Back in 2008, during the summer before her sophomore year, Cronk and a few other varsity cheerleaders in a small town in Iowa worked to create the first ever high-school based inclusive cheerleading squad. Cleverly titled, “The Sparkle Effect,” Cronk, 15-years-old at the time, created a team that included members with a range of disabilities from Down syndrome to autism.
With over five million students attending high school with disabilities, there is an overwhelming need to include these individuals and make them a part of the quintessential high-school experience. Cronk realized the only group who could effectively include teenagers with disabilities, were other teenagers.
The Sparkle Effect provides everything students need to start their own inclusive cheerleading squad from uniform grants to free on-site training and on-going advice and support, the organization has thought of everything.
“Sparkle Effect squads are not about perfection; they are about connection,” Cronk wrote in her blog. “In many towns across America, Friday night football and basketball games are the main event. Sparkle Effect teams nationwide are throwing a big bright spotlight on the importance of inclusion.”
To date, Cronk’s organization has launched 33 squads all over the country, from California to Connecticut, even one in South Africa and Cronk only wants to grow.
In August of 2011, Cronk and the organization received a $100,000 grant from the “Do Something.org” movement mobilized by VH1 to help her do just that, grow.
“[It will be] easier for squads to get started. It’s going to allow us to hire more trainers across the country,” Cronk told Do Something organizers. “It will allow us to bring cheerleaders together to share their experiences.”
Bringing people together, despite their differences, is what is at the heart of this organization. In an increasingly more competitive high school athletic competition, where students are encouraged to seek perfection, The Sparkle Effect shines “a big bright spotlight” on the importance of inclusion.
Cronk recently wrote on her blog, “I believe that The Sparkle Effect can reach into virtually every high school in the country. When it does, game night in America will never be the same.”
Think this sounds like something your school might like to try? Sign up to be squad 34.
