Thursday, January 13, 2000
Disabled kids ski away the day
Class spends time at Perfect North Slopes
BY LAURA BIRELY
Enquirer contributor
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. — Donna Boeshart couldn't wait Wednesday for her turn to ski Perfect North Slopes.
The 9-year-old Delhi Township girl, who has Down syndrome and is a survivor of open-heart surgery and leukemia, was among 14 Special Olympics students from Oakdale Elementary in Bridgetown invited to ski.
Teacher Susan Brenner's students include children with autism, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and spinal injuries. Several require the use of walkers and two children needed leg braces to ski.
Mrs. Brenner said she wanted the kids to experience something challenging and fun.
Donna got on her skis with the help of her mother, Judy Boeshart.
Also assisting were members of the school's Excel group, made up of gifted students who volunteer to take a day off school to provide each athlete a partner for the day.
Jody McCord, another teacher, said she loves the “challenge and fun and knowledge that you're helping the kids become independent and live better lives.”
On other outings, Ms. McCord said students have enjoyed roller skating, gymnastics, soccer, bowling, thera peutic swimming and basketball.
Besides the Oakdale Elementary skiers, 200 mentally or developmentally handicapped Special Olympics athletes from Hamilton County, ages 8-21, participated on this day.
“A lot of the kids have never skied before, and if not for the Special Olympics, they wouldn't have had the opportunity,” said Janet Smith, director of the Hamilton County Special Olympics.
Clyde Perfect, along with son Chip, daughter Tarry Feiss, and their spouses, are joint owners of Perfect North Slopes.
Said Chip Perfect: “It's a real morale booster to see the handicapped kids have a good time doing the same thing everyone else does. The kids feel, "I'm doing things like other people!'”
At day's end, Donna was thrilled with the outing.
“Just perfect,” she said with a smile.
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