Photo courtesy of New Ulm Park & Recreation Best Western Plus General Manager Bethany Scott, left, and Tarvern 507 waitress Kallie Schugel hold a $1,700 donation check. The donation will help the City of New Ulm Park & Recreation Department purchase a communication board to be placed in a city park. Tavern 507 at the Best Western Plus donated 10% of Friday night sales for six weeks. Schugel is also a Brown County Human Services autism social worker.

NEW ULM — Thanks to generous donations from Tavern 507 and the New Ulm Optimist Club, the New Ulm Park & Recreation Department will soon have it’s first communication board.

A communication board is a visual tool designed to support individuals, who for various reasons, experience challenges expressing themselves verbally. Symbols, pictures and action cues on the boards help people communicate needs, feelings, and requests, ensuring everyone can fully participate in community spaces.

“I’m really excited for this. I’ve wanted to do this for years before a I found a way to raise funds for the boards. I support lots of kids and families on the autism spectrum,” said Brown County Human Services Austim Social Worker Kallie Schugel. “Communication boards are amazing, helping individuals express thoughts and feelings more easily. I think putting them in a park is good for all learners to be able to communicate, play and enjoy parks. Many kids have devices that speak for them, but the boards are more versatile.”

Schugel said communication boards are also useful for young learners who don’t have all their language skills yet or have communication delays, so they point to symbols on a communication board.

“I’ve seen communication boards in schools, school playgrounds and parks in the Twin Cities metro area, Wisconsin and South Dakota,” she said.

Also a waitress at Tavern 507, located in New Ulm’s Best Western Plus, Schugel is a mother and autism advocate.

Tavern 507 funds were raised by donating 10% of Friday night sales for six weeks. Efforts were promoted on social media and in-restaurant advertising.

Assistant New Ulm Park & Recreation Director Cheryl M. Kormann said the fundraising idea came from Schugel.

“She feels strongly about the importance of giving back to the community and wondered if the Club 507, a new, local business, could do more, so she approached Club 507 General Manager and New Ulm Conference Center Director Bethany Scott about raising funds for a communication board.

“The idea took on a whole new level for Bethany, who has a daughter that is neurodivergent, a condition in which communication barriers may exist,” said Kormann. “These individuals depend on non-verbal ways to communicate, so the fundraising effort was particularly close to her (Scott’s) heart.”

Kormann said Schugel and Scott agreed that people tend to be more kind and generous when they see donations going directly back into the community.

“Scott said the “Bird Dog” (Tavern 507’s parent owner leadership team) was truly honored to be able to give back in this way,” said Kormann.

The New Ulm Optimist Club donated $500 towards the communication board. It’s location is expected to be determined soon, Kormann said.

“Thanks to the donations, the communication board will be fully funded. It’s location will be determined soon,” said Kormann. “Visitors of all abilities will have a clearer, more accessible way to engage with others; an important step in making our facilities welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”