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Cheswold, Del. —
Where do young people with mental or physical disabilities go to have fun on a Friday night, the same as everybody else?
The answer lies within the Cheswold Fire Fall, where 200 to 300 people come once each month for the dances held by The Arc of Delaware. This Friday night, about 200 attended the nonprofit organization's Christmas dance.
Hope Garrison, 25, of Dover was among those showing off some deft dance moves on the floor. She came to the dance with her mother, Efser "Et" Garrison.
"I love to dance," Hope Garrison said. "I love to sing."
"This is a wonderful event," added Et Garrison. "It gives them something to look forward to."
The enthusiasm and joy that abounds at these dances is precisely why The Arc of Delaware holds these functions. The Arc aims to ensure “persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live, work, go to school and enjoy leisure activities in their communities of choice.”
And what's a Christmas dance without a visit from Santa Claus? Indeed, Kris Kringle caused a lot of excitement as he arrived with lights and sirens blaring on a Cheswold fire engine. Laura Smith, 27, of New Castle, and Matt Trivitt, 25, of Dover were among the first to greet Santa Claus and received candy canes for their efforts.
“I was happy to be with my boyfriend, Matt,” Smith said. “His mom has my mom’s first name – Susan.”
Also at Friday night’s dance was Arlissa Garrett, 28, of Dover, who spent a little time dancing with her mother, Arc of Delaware Board member Brenda Wilson, and her father, Monty Garrett, a teacher at Caesar Rodney School District's Charlton School.
“It’s great socialization for everyone,” Wilson said. “Once they leave school, there’s really nothing else for them.”
Another Arc of Delaware Board member, Cheryl Roach of Dover, brought her son, Alex Brathwaite, 18, to Friday night’s dance.
“Keeping them socially involved enhances their quality of life,” Roach said.
That is what it’s all about, Arc of Delaware Board of Directors President Bill Seufert said. Seufert of Dover has been involved for six years.
“I have no family member or child with special needs,” he said. “I just think it’s a great organization.”
Jacob Tighe, 26, of Magnolia, comes to every one of the dances. On Friday night, he danced with Alyssa Middleton-Yates, an employee at Easter Seals, who whisked Tighe around the dance floor in his wheelchair.
Where do young people with mental or physical disabilities go to have fun on a Friday night, the same as everybody else?
The answer lies within the Cheswold Fire Fall, where 200 to 300 people come once each month for the dances held by The Arc of Delaware. This Friday night, about 200 attended the nonprofit organization's Christmas dance.
Hope Garrison, 25, of Dover was among those showing off some deft dance moves on the floor. She came to the dance with her mother, Efser "Et" Garrison.
"I love to dance," Hope Garrison said. "I love to sing."
"This is a wonderful event," added Et Garrison. "It gives them something to look forward to."
The enthusiasm and joy that abounds at these dances is precisely why The Arc of Delaware holds these functions. The Arc aims to ensure “persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live, work, go to school and enjoy leisure activities in their communities of choice.”
And what's a Christmas dance without a visit from Santa Claus? Indeed, Kris Kringle caused a lot of excitement as he arrived with lights and sirens blaring on a Cheswold fire engine. Laura Smith, 27, of New Castle, and Matt Trivitt, 25, of Dover were among the first to greet Santa Claus and received candy canes for their efforts.
“I was happy to be with my boyfriend, Matt,” Smith said. “His mom has my mom’s first name – Susan.”
Also at Friday night’s dance was Arlissa Garrett, 28, of Dover, who spent a little time dancing with her mother, Arc of Delaware Board member Brenda Wilson, and her father, Monty Garrett, a teacher at Caesar Rodney School District's Charlton School.
“It’s great socialization for everyone,” Wilson said. “Once they leave school, there’s really nothing else for them.”
Another Arc of Delaware Board member, Cheryl Roach of Dover, brought her son, Alex Brathwaite, 18, to Friday night’s dance.
“Keeping them socially involved enhances their quality of life,” Roach said.
That is what it’s all about, Arc of Delaware Board of Directors President Bill Seufert said. Seufert of Dover has been involved for six years.
“I have no family member or child with special needs,” he said. “I just think it’s a great organization.”
Jacob Tighe, 26, of Magnolia, comes to every one of the dances. On Friday night, he danced with Alyssa Middleton-Yates, an employee at Easter Seals, who whisked Tighe around the dance floor in his wheelchair.
“I don’t come here as an employee,” said Middleton-Yates of Dover. “It’s just fun to be around the guys on a social level as opposed to the work place.”
Mary Sweet-Farrow of Felton, who once served an internship with Easter Seals, comes back every year for the dances. On Friday, one of the people she danced with was Dana DeSanctis, 27, of Wyoming. Dana came to the dance with her mother, Janet.
"It means a lot," Janet DeSanctis said. "It's like her only source of entertainment. They all look forward to it."
