Special Needs Carnival Gives Kids Their Day At Hometown Fest

More than 200 children with disabilities and their family members enjoyed an afternoon of amusement park rides and camaraderie at
the Special Needs Carnival, donated by the Palatine Jaycees. 

The free event that ran from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Thursday, has been an annual festivity for the last 10 years, and was the kick-off to Hometown Fest 2011.  

Those attending had the opportunity to enjoy rides free from the long lines and large crowds expected when the fest opened to the public at 5 p.m.

For children with certain physical disabilities, it also provided an opportunity to be able to navigate the fairgrounds more easily.

“This event is really nice because, since my son is in a wheelchair, we have room to get around and really enjoy it,” said Pat Grady, father
of Sean Grady who suffers from spina bifida. 

Sean and his family have attended the carnival for the last four years.

Expenses for his care include managing his toilet functions, wheel chair maintenance, orthopedic braces and chronic medications.

Ryan Guerrero, who is diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and his family have attended the event for the last eight years, and today was Ryan’s 12th birthday.

“Ryan always smiles when we pull up to the carnival each year, he loves the train ride and I know that because when it stops, he frowns and says, ‘again,’” said Cindy Guerrero, Ryan’s mother.

Guerrero said each year the carnival is something of a reunion for the kids and their families who have so much in common.

“To have an opportunity to be in a fun environment with other families with children who have disabilities is just special,” Guerrero said.

Ryan, who also is in a wheelchair, goes to hippotherapy to assist with strengthening his core.

The therapy, which includes horseback riding, is meant to help him be able to sit up straight in his wheelchair. It costs the Guerrero family more than $200 a month in addition to the many other expenses
to manage Ryan’s disabilities.

Both the Guerrero and Grady families applied for and received grants of $500 and $750, respectively, from the Palatine Jaycees to assist with the additional expenses they have to cover.

Both parents expressed deep gratitude for the assistance, and organizers say the grants and the event as a whole were just part of an overall extraordinary occasion.  

“We’re all volunteers and, in the end, you see the smiles on the faces of these kids, it is simply phenomenal,” said Kristin Bureta, Palatine Jaycee and Hometown Fest 2011 co-chair.

Efforts to get as many children out to enjoy the event were far reaching as well.

“This event is near and dear to my heart; we try to get everyone we can involved; we sent out more than 200 invitations to schools
and facilities that work with children with special needs,” said Jennifer
Iannuzzelli, special needs carnival coordinator, who is also a special
education teacher.

Palatine grandmother Marie Raess came to the event with her grandson Dillon, who has autism.

“This is a very special opportunity for these kids to just have some old- fashioned fun in a safe environment for them,” Raess said.  “The fact that the Jaycees provide it for free to these kids is just wonderful.”

“It’s a great time and I get a chance to see friends that I’ve met in past years and I love getting to go on rides with them,” said Shawn Larson, a special needs teenager who attended the event.  

Ronald McDonald also made an appearance to visit with the kids and spread some Independence Day cheer, and each child who came to the carnival received a bag filled with goodies donated by Castle Chiropractic.

The Special Needs Carnival is funded entirely by funds raised by the Palatine Jaycees, and is open to children of all ages with any type of disability.

More than 30 volunteers made sure a special time was had by all.