Annual Picnic Celebrates Success: Event Honors Triumphs of Those With Special Needs
By Sabrina Chess, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Mar. 22–BILOXI — The Biloxi Community Programs’ Facility for Mentally and Physically Challenged Adults held its annual picnic Friday. The theme for this year was “Success — when doors open we succeed.”
This year’s picnic and several other events held throughout the month are in honor of Gov. Haley Barbour’s recent designation of March as Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities Month.
The picnic was open to the friends and family of the special-needs adults who participate in the program in Biloxi as well as other program sites in South Mississippi.
Tiffany Hart, director of Biloxi Community Programs, said the participants look forward to the annual event.
“Every year we do an annual picnic and family fun day,” she said. “We do other activities throughout the month of March to celebrate Mental Retardation/Development Disabilities Month. The annual picnic is enjoyable for our clients and their families.”
The program offers participants active-living skills and employment at the Biloxi Industries work site.
Jammie Abrams, recreational director, was proud of the banner participants made for the event.
“The mentally and physically challenged want to be active in the community,” Abrams said. “They are productive and give back. They look forward to this picnic every year.”
They get to meet (with people from) other facilities and enjoy food and face painting.”
Program participants will also attend and compete in the Special Olympics on March 29 at the Stennis Space Center.
—–
To see more of The Sun Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sunherald.com.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.