severe physical problems. Veterans Administration Medical Center personnel and Disabled Veterans mem- bers demonstrate a bus with a wheelchair lift that com- plies with ADA standards. A car with an overhead wheelchair compartment is displayed. The Girl Scouts of America participate froma 15- county area in north Florida; they conduct awareness activities such as Trust Walks (people are blindfolded), Crutch Walks, and wheelchair courses. This year, they constructed a disability maze with scouts providing awareness information and experiences such as lip reading to guide people to the finish. This group also sells hot dogs and drinks with proceeds going to buy additional electric doors for our campus and to help provide emergency funds for disabled LCCC students. Student government clubs and the Florida Association for Community Colleges sell “Country Store” homemade goodies and raffle tickets to contribute to our “Doors for the Disabled” project. The second main event is presented under a large circus tent. Performances take place on a raised ramp stage from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Sign language interpreters volunteer their services throughout the day. Events include: 1. Special Education Boy Scouts presenting the flag and leading the Pledge of Allegiance 2. Campus vice president, student leaders, faculty, and staff drawing for a “Disability for the Day” (These individuals assume a handicap until the afternoon and then report their experiences and the barriers they encountered.) 3. Awards to outstanding disability service providers . Kids on the Block (disabled puppet show) 5. Sign Language Songs by school children, sign lan- guage instructor, campus signer, and faculty 6. White Cane & Southeastern Guide Dog demonstra- tions 7. Gospel singers (A disabled student is a member of this group.) 8. Dance troupe and cheerleaders from Florida School for the Deaf and Blind 9. A disabled musician playing the piano and organ. ~ The third event of the day is the rough-and-tumble wheelchair basketball game. Free tickets are distributed to recreational centers and schools around our commu- nity to draw all ages to this event. A halftime show is presented by the cheerleaders from Florida School for the Deaf, the LCCC dance team, and the Lake City Junior High Falconettes Dance Group. The costs are nominal, and the event may make money. Our costs consist of providing a lunch and dinner for the cheerleaders and dance troupe and whcel- chair basketball game referees. Donations cover other expenses. Once expenses are cleared, the balance is profit made from refreshments, raffle, and small item sales. The proceeds go toward the purchase of more electric doors for the disabled. Local clubs and organizations also are solicited for a donation to defray expenses. Some public school teachers and college instructors present Handicapped Awareness units or activities before the college day. Various disabled students from our campus make presentations in selected classrooms and scout meetings. How can your campus plan a Handicapped Aware- ness Day? 1. Forma planning committee composed of community representatives from state and local agencies, clubs, businesses, volunteers, and campus personnel. 2. Select a chairperson for committees such as Schools, Volunteers, Program Development, Funds Solicita- tion, and Publicity. 3. Involve the Student Government Association and campus clubs. 4. Develop a logo and theme. 5. Research the latest equipment and materials and invite new companies to attend. Seek to represent all disabilities. 7. Invite public school superintendents, college boards of trustees, churches, civic clubs, city and county leaders, and business people. 8. Have your exhibitors and performers evaluate the program. 9. Stress that more than 43 million Americans with disabilities need to be portrayed realistically and their disabilities need to be explained accurately. 10. Consider the needs of people with disabilities when planning events. Handicapped Awareness Day has been a success! Local support groups have been formed, networking with state and federal agencies has improved, displayed products have been purchased, community involvement and awareness has been increased, and transition from schools to college to jobs has been enhanced. os Edna Hindson, Counselor, Handicapped Services For further information, contact the author at Lake City Community College, Route 3, Box 7, Lake City, FL 32055. Suanne D. Roueche, Editor November 13, 1992, Vol. XIV, No. 28 ©The Unwersity of Texas at Austn, 1992 Further duplication is permitted by MEMBER institutons for their own personnel. INNOVATION ABSTRACTS is a publication of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD), Department of Educatonal Administraton, College of Education, EDB 348, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, (512) 471-7545. Funding in part by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the Sid W. Richardson Foundation. Issued weekly when classes are in session during fall and spring terms. ISSN 0199-106X.