Breaking Records as the Sun Rises
The start to a new year at Rainbows United, Inc. brings engagement, experience, and excitement within fundraising. The safety and health of our community is always on our mind at Rainbows. After two years of a Drive-Thru option only at our Annual Blarney Breakfast, we were back in person on St. Patrick’s Day as Dine […]
Sass and Sparkle at Camp
When Lilly was diagnosed with Down Syndrome at birth, her doctor suggested her parents, Beatriz and Armando contact Rainbows. The family began receiving in-home services through Rainbows’ Infant/Toddler Services program. “Rainbows changed my life,” said Beatriz. “I learned a way to parent my child and it changed everything.” “Rainbows gave me hope,” said Beatriz. “They […]
Meet Carrie, a social butterfly
Carrie and her twin-sister Abigail were born at 29 weeks and due to their rough delivery, both had Grade II Bi-Lateral bleeds. Abigail’s corrected itself, but Carrie’s graduated to a Grade IV and caused her to develop Hydrocephalus which led to a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy. A very happy, almost 16-year-old teenager, Carrie (who has […]
DiGiovanni Family Celebrates
“The path, the journey we’ve been on, it all started at one place -Rainbows.” As a 10-year-old volunteering with her mother at Blarney Breakfast, Gretchen DiGiovanni had no idea the impact Rainbows United would someday have on her family. Gretchen’s parents, Dick and Carol Rohloff, are long-time supporters of Rainbows. Gretchen continued to be a […]
Person-first Language = Dignity and Respect
Person-first Language is a form of speaking and writing that puts the person before their disability or diagnosis. It provides the understanding that they are multifaceted and that their diagnosis or disability is just one aspect of them that contributes to their identity. Person-first language, also referred to as people-first language, is about dignity and […]
Tiffany Graf
This week is the last week of Camp Woodchuck 2021. Memories were made, lifetime bonds created, and our Rainbows’ youth spent a summer filled with new experiences, fun and magic! Morgan Weber, Direct Support Professional with her Camper, Judah: We went to the zoo and he loved it! The water and ducks were probably his […]
Tiffany Sallee, Assistant Camp Director
A normal summer day for Tiffany Steinbacher Sallee, Assistant Camp Director at Camp Woodchuck, is filled with coordinating staff and camper scheduling, planning day-to-day activities for campers, creating schedules for activities, planning big events such as the fashion show, talent show, and art show, helping staff with ideas for working with campers, interacting with kids […]
Youth with Special Needs Form Bonds with Innovative Summer Staff
Camp Woodchuck’s theme this summer is “Ride the Wave” and we are excited to announce we have 46 Campers riding the wave into a fun summer experience! We are providing an In-home Camp experience where each Camper has a Camp Counselor that goes to the family’s home with a backpack full of supplies, activities, energy […]
Essential Services Continue During COVID-19
All over the world, summer camps and other programs made a significant pivot due to COVID-19. Some programs canceled and some went virtual. For Rainbows’ children with special needs and their families, summer camp is not only a fun-filled time of activities and growth, it is a necessity that allows parents to work, attend classes […]
Camp Woodchuck Re-Imagined
Madison Jacobs has been working as a Rainbows’ Direct Service Provider for a little over 2 years and has navigated the challenges of providing After-School Latchkey and Camp Woodchuck at Kids’ Cove to now serving as a Lead DSP providing services for this year’s Rainbows’ Summer Services Program. “Before this job, I had no previous experience working […]
