One Saturday morning, the community of Broward County came together for a day to celebrate differences and join together using the power of inclusivity. At the Charles F. Dodge City Center, multiple different organizations set up their booths, families entered the double doors with open hearts, and laughter bounced off the walls. On September 14, 2024, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital hosted the Special Needs and Inclusion Fair.
The day started fresh and early at 10 AM when all organizations lined up around the city center, all who were ready to put smiles on all faces. These organizations ranged from swimming schools, horse therapy, to canine services. However, what these organizations all had in common were their goal for the day: to make these families feel safe, heard, and supported.
For one in particular, Canine Companions, their goal was to train dogs to help and make life easier for people with special needs that need aid. It all began in Santa Rosa, California, but was brought down to Florida in order to help those who need assistance with day-to-day activities. This includes doing laundry, to help people in and out of wheelchairs, open doors, etc.
Jenny Ortiz, representative of Canine Companions, shined brightly next to a successfully trained dog who is certified and able to take on these challenges. With a smile on her face and while still describing the process of the training, she continues on to say “And as the time goes on, even though the dog may not have been actually taught a specific need, the dog picks up what that individual needs them for.”
Once an hour passed, the lights turned towards the main stage as Hip Hop Kidz, a dance company in South Florida, stormed the dance floor to entertain the families and get them moving. As their complex, yet engaging routine went on, more kids and parents were drawn to the stage and were all seen moving their bodies and dancing to the beat all while still with a huge smile on their face.
After catching up with the dance instructor of Hip Hop Kidz, Rain, that was exactly what he wanted out of the performance. For him, this hip hop performance was more than just a dance and was deliberately planned with a motive behind it. The motive being able to get people of all ages and backgrounds to feel that they can join in on the routine.
For Rain, as he also teaches kids with special needs, these events hold a very strong place in his heart. “I love events that bring this portion of the community together because a lot of the time it’s overlooked, right? Being a person that sees it on the daily, they’re just as much as needed of that attention or needed of that validation in the world.”
After this performance, the clock was inching closer and closer to 1pm, which was when the event would officially end. However, this didn’t stop anyone from having a good time and being able to learn more about what the Broward community has to offer in terms of support for people with disabilities. For some, these efforts meant more to them than others.
Jose Acosta, father of a young boy with special needs, was touched by this event in a way that usually goes unnoticed. “I think it’s really good for us because sometimes we’re home and attending to our daily situation and we don’t have the time to do research. But, when you come over here in a quick turn around, you’re given all these services we didn’t even know about.”
As the Acosta family and more families impacted by a disability or special need leave the fair, they walk away with a newfound energy to them. This energy comes from the feeling of knowing that not only are they supported, but that they are heard. With that, the annual Special Needs and Inclusion Fair ended with a total success.
