SPECIAL KIDS DAYS; SIMI FAIR OPENS FREE TO AREA'S DISABLED YOUTHS.Byline: John Huddy Daily News Staff Writer Kristina Brant brant or brant goose, common name for a species of wild sea goose. The American brant, Branta bernicla, breeds in the Arctic and winters along the Atlantic coast. waved her hands in the air as if she was flying like a bird, a delighted smile spread across her face as she rode on her favorite ride - the Bumble Bee. Kristina was one of more than 90 special education children participating in Special Kids Day at 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 fair on Friday. In its fifth year, Special Kids Day welcomes children with disabilities from the Simi Valley Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. , along with more than 150 adult and student volunteers to the fair, free of charge. ``These students really enjoy helping other people and the kids,'' said Valley View Middle School teacher Ron Lucio, who was on hand with 61 student volunteers from the Simi Valley school. ``They're not doing it for any rewards - just because they like to do it.'' Kenneth Chitwood, a 13-year-old Valley View student, agreed, adding his own reasons for getting involved. ``I have a cousin who has cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. , so I wanted to help out. . . . It's important to me,'' he said. Chitwood's classmate Shannon Miller Shannon Lee Miller (b. March 10, 1977 in Rolla, Missouri) is an artistic gymnast from Edmond, Oklahoma. She has earned 7 Olympic Medals and 9 World Championship Medals since her Elite International debut in 1990. She is the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in U.S. history. , 14, has dyslexia dyslexia (dĭslĕk`sēə), in psychology, a developmental disability in reading or spelling, generally becoming evident in early schooling. To a dyslexic, letters and words may appear reversed, e.g. , a learning disorder learning disorder Child psychiatry A chronic condition that interferes with development, integration and/or demonstration of verbal and/or non-verbal abilities , and she said it has made her more empathetic em·pa·thet·ic adj. Empathic. em  pa·thet i·cal·ly adv. toward disabled children. ``I know how hard it is for these kids to work with other people,'' Shannon said. ``I like helping the kids and knowing that I'm helping someone who needs my help - it makes you feel like a better person.'' Both students were helping out 13-year-old Heather Trice, who said she was looking forward to checking out the fair and saying hi to all her friends. Among the many volunteers were more than 15 Moorpark College Moorpark College is a California-state funded community college located on a 134 acre (542,000 m²) property reclining on a hill in Moorpark, a town in Ventura County, California. students lending a hand while getting some credit for child and human development classes. ``It's nice that people take so much initiative to take care of the kids and give them help,'' said Marie Hutchings, 21, who was in her first year of volunteer service at the Special Kids Day. ``It's a good learning experience,'' said Hutchings' partner and classmate, Sharyl Steiding. Wendy and Aaron Verardo were having a learning experience of their own, along with their son, Cody, who was munching on some cotton candy before his venture on the merry-go-round. ``This is a very nice and generous thing to be done for these kids,'' said Wendy Verardo, a first-time Special Kids Day participant along with her husband and son. Special Kids Day at the Simi Valley Fair this year was a joint effort among the business community, the school district and nonprofit groups such as the Kiwanis Club of Santa Susana Santa Susana can refer to several places:
``This has become such a great thing every year, that we have so many volunteers showing up,'' said Shari Schultz, Simi Valley Days president. ``It's gotten bigger and better each year.'' Schultz says attendance in the Special Kids Day has increased since last year - rising from 60 special education students to 96 kids this year. The children were bused in from local schools, with two hours to enjoy the midway. ``We're having a lot of fun,'' said Valley View student volunteer Jacqi Brown, 12, who had just got off the merry-go-round with a beaming 4-year-old Jeffrey. ``Most of these kids don't get to go out a lot or go on rides - but today they can.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color in Simi Edition only) Keith Supa, 9, feeds a sheep Friday during Special Kids Day for the disabled at Simi Valley Days. (2--Color--Ran in Simi Edition only) Kristina Brant, 13, embraces the wind as she rides the Bumble Bee at Simi Valley Days. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News |
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