Green Tie Guys have begun stepping up for girls in our community
Date: Sat Mar 01, 12:00 AM EST - Sat Mar 01, 11:59 PM EST
- Daisies,
- Brownies,
- Juniors,
- Cadettes,
- Seniors,
- Ambassadors,
- Volunteers
"We're Here All Year"
When people see or hear the word “disability” they often picture someone in a wheelchair, but disabilities can affect seeing, hearing, processing information, health, communication, feelings and behavior - and that's just the short list! A disability is anything that keeps a person from easily doing everyday things like getting dressed, brushing their teeth, making a sandwich, watching TV or walking the dog; but it doesn't automatically mean they are helpless or unintelligent.
Life can be extra-challenging for someone with special needs when it comes to meeting people and making friends; but a person who uses a wheelchair, or a communication board, or has lots of health problems wants friends just like anyone else, and wants to be included in everyday activities - like Girl Scouts, an after-school club or a sports team. Would your troop be ready to welcome a girl with a disability? (Remember, Juiette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts of the USA was deaf for most of her life.) Learning more about disabilities can lead to understanding, which can lead to empathy. Empathy makes us care about the needs and feelings of people who have a disability. Take advantage of the resources available in conjunction with these disability awareness month or day programs. Scroll down for Girl Scout/Girl Guide specific resources.
1) Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month - https://www.nacdd.org/
2) Developmental Disabilities Month - https://www.nacdd.org/ddam
3) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Get-Involved/Raise-Awareness
4) Brain Injury Awareness Month - https://www.biausa.org/brain-injury
5) International Wheelchair Day - (March 1) https://internationalwheelchairday.wordpress.com/
6) National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (February 24 to March 2, 2025) -https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-involved/nedaweek
7) World Down Syndrome Day (March 21) https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/
8) Purple Day for Epilepsy (March 26) - https://www.purpleday.org/
9) World Bipolar Day (March 30) - https://ibpf.org/learn/programs/world-bipolar-day/
And March 8-15, is...the Winter Paralympic Games!
Celebrate the Paralympics by Earning the OLYMPIA BADGE
The Olympia Badge was created by the Girl Scouts of Japan and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to celebrate the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games, whiich were hosted by Japan. Girl Scouts and Guides can still find out about sports and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic Games by earning the Olympia badge.
The badge is filled with active games and cultural activities from Japan (a great World Thnking Day resource), all with an Olympic and/or Paralympic* twist. Download the badge Activity Guide from Activity-Pack-EN.pdf
*To focus on the Paralympics, after reading pages 6 and 7, go directly to these activities:
• In Section One, "Stadium", activities number 6, 8,9, and 10.
• In Section Two, "Temple", activities number 1,10, 11 and 21.
• In Section Three, "Theatre", activities number 4 and 12 (substitute "Female Paralympic athletes.")
Want a step-by-step guide for virtual Olympia Badge meetings? Here's a template created by the Girl Guides Ontario (Canada) for their Lone (individually registered) Guides
OR...
Build your knowledge and skills with these Girl Scouts of the USA Petals and Badges that have connections to athletics or disability awareness:
Daisy Petals: Friendly and Helpful; Considerate and Caring; Respect Myself and Others; Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout
Brownie Fair Play badge
Junior Practice with a Purpose badge
Cadette Animal Helpers badge
Senior Good Sportsmanship badge
Ambassador Coaching badge
AND:
Our Own Council's Disability Awareness Awards:
- "Daisies Are Different and Daisies Are Alike" disability awareness patch
- "What If I Couldn't?" Brownie disability awareness patch
- "Georgia Rocks - and Rolls" Junior disability awareness badge.
What’s the Difference Between the Special Olympics & the Paralympics?
Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They are similar in that they both focus on sports for athletes who have a disability, and are run by international non-profit organizations. Apart from that, Special Olympics and the Paralympics differ in three main areas: https://www.specialolympics.com.au/Stories/special-olympics-paralympics-whats-the-difference (Special Olympics Australia)
