Special Needs Children and Adults Invited to Mississippi College Carnival on the Quad

Psychology professor Rob Ward hands out balloons to kids at MC's 2011 Carnival on the Quad on a chilly day in early November.

Special needs children and adults from Canton, Vicksburg, Clinton and other nearby communities are invited to Mississippi College’s Carnival on the Quad.

Balloons, free popcorn, a space jump, bowling, chess and face painting will be among the many attractions at the fourth annual event. Hosted by MC students, faculty and staff, the carnival is set for Friday October 18 beginning at 8:30 a.m. It will end around noon.

The Department of Psychology and Counseling is collaborating with groups across the Clinton campus to make the fun-filled day possible.

“It’s an opportunity for our students to provide a community service to some of the children and adults in the area with special needs,” said Cynthia Broome, one of the event’s organizers. “It will be an opportunity to meet new friends.”

What began as an event orchestrated by professor Rob Ward’s psychology class has grown quite a bit over the years. There were 60 visitors attending the event in 2010, but that number more than doubled in 2011 despite some chilly weather. There were more than 150 visitors on the Clinton campus last year.

The MC Psychology Department works with a number of programs, including the School of Education, the School of Business, the registrar’s office, admissions, student counseling and disability services, the Mississippi College School of Law, the physical plant office and public safety office. A number of metro Jackson businesses also are expected to pitch in.

The Canton-based Son Valley that serves special needs adults, Jacob’s Ladder Learning Center of Vicksburg and the Clinton public school district were among the area groups participating at the Carnival on the Quad in 2012.

“We appreciate the donations from local businesses,” Ward said.

People interested in making donations,  serving as volunteers or more information should contact Ward at 601.925.7790 or Broome at 601.925.3479.