Curt and I have been volunteering at St Michael’s Association for Special Education (SMASE), located on the Navajo reservation in Window Rock, AZ. I volunteered here in the summer of 1985, and being able to go back as a volunteer to this special school was one of the driving factors when I decided to retire earlier this year.

SMASE serves a very special, underserved and vulnerable population. My experience in the summer of 1985 in this very special place never left me, and Curt and I are honored to be back to help in whatever capacity we can. The members here range from moderately disabled to severely disabled (non-verbal, non-ambulatory).

SMASE is in dire need of assistance.

"In the Navajo (Diné) culture, “Special People” are considered to be the Children of the Holy People who are seen as gifts and sacrifice for the life of able beings. It is essential we maintain the quality of life for all, especially our 'Special People”' "

SMASE was opened in 1970 and has served moderately to severely disabled Navajo children and adults.

Unfortunately, SMASE – and the Navajo community in general - was decimated by the COVID pandemic and had to close their K-12 school, which at one time had over 125 students. SMASE does continue to have residential and day programs for adults with disabilities, and they are working diligently to regrow that program.

The current focus for SMASE once they stabilize and regrow the adult program, is to eventually re-open the school. The Navajo reservation is 27,413 square miles - or 16 million acres - yet SMASE is one of very few Special Ed organizations on the entire reservation.

SMASE lost significant funding when they were forced to close the school. Buildings are badly in need of repair, buses need to be replaced, and they have had to reduce hours for staff and even eliminate much-needed positions, such as physical therapists and full-time nursing, that the clients really need.

Should a closure of the adult program occur, the transition of the members currently living in the Group Homes will transition to other facilities, which could be outside the vicinity of the Navajo Reservation. The impact of closure will result in moving and transferring them to a new unknown environment. This will cause hardship for the parents and guardians, and more so to the members. SMASE is the only home that some of these client members have ever known. Some have been at SMASE for over 40 years!

SMASE has had to close buildings because new roofs are needed and they don’t have funding, the dirt roads get flooded and the sidewalks overrun whenever there are rains and it’s extremely difficult to move the members around the campus – particularly those in wheelchairs. The playground, which was specially-designed for the members, cannot be used because it’s in dire of repair in order not to be dangerous for those with special needs.

I know the SMASE community would be extremely grateful for any assistance or awareness you could bring to this special community.

No donation is too small, and every donation would be greatly appreciated! Please visit their website at SMASE.org to get a better sense of what

this organization is about.

THANK YOU for any and all consideration you can give to SMASE!