OLDS — Special Family Voices and Special Olympics Alberta Olds & District (SOAOD) has teamed up to celebrate National AccessAbility Awareness Week (NAAW), which runs from May 25 to 31.
Special Family Voices is a non-profit organization run by families serving the Mountain View County area. Its purpose is to improve the lives of people with special needs.
NAAW is an annual event that promotes accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities in communities and workplaces.
The week is also an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and celebrate effort to remove barriers they face.
Although the week of celebrations didn't officially begin until May 25, SOAOD was to dive into the activities early on May 24 when it was set to host a swim meet at the Olds Aquatic Centre.
That meet was expected to involve more than 100 athletes and families from across the province.
Several free events will be on tap during the week as well.
On Sunday, May 25, a free film, Temple Grandin, was scheduled in collaboration with Olds College, to be shown at 2 p.m. in the college’s Werklund Agriculture and Technology Centre.
Temple Grandin is the story of a women with autism whose innovations revolutionized practices for the humane handling of livestock.
It’s based on her memoirs Emergence and Thinking in Pictures.
On Wednesday May 28, a Red Shirt Day celebration will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #105 in Olds from 2 to 5 p.m.
On Red Shirt Day, people are encouraged to wear a red shirt to show their support for people with disabilities and their families
Celebrations include a mini trade fair of organizations serving people with disabilities. Music will be provided by Dean Ray.
On Saturday, May 31, another free film, The Peanut Butter Falcon, will be shown at 2 p.m. in the Mayfair Cinema.
It portrays a young man with Down syndrome who runs away from a residential nursing home, following his dream to attend the pro-wrestling school of his idol, The Salt Water Red Neck.
The film is rated PG-13, with some course language.
