UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center Volunteers at Glen Burnie Improvement Association’s “Special Day” Celebrating National Disabilities Independence Day

Glen Burnie, MD (July 29, 2022) - Team members from the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) volunteered at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association's annual "Special Day" Carnival event on July 26, 2022. The free event provided a more sensory-friendly experience for individuals with impairments, giving participants and their families an opportunity to enjoy the midway with less noise and crowds.

"It is important that we are more than just hospital staff, we are members of the same community and we care about benefitting everyone we connect with," said David Bageant, a registered nurse in the department of Psychiatry at UM BWMC.

More than 400 individuals participated in the special event.

Photo #1: UM BWMC Team Members Assisted Participants On and Off Rides

Volunteers from UM BWMC assisted guests on and off of rides safely, and served participants pizza, soda, and snowballs inside of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association Hall.

"The carnival felt like the perfect event for the UM BWMC Rehabilitation Team to volunteer at as it allowed us to utilize our skills and training and interact with the community in a manner outside of our day-to-day norm," said Courtney Clampitt, a Speech Language Pathologist from UM BWMC's rehabilitation services department. "It's opportunities like this that help us stay connected with our community and be able to provide education and information about available resources."

Photo #2: UM BWMC Team Members In The Community

Volunteers from UM BWMC assisted guests on and off of rides safely, and served participants pizza, soda, and snowballs inside of the Glen Burnie Improvement Association Hall.

"It provided me an opportunity to connect with the community I serve as well as help me build strong, genuine relationships with co-workers. When we connect with ourselves, co-workers, and community through service work, we build an integrated relationship to provide excellence in health care services as well as improve the lives of the community as a whole," said Amanda Alechko, Psychiatric Occupational Therapist.

Photo #3: Team Members Assist Riders On Ferris Wheel

The special carnival event was hosted by the Glen Burnie Improvement Association in recognition of National Disability Independence Day. Celebrated annually on July 26, the holiday commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The landmark legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and guarantees their access to economic and civic opportunities, such as education, transportation, employment and other services.

Photo #4: UM BWMC Carnival Volunteers

Twelve UM BWMC team members volunteered at the Glen Burnie Improvement Association's annual "Special Day" Carnival event on July 26, 2022.

Photos available for use courtesy of UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center.