Inclusion Festival-Support a Family
Tax deductible
Inclusion Festival is the nation’s first autism and sensory-friendly outdoor music and wellness festival for individuals with and without disabilities, presented in partnership with the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Accessible Festivals , and returning August 9-11, 2019 to Mountain Sky Festival Grounds in Jermyn, PA.
We recognize that many individuals and families impacted by special needs struggle to balance their social, emotional, and financial needs. In response, the Inclusion Festival team is proud to launch our SUPPORT A FAMILY PROGRAM!
Anyone who wishes to support the special needs community, including those who do not plan to attend Inclusion Festival, can positively impact another’s life by purchasing tickets to Inclusion Festival for an individual or family in need.
The importance of festivals is documented throughout history and across many different cultures. Traditionally, festivals are a purposeful and profound way to connect with our roots, reflect on personal values and experiences, and identify rituals and practices that resonate with us. They offer individuals an opportunity to come together in celebration, strengthening our sense of belonging and cohesiveness, and connecting with inner purpose to guide and sustain positive lifestyle choices.
Inclusion Festival is designed to celebrate neurodiversity, promote understanding and acceptance, and provide educational opportunities within a safe, nurturing environment. Through this experience, we aim to shift the public's perception of special needs, demonstrating the ability all individuals hold to positively impact their communities when they are empowered to be the best versions of themselves.
At Inclusion Festival , individuals with and without special needs experience live music, educational and recreational workshops for all ages and abilities, lectures delivered by experts in the field, craft and product vendors, food vendors, performance artists, a community resource fair highlighting local service providers, vocational opportunities, evidence-based therapies, and more.
A literature review conducted by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) concludes that music is universally appealing and helps to promote social, emotional, and cognitive skills across many different disability categories. Additionally, there is strong potential for communities with diverse needs and backgrounds to bond through shared musical experiences like those that will be offered at Inclusion Festival.
In addition to offering a unique, uplifting live music experience previously inaccessible to many individuals with special needs, Inclusion Festival aims to inspire communities to learn, connect, advocate, and share resources in order to establish and strengthen a network of community support services.
According to a literature review published by the Division on Developmental Disabilities, families with children on the autism spectrum experience high levels of stress and feelings of social isolation. Access to social support networks has been found to increase coping abilities and adaptation, however families report a general lack of awareness about ongoing available support services, highlighting the need to provide them with opportunities for networking and education about providers that can help.
Inclusion Festival founders are Amy Pinder, MA, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist and Leah Barron, MAT, RYT-200, a special education teacher and yoga instructor. Leah and Amy met at a music festival, share a lifelong passion for helping children with special needs, and believe their friendship and project venture was destined. Both have over ten years of experience working with children and adults with special needs, have pioneered innovative programs in their communities, and love to incorporate regulatory, play-based movement like yoga and circus play into their sessions to help students strengthen their confidence, persistence, communication skills, and social-emotional well-being.
You are invited to nominate yourself, an individual in need, or a family in need by filling out the Support A Family Application. Families may be traditional or non-traditional. You are also invited to donate to our Support A Family Fund, with or without a nominee in mind.
We have been working so hard securing grants and charitable sponsorships to cover our essential operating costs; to pay staff, performers, and educators; and to ensure success and sustainability for many years to come!
All funds raised from this campaign will be used to directly fund the attendance of families in need of financial support who will benefit from Inclusion Festival.
$25 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable one individual with special needs the opportunity to attend programming for one day at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
$50 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable one individual with special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
$100 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable an ENTIRE FAMILY impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
- A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
$200 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable TWO FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-An Inclusion Festival gift pack with branded merch items including a stress ball, an Inclusion Festival t-shirt, and an Inclusion Festival car magnet
$300 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable THREE FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-A virtual one hour session with one of Inclusion Festival’s founders, Amy Pinder or Leah Barron. You may choose the class of your choice: yoga, family yoga, hula hooping, mindfulness meditation
$400 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable FOUR FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-An Inclusion Festival gift pack with branded merch items including a stress ball, an Inclusion Festival t-shirt, and an Inclusion Festival car magnet
-A virtual one hour session with one of Inclusion Festival’s founders, Amy Pinder or Leah Barron. You may choose the class of your choice: yoga, family yoga, hula hooping, mindfulness meditation
Please consider donating to our Support A Family Program to support the attendance of a family or individual with special needs today!
ANY amount will make a difference and is wholeheartedly appreciated. THANK YOU!
