By Jillian Risberg 

It was October 2020 when Danielle Fico Woelki saw a Facebook post about a St. Louis, Missouri school that installed a communication sign for children on the Autism spectrum who have trouble expressing themselves. And it was right then and there that she knew she had to do something locally to help.

“Just the thought of a child not being able to communicate correctly truly broke my heart,” Fico Woelki says. 

So the Budd Lake woman messaged Mayor Rob Greenbaum, who directed her to his Special Projects Coordinator/Assistant Lisa Brett. 

Brett took an interest in Fico Woelki’s inquiry and brought it to fruition.

“We emailed back and forth over the past few months; I knew I had to remain persistent, there was no way I was giving up on this,” says the jewelry designer. “And she always responded with updates. I almost cried when I was told it was done.” 

It has always been and always will be when a resident is in need they are there to serve the community and that is what they do, the Special Projects Coordinator says.

But before any request proceeds, Brett says it is evaluated individually and really depends upon what it is…

“As long as it’s in the best interest of the community and something like this is definitely in the best interest of the community,” she says. 

According to the Autism Awareness Centre, autism is a lifelong, non-progressive neurological disorder typically appearing before the age of three. This developmental disability significantly affects verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction.

Undertaking this was a big deal… and for Fico Woelki to be able to help the greater Mount Olive community means so much. 

“This was a very significant moment for me,” she says, of the communication board. “It is a voice for the children that have trouble expressing themselves verbally and can assist the adults to understand as well.”

Once she posted on Facebook that the sign had been erected, her joy was indescribable. 

“I made a positive impact on my community. Our children can play safely on the playground, play joyfully without getting frustrated that people won’t understand them when trying to communicate,” says the jewelry designer. 

As a moderator on the Mount Olive Community Facebook Page, it all started when Fico Woelki posted the article about the communication board (that she first spotted on Karen Shunk McConnell’s wall) and she commented that they definitely need that in Mount Olive, which elicited a positive response from everyone.

“Figured the parks would be a great starting point,” the Budd Lake woman says.

And she got her wish — a board was installed at Turkey Brook Park on May 4 and at Flanders Park on May 7. 

“The sign consists of core words and common playground words along with pictures to help communicate, including ‘he/she/yes/no/look/help’ and the second column has swings/ball/happy/thirsty/restroom,” says the jewelry designer. 

She says pulling this off was a team effort and she’s incredibly grateful to all those who helped bring her dream to life, including Nicole Spaldo, who created a post that read: ‘Danielle Fico Woelki  has a dream of making a sign like this a reality at Turkey Brook Park, can anyone help.’ 

Spaldo connected her with Elizabeth Meininger from the Mount Olive Recreation Center.

“Meininger emailed asking if I wanted anything specific on the sign, so I sent her my original post with the communication board (article),” Fico Woelki says. 

The marketing director created the board, then sent it over to the recreation sign department for printing.

“The one at Turkey Brook is adhered to the fence in a central location,” she says. “The one at Flanders — our Parks and Grounds gentleman made a frame, so it’s double-sided; they can see it from the playground side and also the swing side.”

Recreation had never done anything like this before.

“It was never brought to our attention,” says Meininger, adding that they soon learned several of the signs are included when one purchases playground equipment.

“But we couldn’t add it to our existing swing-sets, because it would change the format. Then we were trying to figure out how can we do this because we thought it was a great idea. Just one more element to help the children of Mount Olive.”

And Brett says Recreation did a great job.

“There’s a need for that from the community, so we incorporate all the departments and under the mayor’s administration we make sure it happens,” she says. 

For Fico Woelki, that kind of camaraderie is everything. 

“Really shows what a great community we have right here in Mount Olive and makes me so happy to be a part of this town.” 

Selflessness is just the jewelry designer’s nature.

She creates rosaries and ‘sensory soothers’ for children and adults out of gemstones/crystals —Amethyst, Sodalite, Quartz, Hematite and many others. 

“These bracelets are designed with faceted beads, which have a calming effect when held in your hand,” Fico Woelki says. 

As she reflects on the communication board experience, her greatest hope going forward is for people to have empathy and acceptance of others.

She encourages that by sharing interactive posts and inspiring quotes daily on the Mount Olive Community Facebook Page, something she has been doing since the onset of COVID, the jewelry designer’s way of helping others cope with being stuck in the house.

“In which multiple members have thanked me, saying they look forward to starting off their day reading my positive messages,” she says. “Ultimately I just try to bring our beautiful community together.”