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Meet Your Neighbor: Lynn Saccoliti
By Callie Thomas
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” – Dr. Seuss
Perhaps it is Seuss’ most significant works which have been created for children of all ages and abilities that have influenced a program conceived by 89052 resident Lynn Saccoliti to assist our most challenged youth. Or, it could be her enormous heart and tremendous passion which has put the needs of disabled children at the forefront of the community.
The eleven year resident has had a successful career in the medical and healthcare field working as a champion representative for innovative medical technologies devices and treatments. In addition, Lynn has her hand in helping with industry legislative issues as well as reimbursement or coverage for new medical devices. Traveling for her work had been the norm, and something that Lynn had always been accustomed to growing up as an Air Force kid. Saccoliti has not only moved all over the States, she spent four years in Timaru, New Zealand.
After deciding to reduce some of her globetrotting, Lynn settled into Las Vegas. Her close-knit Italian family has meant everything to Saccoliti. She lives within close proximity to her retired mother and father, brother, sister-in-law and two nephews, although her 100 year old grandmother still cooks up a storm in their original hometown of Brooklyn, New York. Lynn holds in her heart another brother who died at the age of nineteen and has become an important catalyst for the work Lynn has chosen in the community today. “My brother lived with intellectual disabilities and epilepsy,” says Saccoliti. “I have a nephew who was born deaf and an uncle who lives with cerebral palsy. I have watched three generations of family members, each with different types of disabilities, who have struggled with social integration issues as compared to the typical child,” she said. What Lynn noticed while spending time with her friends and their children as well as her hearing impaired nephew was that children with disabilities and those without could effectively socialize together, have fun inclusively, build friendships and engage with each other in a positive way.
At the urging of a friend, Saccoliti started a nonprofit public charity called i.m.perfect (i-m-perfect.org.) “My vision was simple. Create an organization that hosts social events between typical children and children with intellectual or developmental disabilities and their families.”
Through i.m.perfect programs, social integration and friendships grow when children and families have the opportunity to engage in a fun, social venue. What they learn is that the children are more alike than they are different. “If you let children have fun together, magic happens,” says Saccoliti.
I.m.perfect reaches out within the community to organizations and entities that provide much needed support to children and families with intellectual/developmental disabilities and other special needs. Many of the families with children who have disabilities are engaged with medical, educational, therapeutic and nutritional requirements, yet socialization is an important aspect in a child’s further development. I.m.perfect provides that opportunity for families.
On April 25, i.m.perfect will hold the 2010 Carousel Sprint Event at The District in Green Valley for the Down Syndrome Organization of Southern Nevada (DSOSN). “We’ll be integrating children and families with clowns, face painting, balloon twisters, hot dogs, lemonade, cotton candy, Sno-Kones, popcorn, games and other fun things to go along with the Old Fashioned Carousel theme. I’m fortunate to be co-coordinating this event with Lindsay Terrett, Director of Programs for DSOSN.”
Saccoliti is pleased that the community has embraced the efforts of i.m.perfect. “I have made some wonderful friends, worked with tremendous partners and have been inspired by our community’s children’s organizations and talented supporters. It truly does take a village!”
