Augie’s Adventures keeps special needs kids in the game, both figuratively and literally. The importance, the challenges of doing this? Founder Heidi Terselic shares her reasons, her commitment, her hopes, dreams, and plans for parents and kids (of any age) with disabilities.
Who is Augie?
Augustus “Augie” Michael Terselic is my 19-year-old son. He has Down syndrome. Throughout his life, my husband, Mike, and I have done everything possible to keep him connected with friends and activities in the same way that his three older sisters, Vivien, Ella, and Millie, have been.
And there were challenges ...
We lived in two different states and in Canada before moving to Loveland when Augie was in the fourth grade. He always had a personal aide assigned to him at those previous schools, and while that gave him lots of academic support, there was little interaction with his peers.
Was that the inspiration for the launch of Augie’s Adventures in 2021?
Yes, partially, but before that, things had already changed for the better when we moved to Loveland 10 years ago.
What was different?
We found a total environment of inclusion in his elementary school. From an early age, kids were taught that having someone like Augie, a person with Down syndrome or others with special needs, sitting next to you is perfectly normal. Whether in the classroom or choir or PE, there was no adult buffer encouraging kids to interact with their special needs peers. So they learned to take ownership of these interactions through a school program where they become ambassadors for those with special needs. It’s wonderful.
And the value Augie’s Adventures brings to this kind of already-inclusive community?
I wanted more. I wanted to offer special needs families a place where they could come relax and have fun. And I mean the entire family … parents, special needs kids of all kinds, their siblings, everyone.
What kind of activities do you have?
We have 19 acres offering wooded trails, a giant hillside campsite, and an open field for volleyball, Wiffle ball, actually, for any kind of games. We also have a basketball court and an outdoor swimming pool. We post events on our website, and often just a $25 donation holds a spot for your entire family to come enjoy any of the activities we offer on our personal property.
Including events during the winter?
Yes! One of the reasons we bought this property was that it had a heated outbuilding which houses our pickleball court and cornhole boards. It’s a flexible space for all kinds of activities throughout the year. There’s even a parents’ lounge area with comfy furniture!
And are Mom and Dad still in charge of their kids while they’re there?
Not entirely. Teen and adult volunteers supervise all special needs kids as well as their siblings. Parents can put their feet up, truly relax, visit with each other, and not worry about shadowing their kids.
Because it’s important for parents of special needs children to meet other special needs parents …
Regardless of their kid’s specific diagnosis or lack of diagnosis, many of the things these parents struggle with or need help with are the same.
That’s part of your mission, too, right? To help families navigate their complicated reality. How?
Through our Augie’s Adventures Parent Support Group. We meet at 6:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, October through May (minus December) at St. Columban Parish. The meetings are always free, and we provide supervised childcare for special needs kids and their siblings.
What goes on at these meetings?
I book expert guest speakers across a number of topics. A common subject is anything to do with financial planning, like setting up a trust for your special needs child. Or, someone from the Social Security Administration explains how that works for kids with special needs. Recently, Officer Vicki Johnson, St. Columban School’s Resource Officer, talked about keeping children safe online, a topic that benefits all kids in a family. Our website always has current information on meeting topics.
So, what’s ahead for Augie’s Adventures?
We want to continue to expand our offerings and draw more special needs young adults, like Augie. Mike and I have talked about sponsoring group activities that would appeal to that age group, like a Reds game or trampoline park outing.
Is it a challenge getting the word out to that age group?
Yes, and getting the word out in general. Right now, I’m a one-woman show, doing all the PR, programming, everything. What I’m looking for is someone who has the time and desire to create a consistent social media presence for us, posting content across all our channels.
What does Augie think about being the inspiration for such an amazing place?
He’s always been very social. He loves it. There are times during an event when he’s like the kid who takes over ownership of his own birthday party. He loves distributing our monthly meeting flyers, too. Augie is definitely the best PR we have.
AugiesAdventures1242.org | 1250 Neale Lane, Loveland | 630.254.8959