SALEM, Ore. — When 7-year-old Aspen Nelson set out to raise money so her best friend could play at recess, she didn’t have much to work with — just a craft box, determination and a goal. But after decorating popsicle sticks and selling them to friends and neighbors, she had $38.05.
That effort was enough to fuel a broader community campaign to build an inclusive playground at Sumpter Elementary School in Salem, where students of all abilities learn side by side, but can’t always play together at recess.
Aspen met her friend, 6-year-old Juniper Adkisson, in music class. Sumpter is one of only two elementary schools in Oregon designated as a National Banner Unified Champion School, a program promoting inclusion between general education students and those with special needs…