WELCOME Friends! Neighbors!
Join our “10/10” team of people that support
Break Through's mission
Help encourage, educate and support
persons with disabilities to fulfill their dreams
"Our
mission is one of rehabilitation education and advocacy for
and about people with disabilities to encourage and
enlighten the public about people with disabilities in that
they are people first and have rights and needs and that
they also have gifts and talents to bring to the
community."
Hope you will join us to be a 10/10 Team
Friend. The 10/10 team is one of the sponsorship ways that Break
Through Inc. receives funding to help in our mission of
rehabilitation education and advocacy for and about people with
disabilities. We are a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization.
Today we are need of funds to present
workshops next year of 2012. Break Through’s Ben D. Anderson will be
speaking at workshops which are targeted towards educators and
families involved with young children who have disabilities/special
needs.
Some of these workshops presentations do not pay for
expenses or give any honorariums but they are very important
conferences and we are thankful to be invited to speak at them. You
can read where we were and where we will be traveling at the website
link “Where We’ve Been” at
www.bendanderson.com We had several great
conferences in Texas, Indianapolis, IN and Watertown, SD in
2010
where we connected with many educators and parents. We also had a
great conference in Minot, ND at the Pathfinder's Parent Conference May 6-8th of 2010.
In May of 2011 Ben did a workshop for self-advocates in St. Paul,
MN. From June through August Ben
provides workshops on disabilities at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible
Camp in Amery, WI where he has been their summer resource staff for
most of the last 30 years.
In 2010
Ben was invited to speak to students and faculty at Minot State
University for October Disability Awareness Month where the special
education department is using his book "IQ of 63, So What!" as a
textbook. He again spoke in Sept. of 2011 for special education students
at Minot State. In April of 2012 he will be speaking to youths at
Middle and High Schools throughout South Dakota where he is touring and
giving workshops and presentations to parent groups, consumers,
teachers, advocates and the general pubic.
Therefore, we are asking you to consider a
donation (in any amount) to help support these educational projects. Your
contribution would be a great encouragement in funding these
traveling/lodging expenses.
September 30, 2010
Ben was a guest lecturer
in my graduate level
SPED professional and
family partnership
class. His life story
completely mesmerized my
students. Many of my
students later told me
that Ben's story more
than moved them - it
changed them. Ben taught
my graduate students
something that classes
filled with
textbooks could not -
how to walk in the shoes
of a thriving individual
who has spent a live
time with a disability.
*************
September 29, 2010 I met Ben at a National Paraeducator Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. He is just an amazing guy and with all of his struggles through his life he has created this great non profit and tool for others to learn. But not only for other adults to learn but a tool to teach with. I might work with students who might not get what Ben is doing but we have helpers in the classroom that do. I love using his story to help them understand you don't pity those in my classroom and you never under estimate them either. I think every teacher should read his book and hear him speak. Being part of the Special Needs area I strongly feel it should be a requirement.
*************
Ben,
I was in
one of the Diversity Management classes that you spoke
to at UW-Stout on Tuesday, November 3. You are a very
influential man and told a wonderful story. I now believe
that every person has a disability, after your
presentation I thought about it and I recognized mine.
Thank you for coming to our class and speaking to
us!--Sincerely, Jennifer Seck
***************
Dear Mr. Anderson:
Our two daughters just got home from summer camp at
Lutherhaven in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Our oldest (who is 12)
had learned a new word during her week away at camp -
"disability."
It's not that she was unfamiliar with the term, of course,
but more that she'd never given it much thought. We have a
close friend confined to a wheelchair, but as is the nature
of children, our daughter always just sort of "accepted" the
fact that our friend can't walk, and never looked further.
But then she heard you speak at camp, and was deeply
impressed by whatever it was you said. She's been talking
about you ever since. Your topic was reinforced by the fact
that her camp counselor uses a walker despite her young
age. Our daughter came home with a much more mature
understanding of human nature and the ability to see
limitations as gifts and opportunities, as you've done with
your ministry.
I don't know what specifically you talked about at
Lutherhaven, but I thank you very much for speaking. You
certainly made a lasting impression on our pre-teen!
Best wishes,
Patrice Lewis
*******************
FUNDRAISER ITEMS
PLEASE HELP SUPPORT BREAK THOUGH.
We are offering a rare vintage Hawaiian dress and a vintage 14k rose
gold ruby watch
to help with funding
for Break Through
You can see complete descriptions of what
is for sale on this link here FUNDRAISER ITEMS
WyPec -Wyoming Para-Educators
Consortium, Gillette, WY
Sept. 15, 2009
Dear Ben,
Thank you for presenting at WyPEC's Sixth Annual
Paraeducator Conference. Your contribution was very helpful
in making the 2009 conference a success.
Enclosed ( below) is the evaluation scores and comments in
reference to your session.
Sincerely,
Ellen Nelson , President Wyoming Paraeducators Consortium
Ben Anderson- 61 surveys
Enthusiastic, dynamic & stimulating-
Outstanding 56%,
Excellent 31%, Good 13% Able to communicate points-
Outstanding 41 %,
Excellent 43%, Good 16% Appropriate for session's objectives-
Outstanding 61%,
Excellent 31%, Good 5% Well organized-
Outstanding 56%, Excellent 33%, Good 10% Overall rating of presentation-
Outstanding 51%,
Excellent 24%, Good 10%
Break
Through’s
