‘See the joy on parents’ faces’: Mums sing praises of Special Children’s Christmas Party
From a robotics-loving boy with a cochlear implant to a girl in a wheelchair with her favourite sloth, this Christmas party for children with a disability ensured everyone could celebrate. Read their story and find out why accessible events are so vital.
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Parents have praised accessible events like the Special Children’s Christmas Party in Mackay as “incredible” for kids living with disability and their families.
Michelle Flynn, whose four-year-old daughter Harper Flynn was born with rare genetic HK1 and CACNA1E mutations and relies on a wheelchair, said the whole family could enjoy a Christmas event “tailored for children with additional needs”.
Shontelle Falconer said her 12-year-old son Rory, born profoundly deaf and now aided by a cochlear implant, had been attending since age seven and loved the event so much he intended to become a volunteer organiser when he turned 13.
Ms Falconer vividly remembers watching her firstborn have his initial hearing aids turned on while a few months old and hearing his parents’ voice for the first time.
“I said, ‘Hey baby’, and he looked up … he was just smiling and smiling’,” Ms Falconer said.
“(In the video,) you can see Rory shaking because I was just crying my eyes out.
“I see that moment on Facebook and I actually know that moment.”
When cochlear implants were suggested Ms Falconer admitted to immediately thinking of robots, the irony being that Rory subsequently discovered a passion for technology and recently took gold in the First Lego League robotics challenge.
“He and three other team members competed against 28 other high and primary schools in Gladstone,” she said.
“They came off as grand champions”.
Rory still has difficulty with loud environments and the Christmas party was designed for children with hearing difficulties with music set at a low volume.
“There’s a big area, lots of room (for) wheelchairs or mums with cars or prams,” Ms Falconer said.
“Craft, merry-go-rounds, trains – this year there was a petting zoo.
“Arts and crafts where they could decorate Christmas (baubles).
“Jumping castles … a little golf course … and the big man himself was there, Santa.
“It’s a place where they can go and be comfortable.”
This year was little Harper’s second Christmas party, with mum Michelle Flynn saying the event had “made an impact from the very first party”.
“Harper got her stuffed sloth (at 2019’s Christmas party) and she is just absolutely besotted with this sloth”, Ms Flynn said.
“Sensory issues, behavioural issues, wheelchairs, just every sort of disability (is catered for).
“It’s a party you can go to and know that everybody there is there for the same reason you’re there.
“It’s a proud community to be a part of.
“They do such an amazing job.”
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