We recognize that many individuals and families impacted by special needs struggle to balance their social, emotional, and financial needs. In response, the Inclusion Festival team is proud to launch our SUPPORT A FAMILY PROGRAM!
Anyone who wishes to support the special needs community, including those who do not plan to attend Inclusion Festival, can positively impact another’s life by purchasing tickets to Inclusion Festival for an individual or family in need.
The importance of festivals is documented throughout history and across many different cultures. Traditionally, festivals are a purposeful and profound way to connect with our roots, reflect on personal values and experiences, and identify rituals and practices that resonate with us. They offer individuals an opportunity to come together in celebration, strengthening our sense of belonging and cohesiveness, and connecting with inner purpose to guide and sustain positive lifestyle choices.
Inclusion Festival is designed to celebrate neurodiversity, promote understanding and acceptance, and provide educational opportunities within a safe, nurturing environment. Through this experience, we aim to shift the public's perception of special needs, demonstrating the ability all individuals hold to positively impact their communities when they are empowered to be the best versions of themselves.
At Inclusion Festival , individuals with and without special needs experience live music, educational and recreational workshops for all ages and abilities, lectures delivered by experts in the field, craft and product vendors, food vendors, performance artists, a community resource fair highlighting local service providers, vocational opportunities, evidence-based therapies, and more.
A literature review conducted by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) concludes that music is universally appealing and helps to promote social, emotional, and cognitive skills across many different disability categories. Additionally, there is strong potential for communities with diverse needs and backgrounds to bond through shared musical experiences like those that will be offered at Inclusion Festival.
In addition to offering a unique, uplifting live music experience previously inaccessible to many individuals with special needs, Inclusion Festival aims to inspire communities to learn, connect, advocate, and share resources in order to establish and strengthen a network of community support services.
According to a literature review published by the Division on Developmental Disabilities, families with children on the autism spectrum experience high levels of stress and feelings of social isolation. Access to social support networks has been found to increase coping abilities and adaptation, however families report a general lack of awareness about ongoing available support services, highlighting the need to provide them with opportunities for networking and education about providers that can help.
Inclusion Festival founders are Amy Pinder, MA, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist and Leah Barron, MAT, RYT-200, a special education teacher and yoga instructor. Leah and Amy met at a music festival, share a lifelong passion for helping children with special needs, and believe their friendship and project venture was destined. Both have over ten years of experience working with children and adults with special needs, have pioneered innovative programs in their communities, and love to incorporate regulatory, play-based movement like yoga and circus play into their sessions to help students strengthen their confidence, persistence, communication skills, and social-emotional well-being.
You are invited to nominate yourself, an individual in need, or a family in need by filling out the Support A Family Application. Families may be traditional or non-traditional. You are also invited to donate to our Support A Family Fund, with or without a nominee in mind.
We have been working so hard securing grants and charitable sponsorships to cover our essential operating costs; to pay staff, performers, and educators; and to ensure success and sustainability for many years to come!
All funds raised from this campaign will be used to directly fund the attendance of families in need of financial support who will benefit from Inclusion Festival.
$25 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable one individual with special needs the opportunity to attend programming for one day at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
$50 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable one individual with special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
$100 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable an ENTIRE FAMILY impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
- A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
$200 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable TWO FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-An Inclusion Festival gift pack with branded merch items including a stress ball, an Inclusion Festival t-shirt, and an Inclusion Festival car magnet
$300 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable THREE FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-A virtual one hour session with one of Inclusion Festival’s founders, Amy Pinder or Leah Barron. You may choose the class of your choice: yoga, family yoga, hula hooping, mindfulness meditation
$400 donation (tax-deductible)
-will enable FOUR FAMILIES impacted by special needs the opportunity to attend ALL of the programming available at Inclusion Festival 2019
-A handwritten thank you note for your donation
-A public thank-you on our social media page (if desired)
-An official Inclusion Festival 2019 poster
-An Inclusion Festival gift pack with branded merch items including a stress ball, an Inclusion Festival t-shirt, and an Inclusion Festival car magnet
-A virtual one hour session with one of Inclusion Festival’s founders, Amy Pinder or Leah Barron. You may choose the class of your choice: yoga, family yoga, hula hooping, mindfulness meditation
Please consider donating to our Support A Family Program to support the attendance of a family or individual with special needs today!
ANY amount will make a difference and is wholeheartedly appreciated. THANK YOU!
Organizer
Leah Barron
Organizer
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Accessible Festivals
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
