91制片厂 Connects with Community During “Building Blocks” Party and “Light It Up Blue”
The back lot at 91制片厂 is typically filled with cars, but on April 7, it was filled with fun.
Complete with bounce houses, police cruisers, cotton candy, carnival games, a mini-Raiders football camp, and more, the university hosted its first 鈥淏uilding Blocks鈥� Party for 鈥榙ifferently-abled鈥� children and adolescents.
The university partnered with Henderson Police Department and Special Olympics Nevada for the special event. Touro also worked with several sponsors to offset the costs, including Healthcare Partners, Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Emerald Island Casino, Siegel Cares, Current Events, Latin Chamber of Commerce, Got Turf, Balloons with a Twist, and Zippy Shell.
Additional partners included the soon-to-be Las Vegas Raiders, the Las Vegas Lights, and others.
Students from the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and Health and Human Services also worked together to create unique low/limited/full sensory carnival games specifically for the 鈥榙ifferently-abled鈥� community.
鈥淲e wanted to bring our daughter Azlynn to the Building Blocks party so she could experience a carnival with other 鈥榙ifferently-abled鈥� children,鈥� said Kimberlie Opipari, whose two-year-old daughter Azlynn has Down Syndrome. 鈥淪he had a great time playing games and we鈥檙e so glad that Touro had this type of carnival for kids like her.鈥�
The Building Blocks Party was also attended by families who brought their neuro-typical children to engage with the 鈥榙ifferently-abled鈥� community.
鈥淚 wanted to bring my nieces here to play with 鈥榙ifferently-abled鈥� kids as a way for them to spend more time with kids who might not be like them,鈥� said Henderson resident Erin Campbell. 鈥� 鈥楧ifferently-abled鈥� children are becoming more integrated in society, and I think it鈥檚 important for our kids鈥� development and the world in general.鈥�
More than 75 students across all of Touro鈥檚 programs volunteered during the event. While some worked near the carnival games and food court, others gave tours of the three mobile healthcare clinics.
鈥淚 wanted to participate in the Building Blocks Party because I love interacting with children,鈥� said first-year medical student Yesenia Vasquez. 鈥淚t also gave me the opportunity to put my bilingual skills to good use in the community.鈥�
In addition to hosting its first Building Blocks party, 91制片厂 celebrated the beginning of Autism Awareness Month with the annual Light It Up Blue party inside the Linq on April 1. The event was for families in the Sharon Sigesmund Pierce and Stephen Pierce Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities.
Families had a blast riding The High Roller and celebrated with a party that included face painting, balloon animals, healthy snacks, and more. Shortly before 8 p.m. that night, families and Touro staff, students, and administrators gathered outside for a group photo in front of The High Roller as it turned blue in celebration of Autism Awareness Month.
