RocketChair Productions and Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona Team Up On Inclusion

TUCSON, Ariz. - Oct. 26, 2017 - PRLog -- RocketChair Productions is pleased to announce a collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona to introduce the VIA Patch Program (Visibility, Inclusion, and Accessibility) - a new element to the organization's "Including All Girls" Patch Program, designed to heighten Girl Scouts' awareness, understanding and acceptance of people's differences and disabilities. This three-part program, which will include evaluating a local structure for accessibility, and learning how to adapt games and toys so that all children are able to play together.

The collaboration comes on the heels of the relaunch of RocketChair Productions' debut children's book Meet ClaraBelle Blue, and is the result of a conversation between RocketChair Productions President Adiba Nelson and Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona Chief Operating Officer, Kristen Garcia-Hernandez, after Nelson's daughter, Emory, faced challenges participating in her school's Daisy troop.

"My daughter's aide at school shared with me that the troop leaders were struggling to successfully include her," Nelson says. "It wasn't their fault, they just didn't know the best way to include a child who communicates differently, and uses a wheelchair to get around. As a parent you want your child to have as much of an immersive experience as the next child, so I decided to let the local council know what our experience was." It was during that conversation that Nelson proposed her book, Meet ClaraBelle Blue, as a strong vehicle to prompt discussion around the inclusion of children with disabilities, and what it means to have an inclusive, accessible community within local Girl Scout troops.

"We care deeply about making Girl Scouts available and accessible to every girl," says Director of Programs, Colleen McDonald. "In keeping with Girl Scout values, we're continuing to work to improve Emory's experience, and other girls' experiences, and really value the opportunity to partner with Adiba and RocketChair Productions in order to do so." McDonald is especially excited to add Meet ClaraBelle Blue to the inclusion patch program, which first launched in 2008, since, as she says, "Stories told through girls' perspectives are especially valuable teaching tools, because girls can easily relate."

McDonald notes, too, that this curriculum enhancement is just the first step toward greater inclusivity in Girl Scouting. As members of the National Inclusion Project, which partners with communities and recreational programs to enable them to include children with disabilities in their activities, Girl  Scouts of Southern Arizona has always welcomed Girl Scouts of all abilities, and long ensured that all program staff receives inclusivity training. The same opportunity has not been consistently available for volunteers, however, which both McDonald and Nelson see as a ripe opportunity for future collaboration.

But first, Meet ClaraBelle Blue will officially debut as part of the Girl Scout curriculum, at the VIA patch program held over three days December 9th, 17th, and 20th 2017, at the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona's Angel Charity Place for Girls at 4330 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85711. For more information about this program, please contact either Adiba Nelson, at RocketChair Productions, or Colleen McDonald, at Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona.

Adiba Nelson
Founder/President of RocketChair Productions
Author of Meet ClaraBelle Blue
adiba@clarabellelblue.com
520.373.7563

Colleen McDonald
Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona – Director of Programs
cmcdonald@girlscoutssoaz.org
520.319.3142

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RocketChair Productions
RocketChair Productions (RCP) was formed by Author Adiba Nelson, not only to produce The ClaraBelle Series children's books that promote inclusion and visibility of children with special needs but also to advocate for more visibility in media. RocketChair Productions has shared their debut book Meet ClaraBelle Blue with schools, libraries, and parents alike, and has seen the story embraced by children in across the globe, including Jordan, France, The UK, and Australia. During its 2017 relaunch, Meet ClaraBelle Blue debuted on Amazon's "Hot New Books" list at #17, and has independently sold over 1500 books since its initial launch in 2013. With a focused mission to make the landscape of children's media more representative of all children, RCP is also currently developing an animated series, with their anchor character, ClaraBelle Blue, at the helm. For more information about RCP, The ClaraBelle Series children's books, or upcoming animated series, contact Adiba Nelson at 520.373.7563, or visit www.clarabelleblue.com.

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Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona
Comprised of Girl Scouts from Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pinal, Graham, Greenlee and Yuma counties, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona is one of 112 Girl Scouts of the USA Councils. Nationwide, Girl Scouts is 2.6 million strong—1.8 million girls and 800,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world. The preeminent leadership development organization for girls, dedicated to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success. To learn more, volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join Girl Scouts, contact the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona at 520-327-2288, or visit www.girlscoutssoaz.org.