The Bracelet Bar Was Never Just About Making Bracelets
When I first planned the #BEspesh Bracelet Bar, I thought it would be a simple activity.
A fun craft.
A place for kids to make something colorful and take home a bracelet they created themselves.
I had no idea it would become one of the most meaningful parts of the Faces of Spesh event.
I imagined a few older kids sitting at the table making bracelets while younger kids explored the bounce house, played games, or moved on to other activities.
Instead something completely different happened.
Everyone came.
Preschoolers.
Older children.
Siblings.
Parents.
Families who had just met.
Everyone found a place in the experience.
And as I watched it unfold, I realized the bracelets were not the most important part.
The connection was.
What I Saw Around the Bracelet Station
Our bracelet station wasn't a traditional craft table setup.
I used what we had and created a space that allowed people to participate in different ways.
There was a pallet covered with a tablecloth on the ground with little seats around it. I also brought the couch from my office outside to create a cozy rest spot and another seating option throughout the day.
It wasn't about having the perfect setup.
It was about thinking ahead.
Some kids loved sitting close to the ground around the pallet and creating with their friends. My mom and Bailey joined in from those little seats, and the space naturally became a place where people gathered together.
My friend Brady, who uses a wheelchair, made bracelets at the table where she had a more accessible surface.
Others used the couch as a place to rest, take a break, or participate without needing to crouch down to the pallet.
That was one of the things I loved most about the day.
There wasn't just one "right" way to be involved.
People could choose the space that worked best for them.
And somehow, this simple bracelet station became one of the most connected spaces at the entire event.
Children gathered together.
Families connected.
Friendships started.
The bracelet-making activity became a reason for people to sit beside someone new, share supplies, and create something together.
Children practiced taking turns.
They made choices.
They asked for help.
They offered help.
They celebrated each other's creations.
Children with different abilities were not doing something separate.
They were doing the same activity alongside their peers.
The bracelet was the activity.
Connection was the outcome.
The Simplest Adaptation Made the Biggest Difference
When I prepared for Faces of Spesh, I knew I wanted the bracelet-making experience to be accessible for as many participants as possible.
One of the adaptations I intentionally brought was pipe cleaners.
They were simple.
They were inexpensive.
They were easy to find.
But they served an important purpose.
Unlike traditional stretch cord, pipe cleaners are sturdy enough to hold their shape while someone threads beads. They don't require cutting, measuring, or tying knots. They make it easier for small hands to participate without needing someone else to complete the bracelet for them.
What I didn't expect was just how many people this simple adaptation would invite into the experience.
The pipe cleaners weren't just helpful for individuals with fine motor needs.
They opened the door for our youngest participants, too.
My own two-year-old spent time sitting with her Honey (my mom) making a bracelet.
Preschool-aged children were able to participate.
Children who may have struggled with traditional bracelet-making materials had another way to create.
And suddenly, something as simple as a pipe cleaner became a tool for connection, independence, and participation.
That is the heart of assistive technology and meaningful accommodations.
They don't always have to be expensive.
They don't always have to be high-tech.
They don't always have to look like what people expect.
Sometimes, an accommodation is a piece of technology designed specifically for a person's needs.
And sometimes, it's a simple craft supply that removes a barrier and gives someone the opportunity to participate.
A pipe cleaner--the simplest craft supply you can find--helped make friendship bracelets accessible to toddlers, preschoolers, and friends with fine motor needs.
And that's exactly what inclusion is about.
Inclusion Means More Than One Way to Participate
That experience helped shaped the vision for the #BEspesh Bracelet Bar.
I started asking a different question:
Not, "How do we teach everyone to make a bracelet the same way?"
But:
"How can we create a bracelet-making experience where everyone has a way to participate?"
Because there is no single "right" way to make a bracelet.
Some people love carefully choosing each bead and creating patterns.
Some people enjoy simple designs.
Some people may prefer coloring and decorating.
Some people may need materials that are easier to grasp, manipulate, or complete independently.
All of those experiences are valuable.
Inclusion means creating choices.
Growing the #BEspesh Bracelet Bar
After Faces of Spesh, I couldn't stop thinking about what this experience could become.
What started as a simple activity became something much bigger.
I began creating bracelet kits for families and events.
Some kits include ready-made bracelets.
Other include supplies for participants to design their own.
I intentionally chose materials that reduce unnecessary barriers while keeping creativity at the center.
Large-hole alphabet beads.
Pony beads.
Bracelet bases with clasps instead of loose cord.
Materials that eliminate some of the challenges that come with cutting string, tying knots, or keeping beads from falling off.
I've also started exploring new options, like sublimation-ready slap bracelets that allow participants to color and decorate designs.
Some people may want to bead.
Some people may want to color.
Some people may want a simple way to create something that can proudly wear.
The goal is not for everyone to make the same bracelet.
The goal is for everyone to have the opportunity to make one.
What Makes the Bracelet Bar Special
The #BEspesh Bracelet Bar is not special because of the supplies on the table.
It is special because of what happens around it.
It creates opportunities for:
friendship
communication
creativity
independence
decision-making
fine motor practice
confidence
belonging
For many individuals with disabilities, inclusion often means being invited into spaces that were not originally designed with them in mind.
The Bracelet Bar is designed differently from the beginning.
It is built around the belief that everyone should have a way to join in.
We're Still Learning and Growing
One of my favorite parts of this experience is that the people participating continue to teach me.
The best adaptations don't always come from research.
Sometimes they come from watching.
Listening.
Paying attention.
At Faces of Spesh, the kids showed me that pipe cleaners were a better option than the materials I orignially planned.
They reminded me that the people we are creating for should always have a voice in shaping the experience.
That lesson continues to guide the #BEspesh Bracelet Bar.
Bring the #BEspesh Bracelet Bar to Your Event
The #BEspesh Bracelet Bar is an inclusive, hands-on experience designed for schools, community events, disability awareness events, festivals, family celebrations, and more.
Whether participants create with beads, pipe cleaners, bracelet bases, or other adaptive options, the goal remainds the same:
Creating a space where people of different ages and abilities can connect, create, and belong.
Because inclusion isn't about creating separate activities.
It's about making shared experiences accessible to everyone.
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