Abilities in Harmony gives two Project SEARCH interns the platform to bop to the top

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Performers know that sometimes, the best cure for stage fright is a deep breath and a positive attitude. Abby, a Gundersen Health System Project SEARCHintern and performer in the adaptive show choir camp, Abilities in Harmony, knows this well.

"You smile at the audience," Abby says.

"Breath" is a key piece of Bellin and Gundersen Health System's mission, vision and values.The organization's values guide providers and staff to work in the spirit of belonging, respect, excellence, accountability, teamwork and humility.

Those values connect with Sierra Lyon, a Children's Miracle Network hospital specialist. Sierra started Abilities in Harmony, when she was only 19 years old, after spending time living with a family with children with disabilities.

"They loved, loved, loved to sing and dance," Sierra says. "It was kind of a joke that they would be good in show choir but then I realized, this isn't a joke. They really would be good at show choir."

Finding no opportunities for young people with disabilities to participate in show choir, Sierra saw an opportunity to use innovation to inspire the best life of others. In 2017, Sierra launched the country's first-ever adaptive show choir camp. The organization now has multiple camps at Onalaska High School throughout the year and a grant to support other communities wishing to start similar programs.

"I did not start this with the intention of launching a non-profit, but immediately after the camp, we were receiving inquiries from other families wondering when the next one was," Sierra says. "Now, it is the best two weeks of the year."

During the program, performers are paired with volunteers who help them learn and perform songs. At the end of the camp, the choir holds a public performance at the Onalaska High School auditorium. It creates a space for people like Abby and her friend Ariel, also a Project SEARCH intern, to bond and learn new things.

"I like socializing with friends and encouraging them to stay," Ariel says.

Abby and Ariel love the High School Musical series of movies and even performed a duet together of the film's anthemic "Get Your Head in the Game." Taylor Swift's songs also top their list of favorite songs to perform. They've performed "Shake it Off" at the camp in the past but Abby wants to go back to Taylor's Fearlessera in a future camp with "You Belong with Me," or perhaps more aptly titled, "You Belong with Me (Abby's version)."

Sierra rejoices in the growth she sees in the performers. It carries over to their participation in other opportunities like Project SEARCH, which provides young people with disabilities job training, education and potential placement in long-term employment at Gundersen.

"Abby was so nervous and didn't want to do a solo. Then, she started doing solos with her volunteer at her side, and now, she doesn't want the volunteer to come up with her," Sierra says. "It is so amazing now to see Abby and Ariel succeeding in opportunities like Project SEARCH. They are very sweet, competent humans and they just need a platform to help them succeed."

Gundersen and Gundersen Partnershave contributed to Abilities in Harmony inthe past, aligning with Bellin and Gundersen Health System's vision of courageously committing to a future of healthy people and thriving communities.

The organization will hold its eighteenth camp in February and is always looking for an extra set of hands to help. Anyone interested in volunteering with the camp in February can find more information and an application on the organization's website. No singing or dancing ability is required!

"One thing that doesn't get enough attention is the benefit to the volunteers," Sierra says. "Seeing the waythey grow and gain their ability to include people in their everyday life is really incredible."