History
"I can't explain how thankful I am for all of my sponsors. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. I also want to say a special thanks to all the coaches, you guys are great! I hope you never change because when I was there, everything was perfect-Break the Barriers is the Best!"
-BTB Parent
Gymnastics by Deby.
Kathy Mullen in the backyard.
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History
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Performing Teams
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Board Members
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Partnerships
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Grants
About Us
The Birthing of a Dream
To tell people you're a dreamer may cause some to raise a suspicious eyebrow; others may smirk at what they consider to be foolishness; and yet a very few will sit up and take notice. Deby Mullen Hergenrader is a dreamer. And her story is improving the posture of many note takers.
The Birthing of a Dream
Deby, daughter of Ice Capades performers Ken and Carmie Mullen was truly a born athlete. At the age of ten she channeled her energies into gymnastics through the Fresno Gymnastics Club. By the age of sixteen, she had become a State, Regional, and National gymnastics champion. When she reached the elite level, she was able to compete internationally, and but for an ankle injury in 1972, she may have competed in the Olympics.
With gymnastics in her blood, Deby turned to coaching other upcoming gymnasts, an activity which is still one of her favorites today.
Her dream, however, was not one of self-glory or trophies, it was something far deeper and incredibly outreaching. It was born out of the shadows of another birth - that of Deby's sister, Kathy . . . a child with Down syndrome. It was not a dream out of pity, but rather out of a challenge and foresight.
Kathy had much opportunity to watch Deby perform her gymnastics routines, and through emulation, was able to excel herself at the Special Olympics.
For Deby, Kathy's amazing achievement became a catalyst which began her relentless efforts to create a common bond between all persons with different Abilities. This bond would be fused through sports.
Out of the Dream
Out of the Dream, into Reality
Deby realized that in order for the desires of her heart to become realities, she would have to become immersed in the complexities of people with various abilities. She spent relentless hours coaching adults who had different physical, neurological and mental Abilities. Her athletes did well.
Then, Deby married Steve Hergenrader, a former Yankees baseball player. Together, Deby and Steve worked his grandfather's twenty-acre grape ranch and started a club called, The Tri-City Olympiads.
Steve's interest and acquired proficiency in gymnastics coupled with his special gift of working with children and Deby's dream, gave birth to the Fresno District Special Olympics Gymnastics Program.
Later, the Hergenraders found "the perfect house" in Fresno. It had a big room that they turned in to a dance studio and a yard big enough to house gymnastics equipment, including old bed mattresses, a trampoline, balance beam, and a vaulting horse with a spring board. Steve and Deby named their new enterprise, "Gymnastics by Deby." They began using sign language to communicate with deaf & hard of hearing students and discovered that signing was part of the "Magic in the Mixture" that connected students of all Abilities. The children listened better when they focused on the hand movements.
Breaking the Barrier
Breaking the Barrier
Barriers exist to either keep something out or something in. Often one of the barriers that separate one persons Ability from another is the lack of opportunity to do anything in common together. Through the Hergenrader's integrated sports and performing arts classes, students found common ground and barriers started tumbling down. Students of all Abilities began to learn from each other. Students accomplish more than they had believed possible.
The atmosphere of the classes saw a change too. Instead of a competitive environment, a feeling of being a supportive family grew. Without any advertising, these combined classes grew to include two hundred children from three years old through adult.
Parents and volunteers got caught in the Hergenrader's dream. A survey was conducted of the community's dance studios, gyms, self-defense classes, and baton twirling studios to see if any had programs that combined persons with different Abilities. The results pointed to an overwhelming need to begin a program integrating students in the same classes where each would be able to learn from one another. Soon a board of directors was formed of the student's parents, and Break the Barriers was officially incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in October, 1985.
The Dream Lives on
The Dream Lives On . . .
The Barrier Breakers, formed in 1987, is the performing ensemble of students whose mission is to show Inclusion at its best while celebrating all Abilities and softening the hearts, opening eyes for awareness and generating hope for all people. The team is a combination of performers, each with amazing Abilities and range in age from 6 years to adult. There are currently 58 performers on the team. Each performer has their own definition of triumph, a talent to show and a mission to accomplish.
Break the Barriers can now disseminate their mission to "Break all barriers experienced by people with different Abilities." There are over 3000 students who participate in any of the programs offered at our facility, including students from eight school districts. BTB is continually adapting classes to meet the increasing demand for this unique and one-of-a-kind program.
