NEDSRA participants bowl with Elmhust College students
Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association offers a bowling program to promote inclusion within the community.
Known as Unified Bowling, the program matches students from Elmhurst College with NEDSRA bowlers with disabilities. The students, as well as the NEDSRA athletes, gain valuable life experiences with people they might not normally meet. The program meets for eight consecutive Sundays at Wood Dale Bowl to bowl two games each week.
The leader of the NEDSRA program, Bob Griffin, has been involved for the past 10 years. He also works for the Ray Graham Association and has made a career of helping adults and children with disabilities.
"It's nice to see the young kids having a good time with our participants," Griffin said. "I think they get as much joy out of it as our athletes."
Carolyn Peters, an Elmhurst College senior, first volunteered at NEDSRA's track meet this past spring and loved it so much she got involved with Unified Bowling.
"I first learned about the program during a presentation in my intercultural studies and psychology class," Peters said. She has a cousin with autism and a sister diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, which also was motivation to volunteer.
Kelly Frederickson is a first-time volunteer majoring in psychology and says she likes the NEDSRA program.
"The participants are so genuine and it makes me happy to be around them," she said.
Her bowling partner, 29 year-old Nancy Morong from Wood Dale, agreed.
"I like to bowl because it is fun!" she said.
Elmhurst College offers a major in intercultural studies. This program enables students to learn about cultural and cross-cultural skills and relationships among different groups in the United States and abroad. It is designed to help students participate more meaningfully in their social, civic and increasingly global world of work roles.
Elizabeth Majka is a professor of psychology at Elmhurst College and her research investigates how people successfully maintain a sense of belonging. She said that students are required to serve 10 hours in the community to have experiences they won't have on campus. The goal is to graduate more well-rounded individuals.
"Bowling is the perfect way for EC students to connect with NEDSRA participants," Majka said. "It's a fun, casual opportunity for interaction that gets them off campus and into the community. And who doesn't like bowling?"
Tyler Davila is a senior studying exercise science at Elmhurst and hopes to become a physical therapist. He came to volunteer for a different reason.
"I was on the bowling team at Huntley High School and had a 175 average. I like bowling a lot and I wanted to share my bowling knowledge and teach positive attitudes with these athletes," Davila said.
He plans to continue volunteering after he graduates.