Building on an award-winning year, AMS club Extra Awesome is looking to be exactly what its name is.
The student club works in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Association of Kingston (DSAK) to plan events primarily for those with Down Syndrome, but also those with Autism, aimed at facilitating skill development and fun. Extra Awesome was the recipient of the AMS award for new club of the year.
Beginning as a volunteer and session programmer, current Co-Chair Emma Wiggins, HealthSci ’25, emphasized the club’s approach to inclusivity.
“We look to the development of social and motor skills through play-based learning and the establishment of friendships with Queen’s student mentors, and [to] increase inclusivity through advocacy via education campaigns and events,” Wiggins said in a statement to The Journal.
Training volunteers is an important part of the club’s operations, focusing on “person-first language, avoiding patronizing language and conduct, training on strengths and weaknesses of the disabilities we work on, and preparation on how to adapt activities for specific variable needs,” Wiggins said.
The club hosts one-hour events weekly where participants visit Queen’s campus and partake in events such as karaoke, dancing, and charades, along with rotational activities where participants do crafts, puzzles, matching games, and more.
“This year we hope to sell some things including DIY mismatched socks for World Down Syndrome Day and other things made and decorated by our participants,” Wiggins said.
On Sept. 21, Extra Awesome is partnering with Queen’s Football so participants can take a trip to Richardson Stadium, on the field with the team and talk with players.
To “increase inclusivity”, Extra Awesome makes weekly posts on social media for “Terminology Tuesday” to explain used surrounding disabilities that are misunderstood or misused, such as person-first language, invisible disabilities, and more.
Person first language is defined as “Using language that puts the person before their diagnosis to emphasize that they are humans and should not be defined by their disability,” according to the club’s Instagram story.
Invisible Disabilities are defined as “any disability that is not immediately noticeable by byers. This includes people with brain injuries, chronic pain, mental illness, and more.”
Extra Awesome also partakes in collaborations with other AMS groups, such as their annual fundraiser with Common Ground Coffeehouse, where participants show off their singing and dancing talents to an audience during an open mic event.
Wiggins said the open mic is one of their annual fundraisers which is necessary for Extra Awesome to operate without charging participants. To keep activities free, the club collaborates with local businesses like SpinCo and Campus One Stop on raffles and donations.
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