From a backyard to a 32,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, Break the Barriers, continues to change the lives of people around the world. Break the Barriers is recognized as the National Role Model for Inclusion and has broken barriers nationally and internationally. Break the Barriers is blessed to have a community of generous supporters, near and far, who believe in the concept. Together with sons Jared and Tyler, Steve and Deby Hergenrader have fostered a "Family" of dedicated people who are instrumental in the tremendous success and acceptance of this program, making Break the Barriers, truly a dream come true. Deby says, "It feels like I'm in the back seat with the Lord driving the car." Lets Break some Barriers . . . Welcome!
Performing Teams
How can you help?
Team members are required to take classes two hours, three days a week and also a dance class. They provide their own transportation to and from events, seminars and performances. When traveling, each member must raise their own travel expenses often amounting to more than $3,500 especially when traveling internationally. The Ability Awareness Outreach & Awareness fund is designed to off set these costs and costs associated with Break the Barriers Outreach. To support the team and their outreach, please specify Ability Awareness Outreach & Awareness on the memo line of your check or credit card contribution. Your support is greatly appreciated by all team members.
About Us
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History
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Performing Teams
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Board Members
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Partnerships
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Grants
Barrier Breakers Mission
To demonstrate Inclusion through Ability Awareness Outreach & Education presentations and performances and celebrate the gifts and talents of all people with various abilities while softening the hearts of audiences and generating hope for all people.
The team is a combination of performers, each with amazing Abilities and range from 6 years to adult. There are currently 58 performers on the team. Each performer has their own definition of triumph, a talent to show and a mission to accomplish.
The Barrier Breakers have accomplished many goals, both as a team and individually in the past twenty years. Besides performing they are keynote speakers at conferences, churches, seminars and educational workshops.
The Barrier Breakers, a National Role Model for Inclusion, have made their mark on both a National and International level. Their performances have included:
• Washington, DC for the U.S. Department of Special
Education Leadership Conference
• The Central Valley Billy Graham Crusade performances
and co-chairs for Accessability Committee
• The National Children's Pastor's Conference - Anaheim
and Florida
• The National Down Syndrome Conference
• In 2005 partnered with Joni and Friends-Wheels for the
World in Bucharest, Romania performing and distributing
refurbished wheelchairs.
• In 2006 partnering with Children to Love International in Bucharest, Romania, and performed before government leaders and dignitaries. Then in 2007 Founders and Executive Director Steve & Deby Hergenrader, were invited to work with the American Embassy in Romania.
• The team was asked by Department of Disability, Department of Religion, and the Department of Education to share their message of inclusion in Xiamen, China - 2007, South Africa -2008 & 2009, and Dominican Republic 2010, performing for churches, schools, hospitals, parks, recreation centers and at government venues.
Many team members have been with Break the Barriers from a young age and are still performing while in college and as an adult. The question Barrier Breakers are often asked is Why do you do this? While each member has their personal reason they all agree and testify that there isn't another place that gives them the opportunity to make a difference in the world and at the same time build their self-confidence or Because of BTB I am proud of myself, I am not looked at differently, everyone is accepted and the most often response is, "When I'm at BTB, there is joy, happiness and encouragement all the time and I have become a better person with lifelong friendships."
Board Members
"My name is Collin, I am 6 years old. I have been diagnosed to be sensory sensitive and probably autistic. My doctors and teachers said I need socializing. I love my class at BTB and get excited every single time I get to participate. I call it my Karate class. My mother cant afford to pay for classes since she stays with me all the time. She knows that this is helping me to socializeand we both appreciate and thank our sponsors so much for their help. I wouldnt be able to participate if it wasnt for you!"
BTB Founders, Steve & Deb Hergenrader
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History
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Performing Teams
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Board Members
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Partnerships
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Grants
About Us
2010-2011 Board of Directors
Founders
Steve Hergenrader - Executive of Assets
Deby Hergenrader - Executive Director
Victoria Blackwell - President
Liz Bowers - Immediate Past President
Phil Souza - Vice President
Mart Oller - Secretary
Andrew Cameron - Treasurer
Rob Bausman
Kelly Souza
Jill Carson, MD
Marty Flaming
Michael Gong
Deby Hergenrader
Dr. Peter G. Mehas
J.D. Northway, MD
Faith Sidlow
Louis Volpp
John Wallace
Advisory Board
Laura Coquillette
Nadia Comanecci - Olympic Gold Medalist
Bart Conner - Olympic Gold Medalist
Sid Cox
Eric Hanson, MD
Greg & Steve - Singer, Songwriters, Producers
Rafer Johnson - Olympic Gold Medalist
Rex Huddler - Professional Baseball Player - Angel's Broadcaster
Joanna Kerns - Actress
Rod Kraft, MD
Gary Howery
Larry L. Powell, M.A.
