‘A tireless advocate’: 10-year-old Leawood girl who championed accessibility mourned
Olivia Bloomfield, an advocate for accessibility and inclusivity in Leawood and beyond, died July 5 at age 10.
She was born with congenital muscular dystrophy, a condition that causes diminished muscle tone. By the time she was 18 months old, Olivia was operating a power wheelchair, her mother Sara Bloomfield said.
When she was four, she became an advocate for Variety KC, hosting a lemonade stand in her neighborhood that raised $1,200 to make the Leawood City Park more accessible. She went on to speak on numerous occasions for Variety KC.
Olivia worked on mobility accessibility as well as other types of accessibility to ensure all kids could play.
“She was a tireless advocate for inclusivity for all kids,” Bloomfield said.
“She felt very strongly that all kids needed a safe place to belong.”
Bloomfield said Olivia’s grandparents were inspired by her work and advocated for an inclusive playground in Salina, Kansas. Olivia spoke at the dedication in 2019 and the playground is named after her.
Last year, Olivia was named the champion of a global urban playground design competition that focused on inclusivity.
And earlier this year, she was recognized with the Kansas City Independent’s Rising Star Award this year for her advocacy. She was the youngest person to get the award.
Bloomfield said Olivia was inquisitive and loved to learn. This year, she won second place in a school-wide spelling bee.
Amy Sachse was Olivia’s third and fourth grade teacher at Corinth Elementary School. She said Olivia had an extraordinary love of learning and was always dedicated to any project thrown her way. Once, when Olivia was working on a project about an endangered animal, Sachse said she went door-to-door in her neighborhood urging her neighbors to help save endangered species.
“What struck me most about her was her kindness and positivity,” Sachse said.
The other students loved to be around Olivia, and Sachse said she was always making book clubs and talking with other kids about what she was reading. Olivia made everyone feel included with her infectious laughter, positive spirit, kindness and empathy, Sachse said.
At school, Olivia was also part of the math, chess and gardening clubs. Sachse said she watched Olivia become more confident and take every opportunity that came her way over the two years she taught her.
Sachse said Olivia loved being a sister, daughter and friend. Olivia and her six-year-old sister Emily were best friends, Bloomfield said.
The Olivia Bloomfield Foundation has been created in her name and will fund charities and community projects that improve the lives of those with disabilities. The foundation will also fund medical research on congenital muscular dystrophy, according to the website.