Providence Child Center Teams up with Portland Children’s Museum to Show ‘The Best Part of Me’

Sept. 22, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. — This fall, Providence Child Center and the Portland Children’s Museum join up to provide unique opportunities for child play and community learning. The collaboration kicks off on Oct. 3 and 4 with “The Best Part of Me,” a two-day interactive exhibit aimed at increasing disability awareness with kids.

Staff members from Providence Neurodevelopmental Center for Children will be on site at the Children’s Museum with hands-on displays that give kids an opportunity to operate a wheelchair, use augmentative communication devices, experience hearing or vision loss, and more. These types of activities are instructive for children in developing understanding and empathy for their disabled peers.

“It’s an opportunity to teach compassion and understanding,” said Scott Schroeder, the neurodevelopmental center’s pediatric rehab manager. “Activities such as these really open kids’ eyes to the diversity of individuals.”

The sentiment is echoed by Ingrid Anderson, director of programs and outreach for Portland’s Children’s Museum. “The museum is a great venue for education of all kinds,” said Anderson. “Collaboration with Providence Child Center on this project helps us to increase and improve access to the museum for all children and families.”

“The Best Part of Me” activities will be offered 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 3, and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Museum admission is free on Friday as part of the Museum's Target First Free Friday Nights. Regular admission rates apply on Saturday: $8 for adults and $7 for kids/seniors – children under the age of one free.