ARISE marks 25 years of memories

Sept. 30--Every kid adds a chapter to the story.

Every family treasures that memory.

Every participant in the ARISE program has their first electric moment -- the first time they get to be included regardless of their disability, instead of being excluded because of it.

"It just brings tears to your eyes when they're able to participate with other kids and be successful," said St. Cloud resident Susie McIntyre, whose son Lane and daughter Kayla participate in activities through ARISE.

"It teaches the other kids how to interact with special-needs kids," she said. "It's really a model program."

"I can't imagine what their lives would be like now (without ARISE)," said St. Cloud Cathedral High School activities director Emmett Keenan, whose sons Tom and Cody were among the charter group of ARISE participants 25 years ago.

"When you have a child with a disability and you see everything that typical children are able to do, it's heart-wrenching to think your child won't be able to do it," added Peg Bjorklund, whose 17-year-old daughter Megan is a St. Cloud Cathedral junior and a member of the CHS dance team.

"ARISE has made it possible for Megan to be involved."

For 25 years, ARISE has made countless special moments possible. And it's time to celebrate them.

The 25th anniversary of ARISE -- A Recreational Inclusion Support Endeavor, which provides support for kids with physical and mental disabilities to enable them to participate in community recreation and leisure activities with their peers -- will be observed Oct. 9 with a program and fundraiser at Regency Plaza in downtown St. Cloud. The public is invited.

"Back then, it was really a lot of, 'Wow, this can really happen.' People were surprised," said Deb Johansen, the program's founder and director. "We did a lot of PR work back then that these kids do belong, that they can be included.

"It was kind of a dream that we would be able to provide support for those kids to go to recreational activities with their friends," added Johansen, who started the program in 1989 with a grant from Vinland National Center.

ARISE funding now comes from the United Way of Central Minnesota, grants, donations and special events. The program has served thousands of people from within a 30-mile radius of St. Cloud.

"The only kids they had experience going to school with were kids with disabilities," Johansen said of the program's early days. "And now they're in classes with their peers, riding buses with their peers. It was a big change for those barrier-breakers."

The names change over the years, but their families tell basically the same stories:

--"It's been such a fantastic program. It's right on for these kids," said McIntyre, whose autistic son has participated in tee ball, swimming lessons and art lessons through ARISE.

"His self-esteem and confidence have just grown. I remember the first time he got into tee ball, and hit that ball," she said.

"He looked at me and said, 'I can do it, Mom.' "

--"They really engage the kids and make it so fun," said Rebecca Schlough, whose daughter Chloe (now 20) was involved in ARISE. "She would fit right in, which doesn't always happen with kids with disabilities.

"She was able to be there, play the game, be with her peers -- and not just kids with disabilities."

--"Megan blossomed," Bjorklund said. "When she had the ARISE helpers and realized she didn't need Mom, she just blossomed.

"She had a voice. She was with a friend."

--"It was phenomenal," Keenan added. "My sons are now 31 and 30. They still have those relationships with some of those peers.

"Deb has been there every minute of every day of that 25 years. It never would have happened without Deb. They have championed this. This is their passion."

It still is, which is part of the reason for the celebration -- that, and the need to keep ARISE going.

It means a lot, even for people who aren't dealing with disabilities.

"I continually run into people who I know have been mainstream facilitators for ARISE," Keenan said. "Now I see them being successful adults -- raising families, being empathetic members of the community.

"I hope we've helped create and nurture group of adults who have a great understanding of what it's like to grow up with a disability."

"We've heard from other people who were moving out of the District 742 area. They say, 'How do I get hold of ARISE where we're moving?' And this is it," Schlough said.

"ARISE exists only because Deb started it. We're very unique that way, and we're so thankful."

This is the opinion of Times columnist Dave DeLand. Contact him at 255-8771 or by email at ddeland@stcloudtimes.com. Follow him on Twitter @davedeland and on Facebook at Dave DeLand SC Times.

ARISE celebration Oct. 9

The ARISE "25 For 25" celebration and fund-raiser will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m.Oct. 9 at Regency Plaza, 912 W. St. Germain St., St. Cloud.

There will be free hors-d'oeuvres and a cash bar, followed by a program at 6:15 p.m.

RSVP to ARISE at celebratearise@gmail.com, or contact Deb Johansen at 320-253-5857, ext. 5846.

Donations can be sent to ARISE at 124 1st Ave. SE, St. Joseph, MN 56374.

___

(c)2014 the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.)

Visit the St. Cloud Times (St. Cloud, Minn.) at www.sctimes.com

Distributed by MCT Information Services