Linda Smittcamp
Linda Yacoub
Tom Milne
Partnerships
We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of the organizations who have shared in Break The Barriers Success!
As we departed Xiamen, China last year, the Head of the Department of Disability said, You and your husband may have started this program for your sister, but this team, The Barrier Breakers is an international influence and because you use visual arts we can see the potential of our children! The world needs this education!
Said to Co-Founder, Executive Director Deby Hergenrader
About Us
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History
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Performing Teams
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Board Members
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Partnerships
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Grants
Education
Brentwood Unified School District
Byron Unified School District
California State Community Colleges
California State University Fresno
CAPHERD
Central Unified School District
Clovis Unified School District
Fowler Unified School District
Local, National & International
American Embassy-Romania
Americorps
Dominican Republic, Department of Disabilities
Eskedere Camp-Pretoria, South Africa
Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCOP)
South Africa Disability Centers
US Department of Education
US Department of Health and Human Services
US Department of Special Education
Xiamen, China Dept. of Disabilities, Education & Religion
Fresno County Office of Education
Fresno Pacific University
Fresno Unified School District
Golden Valley Unified School District
Kids Kan Inc.
Lori Ann Center
Madera Unified School District
Mendota Unified School District
National University
Phoenix Universiy
READ Fresno
Reedley Unified School District
San Joaquin College of Law
Sanger Unified School District
Yosemite Unified School District
Philanthropic/Non-Profit
ARC Fresno
Boy Scouts
Cabrillo Club of Fresno
Down Syndrome Society
of Central California
Encourage Tomorrow
Fresno Arts Council
Organizations/Bus/Med/Service
Center for Communication Skills
Clovis Rodeo Association
Cross Resources
Diamond Learning Center
Exceptional Parents Unlimited
Family Builders Foster Care
Greatest Loser of the
Central Valley
Jamba Juice
Kaiser Permanente
San Francisco 49ers
LARCS
Lions Clubs
Optimist Club
Rotary International
Special Olympics
Susan B. Komen
Whitney Foundation
Fresno Trade Club
Girls Scouts
Hands On
Hope for the Holidays
Hope Now For Youth
Kiwanis Cal-Nev-Ha International District 5
Knights of Columbus
Grants
Every once and a while you will be watching TV, or you will get an email, and subject matter will be about someone overcoming great obstacles in life. These always tug at your heart, because it is the exception in life rather than the rule. At Break the Barriers it is the rule rather than the exception. From Carmie to Deby and Steve to Kathy to the whole BTB family it is in the DNA that you are first Valued as a human being. And when you feel you are valued, anything is possible.
Retired Adaptive Physical Education Teacher,
FUSD & California State University, Fresno
About Us
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History
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Performing Teams
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Board Members
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Partnerships
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Grants
Fast Forward Reading Program
Fast Forward Reading Program
A three year grant allowed BTB to offer the Fast Forward Reading Program. Fast Forward is a proven technique that uses a sophisticated computer program to significantly improve reading and language skills. Fast Forward develops areas of the brain involving memory, attention, processing speed and sequencing. The program has grown to over 250 children and families. The minimal cost of $18 per parent/mentor (for fingerprinting) is all it cost for an amazing program that otherwise would cost $2400 per student. With the success of Fast Forward, Break the Barriers will again seek grants to continue this amazing program.
MCOP 2008-2010
(Mentoring Children of Prisoners)
MCOP is through the US Department of Health and Human Services. Underserved populations and disadvantaged children with a parent or family member in prison is mentored by BTB Instructors and area agency counselors in a variety of sports, arts & aquatics at the Ability Center. The goal is to break the often reoccurring cycle that is ever-present with these populations. The response is an overwhelming success. There are over 200 children enrolled in the program and we are hopeful that the program will be renewed for another two years.
Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente Sponsorship has help fund the new Aquatics and Fitness program. Classes are for ages 6 through adult and all instructors are Red Cross certified and trained. BTB was able to purchase new equipment, and storage as well as t-shirts, goggles and fins.
