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Break the Barriers, Fresno, CA - Programs
Bringing people who experience various abilities into the able-bodied world of sports and arts.
Buddy Program
Barriers exist between people of various abilities because of a lack of opportunity to do anything in common together. The Buddy Program offers a free one hour class to partnering schools where children of various abilities, Buddy together in the same class. The vision of Break the Barriers is to remove barriers and allow children to participate together in sports and arts where they have the opportunity to celebrate all levels of victories and achievements. Students are transported to the Buddy Program by school bus or transported on the Break the Barriers bus, driven by Co-founder, Steve Hergenrader. Each class participates in a one hour program every other week. Within the hour, students experience gymnastics, dance, martial arts and sign language. Most schools do not have the facilities to offer state-of-the-art accessible physical and artistic programs during the school day. The Buddy Program provides school districts and many other local agencies in Fresno County to capitalize on the space and expertise of the Break the Barriers Ability Center.
