CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Kids with special needs and their families are the focus of the inaugural Fall Fest on Saturday, October 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. The media is invited to cover this event. The Fall Fest is being held in partnership with Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s Therapeutic Recreation program.
At this free community event, children with special needs and mobility issues can trick-or-treat in an accessible, indoor “neighborhood” made of cardboard houses decorated by local businesses and organizations.
“Our patients have varied abilities and needs, so our accessible, family-friendly trick-or-treating will be for both sweet treats and other prizes,” says Dr. Charles Dillard, a pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at CHKD. “The Fall Fest is all about creating a safe, stress-free environment for our kids to participate in holiday celebrations.”
Kids are invited to come in costume and decorate their wheelchairs or adaptive devices, and can enjoy fall games and activities like pumpkin decorating, live entertainment, and a photo booth.
When: Saturday, October 20, 2 – 5 p.m.
Where: River Crest Community Center, 1001 River Walk Parkway, Chesapeake, Virginia
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About CHKD
CHKD is the only freestanding children’s hospital in Virginia and serves the medical and surgical needs of children throughout greater Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and northeastern North Carolina. The not-for-profit CHKD Health System operates primary care pediatric practices, surgical practices, multi-service health centers, urgent care centers, and satellite offices throughout its service region.
About Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism’s Therapeutic Recreation program
The City of Chesapeake Parks, Recreation and Tourism has been serving the citizens of Chesapeake with special needs for over 30 years. Certified staff are dedicated to maintaining an atmosphere that empowers participants to enjoy life and reach their goals every day. Recreational therapists work with clients to restore motor, social, and cognitive functioning; build confidence; develop coping skills; and integrate skills learned in treatment settings into community settings. Intervention areas vary widely and are based upon client interests. Examples of intervention modalities include creative arts (e.g., crafts, music, dance, drama, among others), sports, adventure programming, dance/movement, and leisure education.