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Mrs. Machen-Gray from Memphis TN is requesting instructional technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Special Needs Students Can Use Creativity to Create Careers

Help me give my students the opportunity to learn skills to help them to create their own jobs. My students will use these skills to become financially independent and learn how to turn their creativity into a career.

  • $963 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Celebrating Black History Month

This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.

My Students

Thank you so much for taking the time out to help our classroom. The students I serve are special needs that receive instruction in a self-contained classroom. I have students with a wide range of disabilities but my students can learn! To be perfectly honest, they learn best by DOING. My students love to learn and are eager to get started daily. All the students have Intellectual Disabilities most paired with Autism. I have to be very creative with lessons to pique the interests of my students. Everyday, we are faced with new challenges whether it is addressing deficit areas with fun and engaging activities or addressing behaviors with positive reinforcement. Either way, the goal of producing functional citizens doe not change.

Our goal is to help students achieve the necessary skills to be able to live independently and to become productive citizens that earn their own living.

Our class is centered around functional skills and independence. My students want to do more and learn as many skills as they can. I want them to do more because they Can! I plan on helping them along the way but we need your help.

My Project

The primary focus of my functional skills class is to yield students who are productive citizens that are as independent as possible. It is my duty as their teacher to Inspire them to be productive citizens, expose them to as much as possible and Prepare them for adulthood (IEP). With the products that are in my cart, my students will be able to use their creativity to produce custom shirts, hats, tote bags and canvas prints that they can wear and promote.

As a functional skills teacher, I want to teach them how to use a sublimation printer to create unique products that sell to earn income.

I have a genuine desire for my students to gain the skills necessary to become independent and earn their own money.

I am constantly reminding each of my students that their disabilities do not dictate their potential. All of my students have shown that they have an interest in art and being creative. When listening to them and looking at some of their projects, they are really talented! Having the necessary tools and equipment will allow them to turn their drawings and paintings into wearable art. The skills that they will learn from creating these projects will help to pique their interest in becoming employed by graphic design companies or even starting their own small business. My students and I will be appreciative of any assistance in reaching our goal to purchase our tools. Thank you for taking the time to read about our classroom project.

Mrs. Machen-Gray
Grades 6-8

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mrs. Machen-Gray is requesting.

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TEACHERS, FEELING INSPIRED?

You can start a project with the same resources being requested here!

Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Epson Expression Photo HD XP-15000 Wireless Color Wide-Format Printer, Amazon Dash Replenishment Ready • Amazon Business $349.99 1 $349.99
VEVOR Heat Press Machine 15"x15" 8 in 1 Combo Digital Multifunctional Sublimation Heat Transfer Machine Dual LED Display 360 Degree Rotation Swing Away for Printing T Shirts Hat Mug Cap Plate • Amazon Business $284.99 1 $284.99
Koala 150 sheets Sublimation Paper 13X19 Inches for Heat Transfer DIY gift compatible with Inkjet Printer with Sublimation Ink • Amazon Business $38.50 1 $38.50
Topcolor Sublimation Coating for Mugs Tumblers Wood Glass Ceramic 250ml Sublimation Coating Liquid for Hard Surfaces Waterproof and Super Adhesion • Amazon Business $27.69 1 $27.69
Pristar Sublimation Coating Spray for Cotton Blends and All Fabric Including Shirts, Polyester, Carton, Canvas, Tote Bag, with high Gloss Finish and Quick Dry Formula, No Mixing Required, 2-Pack • Amazon Business $22.59 1 $22.59
SEVENWELL 14 Colors Acrylic Leather Paint Kit (35ml/1.2 fl oz.) with 2 Acrylic Finisher for Shoes, Sneakers, Sofa, Jacket, Bag, Wallet, Car Seat, Leather Paint for Repair, DIY, Painting • Amazon Business $21.99 1 $21.99
Acrylic Leather Paint for Shoes | 18 Color Acrylic Leather Paint Kit With 5 Paint Brushes (Deglazer and finisher not Included)| Great Repair Finisher For Shoes, Sneakers, Couches, Bags, Car Seats, Wallets, Jackets • Amazon Business $21.89 1 $21.89
4 Rolls 10mm x33m (108ft) High Temperature Heat Resistant Tape Heat Transfer Tape for Heat Sublimation Press No Residue and Heat Transfer Vinyl • Amazon Business $8.99 1 $8.99

Materials cost

$776.63

Vendor shipping charges

 FREE

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$11.65

Fulfillment labor & materials

$30.00

Total project cost

$818.28

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$144.40

Total project goal

$962.68

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $962.68

2 Donors

-$481.34

Donations toward project cost

-$409.14

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$72.20

match offer

-$481.34

Match offer toward project cost

-$409.14

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$72.20

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Machen-Gray and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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