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egg....... HINT=an intellectual

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Egg Hunt for People with Intellectual Disabilities Offers Collaborative Opportunities for Local Agencies and Brings the Community Together

By Bartram, Samantha

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Article excerpt

Many local parks make way each spring for scads of pastel-clad children to spill out over green spaces and sports fields, eager to load their Easter baskets with colorful, candy-filled eggs. Community Easter egg hunts are designed to be inclusive, inviting participation from young children in all corners of a host agency's service area. Two years ago, a handful of Davidson County, North Carolina, agencies endeavored to cast that net yet further by establishing an annual hunt designed for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. Today, the two-year-old collaboration among the Davidson County Parks and Recreation Department (DCPRD), Davidson County Autism Society (DCAS) and the Arc Davidson County has made a major impact in the lives of special-needs residents, their guardians and the community at large.

Proactive Partnering

Annette Horsley has served as DCAS co-leader for the past three years, acting as an expert and ally for people with autism and other intellectual disabilities in her community. Horsley's 37-year-old son lives with Asperger's syndrome, and her two grandsons also have been diagnosed as being in the autism spectrum. It's safe to say she's dedicated most of her life to understanding, supporting and championing adults and children who have been identified as having special needs. She's developed programs through DCAS designed to educate her neighbors about people with intellectual disabilities and served as a mentor for guardians who may find themselves overwhelmed by the demands of caring for someone with special needs. "[My husband and I are] able to say, 'We've lived through this; we know what it's like to lie awake at night and worry about what my child will be able to do when he grows up.'"

Horsley used to organize a DCAS Easter egg hunt on her own, but the event site at a church on the outskirts of town left much to be desired. "It wasn't conducive for special-needs children," Horsley says. It occurred to her to capitalize on the support shown by DCPRD Recreation Activities Program Manager Mary Ann Brown, whom Horsley knew as a strong advocate of DCAS' work in the community. Brown took pains to make sure DCPRD's program materials, Facebook page and bulletin boards included information about camps, classes and similar opportunities offered by DCAS, ARC, the Workshop of Davidson and other groups that support individuals with special needs. When Horsley asked, Brown immediately offered space at her facility to host the Easter egg hunt. "Mary Ann said, '[DCPRD has] this beautiful building--you're welcome to use it," Horsley says. "I said, wonderful! We couldn't have done this without Mary Ann--she's a pro."

The 2013 hunt saw almost 100 participants. "We had a gorgeous day last year, and this year we were expecting even more people, but the weather wasn't our friend that day," Brown says. …

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Article details

PUBLICATION:

Parks & Recreation

VOLUME/ISSUE:

Vol. 49, No. 6

PUBLICATION DATE:

June 2014

CONTRIBUTORS:

Bartram, Samantha

SUBJECTS:

Easter--Social aspects

Parks--Services

Parks--United States

Community development--Planning