Community Spotlight: The Ambassador Program

Each year, the Include Everyone Project SCV (IEPSCV) hosts classes in theater, music and dance for children of different abilities, really focusing on individuals who are neurodivergent.

Include Everyone Project SCV (IEPSCV)

Rodney Dong, one of the founders of IEPSCV, has a second mission each year – to help train young people to be ambassadors to the children in the program.

Dong is a Board Certified Music Therapist who has worked extensively with children and youth with special needs over the past 20 years. He received his Bachelor’s of Music Therapy Degree at Capilano College in Vancouver, Canada, and is a professional member of the American Music Therapy Association. 

Since its inception, IEPSCV has utilized the talents and enthusiasm of high school student volunteers. “We came to notice that we had a considerable number of youth volunteers (often returning) who were excellent with our kids, but were seeking more opportunities to get involved,” he explained. The Ambassador program was created to fill this need.

Students who apply and are accepted, receive four in-class training sessions in both developmental and behavioral models, to build understanding of how to assist people with disabilities. They then work directly with the IEPSCV instructors in dance, music, and theater classes to apply what they have learned. The culmination is the two-week summer camp where ambassadors offer more intensive assistance and some leadership, with coaching. Ambassadors are relied upon to take on more leadership roles in preparation for the final performance at the end of camp.

Dong recruits volunteers in the spring. Space is limited because he wants to offer meaningful instruction and feedback. Successful applicants will be youth with some experience working with people with disabilities, who demonstrate excellent patience and responsibility.  The Ambassador Program is a 10-week program.  

Through the Ambassador Program, Dong hopes to have “more well-trained youth volunteers who can be ambassadors for youth who are neurodivergent or have a range of disabilities, especially with regard to their inclusion in the performing arts.  We also hope to inspire more youth to pursue a career working with this population, in the performing arts area or otherwise (creative arts therapy, special education, etc).” 

Even if the Ambassadors never decide to pursue careers in the field, he hopes they will gain knowledge and empathy about working with neurodivergent people.  Ultimately, he hopes, “to build more bridges between the community of mainstream/neurotypical people and the community of people with disabilities or who are neurodivergent.”

Interested in being an ambassador? Or know someone who might make a great one? You can contact Rodney at rodney.iepscv@gmail.com for an application form or to ask questions.