HERKIMER, N.Y. - Hundreds gathered in Herkimer County Community College’s Sarkus-Busch Theater on Tuesday, October 6 for a performance by the band Flame.

Students and community members in attendance were from HCCC, Dolgeville Central School, Frankfort Schuyler Central School, Herkimer Central School, Spring brook, Herkimer ARC, Oneida Lewis ARC, Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center, Human Technologies Corporation, and United Cerebral Palsy.

Flame entertained the audience with a variety of music including popular classic rock, blues, pop and country songs. The band is composed of 11 individuals with developmental or physical disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and blindness. Recent performances in Greece and at the Special Olympic Games in Idaho have created an international fan following, with requests to perform coming from far away as Nigeria on the continent of Africa.

The lead vocalist of Flame, Michelle King, was invited by Tim Shriver, Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s son, to sing two songs at the private family wake service for Eunice Kennedy Shriver in Cape Cod, MA. Co-sponsored by HCCC’s Campus Accessibility Committee and the Herkimer Area Resource Center, the concert was one of the events held during the 17th annual Accessibility Awareness Week at HCCC.

The purpose of Accessibility Awareness Week is to educate the community on the abilities of individuals and the need to make environments accessible and inclusive.

In addition to the performance by Flame, the week included simulation activities to help participants appreciate the challenges a person with a disability faces.