Among the approximately 5,000 kids receiving Aultman’s annual Safety First education this year were special needs students at Rebecca Stallman Southgate School and Avondale Elementary School.

Southgate, operated by the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities, offers services for students age 6-21 with physical and/or developmental challenges. A satellite classroom is also available at Avondale, thanks to a partnership with Plain Local Schools.

Aultman’s Safety First program has been encouraging helmet use and bike safety for first-graders since 2005. Teams of Aultman employees visit local classrooms to teach a lesson on bike safety. In addition to learning that helmets are essential to safety, students are taught the rules of the road using a fun, interactive coloring book that they can take home and review again with an adult. At the end of the session, each student is given a new bicycle helmet.

A total of 14 Aultman Health Foundation employees volunteered at Southgate earlier this month, while two taught at Avondale, and reached 51 students in grades K-5. “I chose Southgate because my stepson John attends there,” said Aultman employee Teresa Hall. “It was amazing to see the children’s excitement to receive the helmets and just the sheer joy on their faces having us there!”

This is the first year the Safety First program included Southgate, and the staff members thanked the Aultman volunteers repeatedly. “The teacher and aides in our classroom were so helpful as we went through the safety booklet. They even gave me some picture cards to use during the presentation to help reinforce the material in the book,” said employee Tony DiAntonio. “The children were so excited when we brought out the helmets. One girl really smiled when we explained that the helmet was hers to take home.”

Teresa is especially grateful to Aultman and the Safety First volunteers for their contributions. “It melts my heart every single time we take part in a volunteer situation to help the children and parents alike with the extra tasks that come along with a ‘specially abled’ child. Something as simple as a helmet means so much to them,” she shared. “I am proud to work for an organization that acknowledges the needs of kids in our community, including the special needs children.”