DAY GIVES DISABLED ACCESS TO SIMI FUN; VOLUNTEERS HELP KIDS ENJOY RIDES.Byline: Gloria Gonzales Daily News Staff Writer For one day, the carnival becomes their own. For children with disabilities, a carnival can be like a distant Oz, with long lines In communications, circuits that are capable of handling transmissions over long distances. , crowds and step-up rides as daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin obstacles to fun. On Friday, those obstacles were removed as a troupe of volunteers helped 70 disabled youngsters navigate the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Days carnival's soft dirt paths, getting them from ride to game booth to hot dog stand A hot dog stand is a food business stand that sells hot dogs, usually from an external counter on a public thoroughfare such as a road, street, mall or food court. . ``This gives disabled children the opportunity to enjoy the carnival just as much as other children might,'' said Ovedia Santos, chairwoman of Special Children's Day Children's Day is a holiday in many countries around the world. International Children's Day The International Children's Day (ICD) is celebrated in numerous countries, usually (but not always) on June 1 each year. at Simi Valley Days. ``Event organizers, the school district, the fire and police departments, and community nonprofit organizations come together to bring the children to this carnival. ``The carnival donates the rides and the carnies donate prizes and set up the games to make it easier for these children to play.'' In addition to that help, carnival workers run some rides at slow speed and set up games to make them more accessible. Volunteers also help children at games and ride along with some children. For Daniel Ayala, the ride was only part of the fun. The 4-year-old preschooler pre·school·er n. 1. A child who is not old enough to attend kindergarten. 2. A child who is enrolled in a preschool. Noun 1. stood at his walker near the ladybug ladybug or ladybird beetle Any of the approximately 5,000 widely distributed beetles of the family Coccinellidae. The name originated in the Middle Ages, when the beetle was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and called “beetle of Our Lady. ride and observed the spinning machine with a mixture of fear and anticipation. His hesitation was broken when Fire Capt. Phil Hadley swooped him up - heavy leg braces and all - and walked toward a yellow-and-red ladybug. ``I need my froggy Frog´gy a. 1. Abounding in frogs. ,'' Daniel whispered into Phelps' starched blue shirt, looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a moment as if fear might win out over excitement. Phelps' talked Daniel through it. ``Where's your froggy?'' the tall firefighter asked. Daniel nodded toward a pouch hanging on his walker. Phelps lowered Daniel toward the pouch, and the boy retrieved his small, green frog green frog Rana clamitans. . ``Are we ready now?'' Phelps asked and was answered with a shy nod. Reinforced, Daniel boarded the ladybug, along with Beth Bjork, a 16-year-old volunteer from Westside Academy. Not all children were as reserved in their excitement as Daniel. ``Whoa! It's going up! Up! Up!'' shouted Eric McCloud, as he squirmed and tried to lean out of a spinning bumble bee. The 6-year-old from Garden Grove Elementary School shouted throughout the ride, while volunteer Scott Zopf from Valley View Middle School kept a firm grip on the child's shoulder. ``I wasn't afraid, I was nervous,'' Eric said, as Zopf and another volunteer, Glenn Stafford, helped him out of the black-and-yellow bee. ``The ride went up and up and then down. I was nervous.'' ``It made me nervous, too,'' a smiling Stafford said as he lifted Eric and carried him away from the ride. Zopf, looking a little worn out, ran along behind the two to the next stop, the ladybugs. ``I kept a good grip on him, and he was buckled up,'' Zopf said. ``But he got so excited. . . . He just couldn't contain himself.'' CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--ran in SIMI edition only--color) Jill Lathan, 12, smiles in anticipation as a bus lowers her wheelchair to the entrance of Simi Valley Days on Friday. (2--ran in SIMI only--color) Sherry Rastellini, holds Erica as she rides the merry-go-round, left. (3--color in SIMI only) Above, Stella Covabarrius has help from firefighters Phil Hadley, left, and Michael Trabbie. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News |
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