Shoot for the Stars
Written by Brian Bushard
Photography by Kit Noble
Nantucket S.T.A.R. is raising funds for an accessible van for its children’s programming
The first time Audrey Sterk brought her son to a program with Nantucket S.T.A.R., she was caught off guard by the fact that she could drop him off without having to stay to supervise him. Sterk’s son, who has special needs, had until that point been surrounded by parents, teachers or caregivers for any event, whether it was a social gathering, a birthday party or just a typical day.
“As a parent, the first time we showed up to a program and they said, ‘OK, we’ll see you later,’ I said, ‘Wait a minute.’ This was the first time we could go away and say, ‘OK, we’ll see you guys later,’” said Sterk, the board director of Nantucket S.T.A.R. “We came back and asked how it went and they said, ‘Great.’ That’s the response every time because these amazing humans can handle all of the spectrum of support. They’ve got it.”
Nantucket S.T.A.R. (Sports and Therapeutic Accessible Recreation) began in 2003 when islanders Renee Gamberoni and Max Goode realized there was a hole in children’s programming on the island for students with special needs. Over the past 22 years, the organization has brought in hundreds of children with learning and physical disabilities for accessible recreational activities. It currently has over 100active participants, including peers and siblings.
“When S.T.A.R. began, there were probably four active participants,” Board President Lauren Soverino said. “Compare that to the rate of identified needs in the public school; the population has exponentially grown on the island. Nantucketis a very welcoming community, and people know they canreceive great support here through the school system and outside of it.”
The organization’s programs run the gamut from tennis, swimming and kayaking to sensory arts, ice skating, cooking classes and CrossFit. On a Friday afternoon this spring, a group of children, peers and adults met at the University of Massachusetts Boston Field Station in Polpis for an adventure pod scavenger hunt. It was a simple walk through the woods, where participants could learn about the ecology around them and at the same time engage in a meaningful way with other children and adults in a welcoming environment.
“We really try to offer a breadth across different age groups and developmental abilities,” Soverino said. “Our staff is highly specialized. We have a therapeutic piece to it, and we have never turned a participant away because of ability, confidence, behavior or skill level."
Outside of school, there aren’t many opportunities for S.T.A.R.’s participants to access a program either without parental support or some sort of additional caregiver, Soverino said. Before COVID-19, the organization also had a summer camp. “Every kid deserves the opportunity to say they went to summer camp,” Soverino said.
It was during that time the organization’s board realized it would need some way to transport kids to and from the camp. The organization had borrowed a van from the Boys& Girls Club, but it wasn’t a long-term solution. That’s when an idea was formed. Having some sortof transportation would not only goa long way toward S.T.A.R.’s year-round programming; it would also provide an opportunity to pick kids up at their houses and let them ease into a program.
“Not only is it fun to go to a program together, but it also opens up a level of accessibility for our participants, where anybody with a physical need can access a level of transportation,” Soverino said. On June 28, Nantucket S.T.A.R.—a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization—is holding a fundraiser at the Great Harbor Yacht Club to raise money for an accessible van. Its goal is $200,000, including the purchase and upkeep. The van would serve the organization’s programming throughout the year—as well as provide another learning opportunity for participants, Sterk said. The kids would be able to learn how to greet a driver, how to behave on board and how to buckle themselves in.
“A lot of families work, so to be able to pick up a child in a safe way and transport them to the programming gives them accessibility to the programming. We’re trying to break down all the barriers to get kids to be able to access the programming,” Sterk said. “And for a parent with a kid with neurodiversity, every opportunity is a learning opportunity,” she added. “Getting kids in the transition to a program can make a huge difference. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it’s a nice, calm and inclusive environment to get a kid to the program itself?”
Moving forward, Sterk and Soverino expect Nantucket S.T.A.R. to keep growing. Right now, they have 15 dedicated staff members, many of whom are active or retired teachers and therapists. The group is also expanding its volunteer base, another key piece for the organization.
“Our programming provides an opportunity to participate in these activities that they otherwise would not be able to access because of their cognitive or physical level, or their social-emotional skill set, or behavior,” Soverino said. “We make sure they can access it, with the intention of them then ultimately being able to find greater participation within the community.” For more information on Nantucket S.T.A.R. and its summer fundraiser,visitnantucketstar.org.
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