ARTICLE
Special needs children and their families in the Whitman & Hanson communities now have additional support and resources thanks to W-H KIND, Inc., a new non-profit established in April 2024. The acronym stands for Whitman-Hanson Kids In Need (with) Disabilities. Our mission is to assist schools, families, professionals, and caregivers by providing resources and materials through fundraising and grants for special needs children, while educating our communities about the importance of KINDness and inclusion for ALL kids. According to Whitman-Hanson School District Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak, there are approximately 750 special needs students each school year across the six schools in the district. Recognized special needs include neurological, physical, learning, and emotional conditions such as Autism, ADHD, ADD, ODD, Dyslexia, sight, hearing, and speech impairments, physical impairments, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, and others. “Our first goal is to educate the community on the depth of our special needs children and the expense of care,” states Deb Bailey, Executive Director of W-H KIND, Inc. “The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, which includes schools from Pre-School through Grade 12, does an amazing job of including special needs children with the mainstream population. Their special needs educators, one-on-one aides, principals, and all school staff are exemplary in including all children, no matter their situation, with love, kindness, and support,” adds Bailey, who has a special needs grandchild in the system. Parents, siblings, therapists, and caregivers are also part of this support system. “It takes a village, and the towns of Whitman and Hanson always rise to any occasion to support those in need in the community!” To learn more about W-H KIND, Inc., a 501 c (3) organization, visit www.whkind.org. The website offers information and resources related to special needs children, as well as contact information and donation options.
Special needs children and their families in the Whitman & Hanson communities now have additional support and resources thanks to W-H KIND, Inc., a new non-profit established in April 2024. The acronym stands for Whitman-Hanson Kids In Need (with) Disabilities.
Our mission is to assist schools, families, professionals, and caregivers by providing resources and materials through fundraising and grants for special needs children, while educating our communities about the importance of KINDness and inclusion for ALL kids. According to Whitman-Hanson School District Superintendent Jeff Szymaniak, there are approximately 750 special needs students each school year across the six schools in the district.
Recognized special needs include neurological, physical, learning, and emotional conditions such as Autism, ADHD, ADD, ODD, Dyslexia, sight, hearing, and speech impairments, physical impairments, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, and others. “Our first goal is to educate the community on the depth of our special needs children and the expense of care,” states Deb Bailey, Executive Director of W-H KIND, Inc.
“The Whitman-Hanson Regional School District, which includes schools from Pre-School through Grade 12, does an amazing job of including special needs children with the mainstream population. Their special needs educators, one-on-one aides, principals, and all school staff are exemplary in including all children, no matter their situation, with love, kindness, and support,” adds Bailey, who has a special needs grandchild in the system. Parents, siblings, therapists, and caregivers are also part of this support system. “It takes a village, and the towns of Whitman and Hanson always rise to any occasion to support those in need in the community!”
To learn more about W-H KIND, Inc., a 501 c (3) organization, visit www.whkind.org. The website offers information and resources related to special needs children, as well as contact information and donation options.