By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
More than 150 special needs youngsters showed up at the Val Verde County Fairgrounds Thursday for the Trunk or Treat event specially designed for them.
For some, it gave them the chance to go Trick or Treating for the first time in their lives.
The genesis of the event started when Mike Andrade was sharing a cigar with his friends Jacinto “Chinto” Rivera and Tony Hernanez and Rivera shared what a challenge it was to take his autistic son Trick or Treating.
“For an autistic child, the noise, people trying to scare them, even a tag on a costume, can really frustrate them,” Rivera said.
Andrade heard his friend’s pain and started finding sponsors and organizing the event.
Dr. Veronica Cadena, co-owner of Cadena Family Practice with her husband, Dr. Tony Cadena, were some of the first to step up and support. “When we heard about this event, we knew we had to be involved,” she said. “There are so many children who are practically forgotten on Halloween because they just can’t participate.”
More than 50 other businesses stepped up with Cadena Family practice to support Andrade’s efforts to give children a relaxed Trunk or Treat that all children could participate in.
“When they told us about this event, we knew we had to be involved,” said Cesar Garza, who owns Big Boy Entertainment and Texas Tint. “This is a real chance to give back to our community.”
Lewis Owens Jr., Val Verde County judge, and the four county commissioners waived the fairground’s rental fee.
However, the event still had to be made special needs friendly. Efforts Andrade took to make it were having music, but not too loud; telling those passing out candy not to demand that the children have the right phrase to receive a piece of candy and go slow on touching the young ghosts and goblins.
Andrade worked hard to keep the event locked down where only those who RSVP’ed were able to participate. “There are kids who can participate in the Monster Mash, Trick or Treating, the parade along with all of the other events. This night belongs to the children who are specially-abled.”
Staff at the event threw away the term, “disabled” and replaced it with “specially-abled.”
“Everyone of these youngsters can do something like no one else can,” Cadena said.
For the mother of Tatiana, a 17-year-old with cerebral palsy, the evening was amazing. “This is the first time she’s ever been able to do something like this,” Tara Fernandez said. “This is something we’ll always remember.”
Andrade doesn’t want it to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, but an annual event. “I really don’t want it to fall by the wayside,” Andrade said. “I’m already thinking of ways we can do it better next year.”
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
