Special Summer Bash brings inclusive fun, helpful resources

Dec 02, 2023

Jul 31, 2023

GOOD MANNERS — Representatives from Destiny Dog Obedience School stand with their dogs, who have undergone obedience training and attend events where people can relax and pet them. From left, Kathleen Miles and Holly, Bob Morris and Zeus, Alicia Troski and Meave and Mary Jo Morris and Avella. -- Christopher Dacanay

RICHMOND — Fun activities for special needs individuals, as well as helpful resources, abounded Saturday at the second-annual Special Summer Bash, hosted by Special Connections.

Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts and flower necklaces were the dress code for the luau-themed bash, which took place at the Crossroads Christian Church Ministry Center.

The bash’s main draw was a barnyard petting zoo, which offered about 25 small or medium-sized farm animals, including sheep, a donkey, an alpaca, cows, pigs, a miniature zebu and two puppies. Individuals could pet the animals up close and even feed them using bottles.

Members of the Sycamore Youth Corps did facepainting for attendees. Next to them, representatives of the Bella Capelli Academy beauty school ran a hair station, where attendees could receive colored hair chalk, hair tinsel and glitter spray.

Destiny Dog Obedience School brought four dogs — Zeus, Avella, Maeve and Holly — that attendees could pet and interact with. Bob Morris, a participant in the school, said Destiny provides different levels of obedience training for dogs, some of whom give their time to brighten people’s days in places like schools, nursing homes and even airports.

BARKED GOODS — Individuals with the nonprofit Hailee’s Barkery posed with packages of the organization’s dog biscuits, which are made by people with intellectual disabilities. From left, Amy Dalton, Hailee Ocobock, Lori Medved, Austin Ocobock and Erin Medved. -- Christopher Dacanay

Inside the ministry center, attendees were served summer foods like hotdogs, freshly cut watermelon and cupcakes with floral decorations, as well as popcorn, snow cones and cotton candy.

Sarah Kostecki and Karissa McElroy won the bash’s Hawaiian shirt competition. McElroy said this was their first time attending a Special Connections event, and they enjoyed it. Their favorite part was the petting zoo, even though the animals tried to nibble on Kostecki’s grass skirt.

Linda Mascellino attended the bash with her grandsons, Matthew, 6, and Keith, 8, and their mother, Kimberly Mascellino. Linda Mascellino said she loved the bash, and she has never witnessed “anything more rewarding” for Keith Mascellino, who has special needs.

“This is his level,” Linda Mascellino said, “and there are not many things in the Ohio Valley that are his level, so you can imagine how grateful we are. … I can’t say enough good things about this.”

Special Connections itself is a nonprofit based out of Jefferson County with the twofold goal of throwing communal events for special needs individuals and their families and connecting those people with local resources, said Mindy Aleksiejczyk of Special Connections.

Christopher DacanayPUPPY PARTY — Max Magulick, 4, and Jenna Puhalla petted two puppies at the Special Connections Summer Bash petting zoo. -- Christopher Dacanay

Aleksiejczyk said Special Connections’ events are meant to provide a place where special needs individuals can “relax and enjoy,” understanding that navigating typical festivals can be overwhelming at times. Special Connections hosts four primary events during the year: An Easter egg hunt, summer bash, “Trunk-or-Treat” fall festival and Santa breakfast. To keep up with upcoming events, one should visit Special Connections’ Facebook page, Aleksiejczyk said.

“Everything is with the individuals with disabilities in mind,” said Aleksiejczyk, adding that activities, which have no age limit, are arranged so that the whole family can participate. “We’re not only trying to give them experiences. We’re trying to build a community.”

Not to be overlooked were the number of resource centers represented at tables throughout the bash, which included the Family Recovery Center, the Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network and A Caring Place Child Advocacy Center.

Another resource represented was the Miracle League of Moon Township. Christina Magulick, board secretary for the league’s nonprofit, said the league offers a baseball program for children and adults with special needs at a safe and inclusive complex in Moon Township, Pa.

“The whole idea is to have a safe place for athletes with special needs and provide a safe place to play,” said Magulick, whose son Luke plays on the league.

SAY CHEESE — Keith Mascellino, 8, posed in front of a topical background at the luau-themed Special Summer Bash. -- Christopher Dacanay

The complex itself, Magulick said, includes a soft, accessible baseball field, a ramp-accessible playground and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant restrooms with adjustable height changing tables. Luke Magulick said his favorite part of the playground is a large lunar rover-shaped space that kids can climb into.

Although it is baseball-centered, Magulick said, the league offers soccer, cheer and football programs. The baseball league’s fall season will begin in September, but the field is open to the public at any time. Magulick said the league contains about 150 participants, and sometimes different groups homes will play against each other using the field.

The nonprofit Hailee’s Barkery sold dog biscuits made by individuals with intellectual disabilities. The organization’s namesake, Hailee Ocobock, is involved with the creation process, which she said includes cutting the biscuits out, putting them in bags and labeling them.

The organization, which began in 2023, has about five helpers who each play a role. Flavors for the biscuits include chicken, peanut butter and sweet potato.

Aleksiejczyk said Special Connections makes sure to include resources from all three states in the Tri-State Area to avoid geographically excluding anyone there. Additionally, she said Special Connections will be hosting informational meetings where special needs parents and caregivers can learn more about available resources.

GOOD DOGGY — Matthew Mascellino, 6, petted Avella, held out to him by Mary Jo Morris, a participant with Destiny Dog Obedience School. -- Christopher Dacanay

Aleksiejczyk said Special Connections, which shares a name with other organizations in the U.S. but is not affiliated, formed in the spring of 2022 as a collaboration among three groups: the Special Needs Parent Support in the Ohio Valley Facebook page, of which Aleksiejczyk is the organizer; Crossroads Christian Church; and the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Cookie West, employment and community navigator for the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said, “(The bash) is a wonderful event for families of all abilities to come and connect. That’s what Special Connections is about — children, families, communities, and I think today was a good show of that.”

Nicholle Northcraft, a board member for Special Connections whose son has special needs, said she first became involved with the nonprofit through attending Crossroads Christian Church and its Children’s Ministry, directed by Kristina Gabel.

Northcraft said the bash’s turnout has been great, and she is glad to see special needs families from across the Ohio River becoming connected as “one big community.”

“Being a special needs family,” Northcraft said, “we’ve been waiting for more resources to come and more events that are sensory friendly, and now it seems like it’s actually happening.”

ALOHA — Karissa McElroy, left, and Sarah Kostecki won the Special Summer Bash’s Hawaiian shirt competition. -- Christopher Dacanay

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

Early voting ends SundaySTEUBENVILLE—Early voting for Tuesday’s special election ends at 5 p.m. Sunday, ...

WELLSBURG — While a precise date for the opening of the new bridge set to span the Ohio River between an area ...

STEUBENVILLE — Friday’s First Friday “Eighties Night” is shaping up to be a special one. “Usually I ...