Dozens ‘groove’ to raise awareness for community programs for children with special needs

For many families with children with special needs, it can be tough to find community programs they can become involved in.

Nicole Tersigni’s son Mason has autism. She says two years ago he was very quiet, he would avoid other children, and large groups of people made him nervous.

“He was unable to communicate with most people, let alone any child,” Tersigni said adding, “Everybody just expects a kid knows how to play, they expect a kid to know how to talk to other kids.”

Tersigni says her and her husband struggled to find organizations and groups that specialized in helping children with special needs.

“But, once we did, it completely opened him up to a whole new world of possibilities,” said Tersigni.

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Tersigni and her husband found Infinite Resources Inc. The St. Albert area organization creates a supportive environment for children and teens who require behavioural, educational and social understanding.

“They have a place they can come and they feel like they belong and they feel they’re accepted,” said Infinite Resource’s peer interactions coordinator, Michelle Evans.

A special event was held Sunday afternoon, in hopes of inspiring people to create similar community programs that support children with special needs. ‘Groove is in our Hearts’ is a dance walk that provides an opportunity for parents and their children to find out what programs are available in their community. It also gives them a chance to meet and interact with other children and families.

Pediatric occupational therapist Angela Wallace organized the first annual Groove is in our Hearts because she noticed a need for specialized programming in the community.

“Children with special needs need extra support,” said Wallace adding, “(The dance walk) helps with confidence because kids know they can do something. It helps with peers, it helps kids that don’t have special needs understand a little bit more about how we can support each other so that we can all be successful.”

Tersigni says the extra support has been extremely beneficial for Mason. He has opened up, gained confidence and become a different little boy than he was just two years ago.

“I’m just so proud of him,” she said adding, “Now, he is so open. He has just flowered. He’s a kid that wants to be around everybody and he wants to ask kids to play, and he wants to play games with them just like everybody else.”

With files from Jenna Bridges. 

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