MC Quad Welcomes Special Needs Adults and Children

A dunking booth, face painting and loads of fun games were among the attractions on the Quad for more than 60 special needs adults and children visiting Mississippi College.

Students in professor Rob Ward’s psychology class made the invitation. With Friday’s event such a success, there’s talk of a similar event at MC next spring.

“This was one of the best experiences for all of us,” said senior Ann Regan Bilbo of Jackson, who led the event planning with her co-chair Whitney Tate of Birmingham.

Visitors came from Son Valley, a Canton-based Christian ministry serving adults with mental retardation or developmental disabilities. In attendance were 18 special needs residents from the facility, ages 23 to 67, who visited Mississippi College under the supervision of staff members.

“We want to give a big thank-you to the MC Psychology Department,” said Joe Little, a 1988 MC graduate who serves as vocational director at Son Valley. “They really enjoyed it.”

It wasn’t all just fun and games on the Quad. Some of the participants walked over to the MC cafeteria to grab coffee and cupcakes Friday morning.

Other special needs visitors came from Clinton and Vicksburg.

The effort by the MC psychology department got an assist from MC social tribes and clubs plus other volunteers.

“We volunteers really connected with all the kids,” said senior Ana Hill, a psychology major from Nashville. She walked kids around the Quad and helped them play games.

About ten local sponsors also contributed support to make the carnival on the Quad an instant hit.

MC’s Student Counseling Services assisted with the carnival on the Quad.

Amy Christian, director of Student Counseling Services, says the carnival was “a great community/service idea to support.” The event, she said, would raise awareness on the Clinton campus about people with disabilities.