VIDEO: Fall Fun & Games Day For Kids With Special Needs

CHICKASAW COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Running, playing, and riding horses are all things kids love to do. However, children with special needs are often left out of the fun because of their disabilities.

For 17 years now, a group in Houston has been celebrating children and their disabilities.

It all started with the passion of a concerned parent.

“The other two was getting to do things in school that he wasn’t getting to participate in and we felt like they needed something to participate in,” says Jo Cross.

And so began Fall Fun and Games Day for children with special needs. A day where kids can just be kids.

“Frankie has cerebral palsy, seizure disorder, several things wrong with him. HE’s never walked or talked to where other people could understand him but if you’re around Frankie much at all you’ll be able to tell Frankie is really bright person, he loves life,” says Cross.

Jo Cross is Frankie’s mom and the creator of Fall Fun and Games Day. She says Frankie has been coming to the field day since it began 17 years ago.

“It means more to us because I am a parent of a child and if we tell him he won’t sleep the night before, that’s how excited he gets,” says Cross.

From horse back riding, to buggie rides, checking out the chickens, and even hanging out inside of a helicopter with paramedics crews, the children see and do it all.

The best part is, the entire event is free!

“It’s completely done on donations by volunteers from 4-h’rs to the fire department. We could not do this day if it wasn’t for the donations from in the county, in the city, surrounding towns,” says MSU Extension Specialist Angie Abrams

Volunteers for the event know how big the impact the day is on not only the children’s lives but their lives as well.

“This day means more to me than any day. I look forward to this all year and it’s just amazing to come out here and see the smiles on these kids faces and it just means more to me than anything,” says volunteer Shelby Abrams.

“I have a background as a school teacher so being involved with the kids and just seeing them and seeing their faces light up when they see the helicopter getting to actually see a little bit inside of what we do,” says Air Flight Paramedic Kirk Chism.

For Cross, it’s all about the happiness it brings the children and her son.