Mobility for nine-year-old Svanah Morris comes in the form of a walker, so when faced with a 20-foot climbing wall she was just a little hesitant to take that first step up.
But safely geared up, with a Hoodoo Adventures guide with her, mom Nicole at her back, and her friends cheering from below, she made it to the top.
And what better way to celebrate than to do it again, which she did.
| Sibling Austin Morris works on his decorating technique for the Dragonfly Pond Family Society Art in the Park summer program.Mark Brett/Western News |
“You know, like Svanah, they’re a little hesitant at first and then they get to the top and we’re all clapping and like Svanah, they want to do it over and over again, you see a little bit of fear at first but once they start they can’t believe how much they’ve accomplished, it’s just awesome to watch,” said DFP co-ordinator Deb Morrow.
Dragonfly is a collaboration of parents, professionals and community partners with the mandate of providing services for families with children ages zero to 18 with “complex care needs and/or disabilities” in the South Okanagan/Similkameen.
This day, the same as earlier in the week during the Art in the Park and every other program DFP provides for its members, there are almost as many kids without special needs taking part.
“The programs are designed to support the whole family, because the whole family needs support,” said Morrow. “Their siblings who don’t have special needs come and they get to meet with other siblings and play with each other over the summer. When you have a disability or complex care need, the whole family is involved.
| Svanah Morris carefully negotiates the steps on the Hoodoo Adventures rock climbing wall during a Dragonfly Pond Family Society summer program stop.Mark Brett/Western News |
“The siblings are always invited to everything because sometimes they don’t get out but here they are with other families and other siblings who are going through the same things so they get to see it’s not just their family, it’s a bunch of families.”
She added with that in mind, from the DFP perspective it’s not about disabilities.
“This is for kids with different abilities,” said Morrow. “Like today, kids can try something different, maybe something they’ve never tried before or wouldn’t have tried before and they can’t believe what they’ve accomplished and what they can accomplish.
“It’s exciting and builds confidence.”
As part of it’s “respitality” program, DFP also provides parents with an evening out, which may be a dinner, a night in a hotel, movie/play tickets or gift basket with the family providing daycare services.
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All the programs provide a critical networking opportunity as well for parents and often result in life-long friendships outside the organization.
Erin Menzies and her five-year-old son Ryder are newcomers to Dragonfly.
“Absolutely,” she said when asked if she’s noticed a change in Ryder since joining. “This program is just awesome. We especially love that it’s very inclusive, it’s like we belong and that’s important to him, especially being on the autism spectrum.
| Erin Menzies with son Ryder Marsel work together with their Art in the Park creation.Mark Brett/Western News |
As a single mom on a fixed income not having to pay for the summer programs is an added bonus.
Jocelyn Ronnmark has been going to Dragonfly for years and is now a volunteer who helps other children with programs and building friendships as others helped her when she first joined.
Her feeling?
“It makes me happy.”
Reaching the top for all children can come in many different forms but for some, all it takes is a hand up.