Above: The Bee Adaptive and Inclusive Club poses for a photo. Photo courtesy of Kaylen Abrahamsen.

“Bee Adaptive and Inclusive provides students on campus with opportunities to volunteer with youth and adults with disabilities while promoting awareness and advocacy,” said Kaylen Abrahamsen, Founder and Director of the Bee Adaptive and Inclusive Club. “As the Founder and Director, I am committed to fostering inclusivity and meaningful connections within our community.”

Bee Adaptive and Inclusive is a student-led organization at St. Ambrose University dedicated to promoting advocacy and inclusivity for youth and adults with disabilities.

Club Advisor, Ryan Saddler, shared his experience of how he became involved with the club and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve in this role.

“I am always honored when a student asks me to serve in such a capacity. Kaylen was directed my way because my brother, Ed, serves as a coach for a couple Scott County Special Olympic teams. I really don’t think Kaylen knew much about my personal background and my passion for advocating for people with disabilities. I appreciate the vision and genuine desire to do good Kaylen came to me with. It was a no brainer to say yes to serving in this advisor capacity.”

The club provides opportunities for students to engage directly with individuals of all abilities while participating in fun, meaningful volunteer experiences.

Assistant Director Maggie Kelley, described the club’s purpose, saying it is “designed to advocate for and support individuals with all kinds of different abilities to participate in sports and activities just like everyone else!”

Kaylen emphasized the club’s impact: “This club is so important because it provides a platform for inclusivity, advocacy, and giving a voice to those who may not always have the opportunity to be heard.”

Maggie echoed this, adding, “This club is important because it allows us to be advocates for others who have not always had the same opportunities as us. It also brings awareness to different groups of people, activities, and experiences to the students at SAU. This is a great club for anyone to be a part of, but if you have an interest in hanging out with some pretty cool people and being involved in sports at the same time, this club is definitely for you!”

For those interested in making a difference and advocating for inclusivity, Bee Adaptive and Inclusive has grown to 54 members as of November 2024—and continues to grow.

Club member Macy Norris, shared her reasons for being involved: “I volunteer at events for a couple of reasons, one of them being it warms my heart seeing so many people can be so kind. Oftentimes negativity can outshine positive situations, so I love seeing people come together to make a difference in these athletes’ lives. I think it is so important for them to feel supported and included. This is the other reason I love volunteering is being a part of the movement to include everyone and make sure that they get the same opportunities and support as anyone else.”

On Tuesday, March 25th, the Bee Adaptive and Inclusive Club volunteered at Unified Sports Day, hosted by Special Olympics Iowa at the TBK Bank Sports Complex in Bettendorf. 

This annual event unites athletes and volunteers for a day of adaptive sports and community building, and the Bee Adaptive Club had the opportunity to volunteer at this event.

Kaylen reflected on the experience: “The event was designed for all ages to come together and experience various adaptive sports offered by the Special Olympics. It was a day filled with fun, inclusivity, and excitement. Our group led the soccer station, where we played shooting games and practiced different dribbling techniques, all culminating in scoring goals!”

The event featured a variety of sport skill and drill stations including football, soccer, pickleball, volleyball, corn hole, basketball, and more. It fostered an inclusive environment where participants of all abilities could engage in physical activity and build relationships.

Maggie, who also volunteered at the event, shared her experience: “This day is centered around individuals, many of whom were younger, who may have not yet had the opportunity to participate in Special Olympics Sports.”

She continued, “These athletes that I am surrounded with are truly some of the best people I have ever met and have made such an impact on my life. I have always been driven to working with individuals with disabilities and love doing so! These athletes make sports so much fun!”

Kaylen agreed, explaining why events like this matter: “I love volunteering at events like this because it brings so much joy—not just to me, but to everyone involved. Seeing the athletes’ excitement and enthusiasm is truly rewarding, and in the end, I believe they bring even more joy into our lives than we bring into theirs.”

Contact Kaylen Abrahamsen if interested in learning more about the club, or participating in future events: [email protected].