Teachers in Action project EEX 4070

1. Make m’ Smile!
Jordan Singer
jksinger@knights.ucf.edu
Ilona Jove
ijove@knights.ucf.edu
July 20, 2014
EEX 4070 – Teaching
Exceptional Needs

2. Introduction
• Every year Nathaniel’s Hope organization dedicates a festival called
Make m’ Smile for children with all types of disabilities and their
families at Lake Eola.
• VIP children and their families receive free wrist bands for all food,
drinks, entertainment and family activities! Additional wrist bands
require a $2 donation.
• The event includes buddies, who are individuals, couples or families
that would like to join VIP children and families for the event for a
friendship stroll around Lake Eola.

3. Engagement Activities
• Make m’ Smile is an annual community event dedicated to
to celebrate VIP’s (children or adults with special
needs or disabilities) and their families.
• We invite people from the community to stroll
around the park while enjoying entertainment, food,
family activities and fun!!
• Make m’ Smile is held on the first Saturday of June
every year at Lake Eola.
• There are over hundreds of sponsors, from Z88.3
• to Chick-Fil-A, Gatorland, Sea World, and Universal. Until this year, the event solely
ran on donations. This was the first year they asked friends of the VIP families to
purchase their wristbands that get them free food and extra gifts for $2 each.
• My Aunt is in charge of volunteers for the event. I was able to email her to get
Jordan and I set up to be Buddies of some of the VIP families. This was when we
were able to get to know these children and their families.
• We filled our requirements by participating in the training, helping set up the event,
working at table, being a VIP buddy and interacting with guests.

4. Participant Demographics
• Make m’ Smile includes children with all
types of disabilities. Many children and
families came to enjoy the festival and
celebrate their VIP child’s day created
specifically for them. According to the City
of Orlando Park Manager the Make m’ Smile
festival included over 2,200 VIP’s in
attendance.
• Ages: infants – adulthood
• Diversity: Diverse ethnicities, heritages,
linguistics, and exceptionalities.
• Types of disabilities: range from physical,
cognitive, medical or hidden disability,
chronic or like threatening illness, or those
who are medically fragile. (VIP Kids!)
How we worked in unity with I.D.E.A. These individuals have been tested by
professionals and have been given Individualized Education Plans based on their
type of disability. In order for children and families to attend the festival for free
families had to show proof of their child’s disability, such as an IEP plan.

5. Service In Action

6. Perception of Differences

7. Connections to Coursework
• I completed my Teachers in Action project for my Teaching Exceptional
Students (EEX4070) class at the University of Central Florida.
• Three course topics that I now have a better understanding of by
completing my service learning include:
1. Disability awareness in the community
2.Interacting with students who may have autism and
developmental disabilities, visual impairments, hearing loss,
physical disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.
3. Learning how families, teachers and the community can largely
impact and influence individuals with special needs.
• Knowing more about these topics will help me become the best educator
I can be. Children with special needs can influence and impact a
community in the same way that families, teachers and the community
can impact a child with special needs. I believe it is important to spread
awareness about individuals with special needs because they are human
want to be loved as well as accepted just like everybody else.

8. Civic Engagement
• Civic engagement gives individuals the
opportunity to service others, their
community and themselves which also aids
in creating a bond between the people and
their community.
• I felt rewarded to help brighten another
persons day, month or even year.
• Service learning helps students to create
personal connections, experiences and
opinions on the subject matter at hand.

9. Final Thoughts and Reflection
Participating at the Make ‘m Smile event was an incredible
experience. We were able to work with these children with special needs
as well as learn from interacting with them. This experience helped us
develop appropriate skills and knowledge that we will be able to take with
us into our future classroom. I look forward to being able to volunteer next
year as well as years to come and hopefully be able to get others involved
too. Having the opportunity to work with these students gave us such a
rewarding feeling but more importantly, it provided us with practice and
skills that we will need as future educators. This event helps to educate
the community about individuals with special needs as well as celebrate the
struggle they face on a daily basis and still manage to smile at the end of
the day. One of the most incredible things was seeing how many people
showed up and participated; including volunteers, VIP’s, and some teachers!
Many of the VIPs and their families have been attending the Make m’ Smile
festival for the past 10 years. Overall this experience was incredible and
we are grateful to have been given the opportunity to share these
memories and to make m’ smile!