know that there was actually another who performed the same peaceful protest months earlier? This other person was Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old African-American girl. She, [...]

Think You Don’t Need Math? Think Again…..It’s All Around You!

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Do you ever get bored sitting in math class, wondering why you even need to learn the stuff in the first place? Well, this feeling is not too unusual. But the truth is, learning and using math is something that plays an amazingly important role in your life! From the moment you wake, all through your day, [...]

Jacob Barnett – A Real-Life Boy Genius!

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At first glance, Jacob Barnett looks like an ordinary 13-year-old kid. He wears sweatshirts and backward baseball caps, goes to school, and hangs out with his family. But the reality is that Jacob is anything but ordinary! You see, Jacob is a genius………. As a toddler, Jacob was diagnosed with autism. But as he got older, he began to show signs of incredible intelligence. And now, as a 13-year-old college [...]

Pride, Determination, Resilience (PDR) – The Amazing Swim Team of Jim Ellis

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Pride, determination, and resilience – combine these three qualities, and you’ve got a solid foundation for excellence. To Jim Ellis, these qualities were important ones to teach kids, especially underserved kids who might not have many examples of them. Jim chose to teach kids these qualities by sharing with them something he loved – swimming. In 1972, Jim [...]