Walk and Roll set for Feb. 18

Eric Crouch

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey

Mike’l Severe

UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute and the C. Louis Meyer Foundation will hold their third-annual “Walk & Roll for Disabilities” inside Omaha’s Westroads Mall on Sunday, Feb. 18.

Registration for the event, which is open to the public, costs $15 per person and includes a T-shirt, refreshments and entertainment. Door prizes also will be given away. Check-in and late registration begin at 11 a.m., with the walk starting at noon.

Proceeds from the event will go towards recreational and respite services for adults with developmental disabilities.

Honorary captains of the event will be Nebraska football great Eric Crouch, the 2001 Heisman Trophy winner who currently plays for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Mike’l Severe of KETV Channel 7 television.

The Munroe-Meyer Institute Recreational Therapy Department provides recreational services in a safe, supervised setting and allows respite for families and caregivers of those with developmental disabilities.

Activities include arts and crafts, music, sports activities, swimming, dining club, day and overnight trips and recreational and leisure events in the community.

Michael Crawford, Re.D., director of recreational therapy for MMI said recreational therapy funding for children with developmental disabilities is adequate, but not for adults with developmental disabilities. Once patients turn 21-years-old, funding and opportunities for recreation and respite care diminish, he said.

Funding of recreational programs is dependent entirely on private donations. The C. Louis Meyer Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, currently is the major source of funding for adult recreational therapy, adult respite care and habilitation programs at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.

“Our ultimate goal is to ultimately raise a $1 million sustaining endowment for chaperoned vacation services, community activities and sports clubs, as well as provide expanded one-to-one leisure coaching and companion services so our adults can enroll in typical YMCA and Park and Recreation classes and events,” Dr. Crawford said. “We have a long way to go but we’re determined to reach that goal.”

Carol Miller is one of many parents who know the value of the programs. She and her family have been involved with MMI since her son, Kevin, now 28, was diagnosed at age one with mental retardation and an accompanying seizure disorder. She has been involved as a parent, member and president of the Munroe-Meyer Guild, which among many things, organizes the Garden Walk every year.

“The recreation programs are a godsend to our family,” Miller said. “When Kevin was younger and attended summer camp, it was wonderful for him to have a place to go and play. He looked so forward to going. At that time his brothers were always being driven to some activity or other it was such a treat for Kevin to have his camp to go to.

“Now Kevin is an adult. He attends the adult recreation on Thursday nights. He loves to go. When Kevin sees the yellow canvas tops (at MMI) he knows a good time awaits him,” she said.

Barb Essi, mom of Justin, 17, also values the social outlets for her son, who has cerebral palsy.

“The camps not only allow the children to come together to experience what ‘normal’ children get to experience, but they also take the children to movies, the zoo and other fun activities offered for the public,” she said. “Justin has gained a sense of independence through Munroe-Meyer programs. It has also given us the opportunity to let him grow, knowing that he is safe and happy.”

Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities, such as language, mobility, learning, self-help and independent living.

Developmental disabilities occur anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last a lifetime. There are more than 200 causes, including genetic conditions and trauma sustained at birth or during an accident.

No Frills holds ‘Round It Up” campaign Your extra change can benefit recreational and respite services for adults with developmental disabilities. From Jan. 31 through Feb. 20, all 15 No Frills Supermarkets in the metro area are sponsoring a “Round It Up” campaign. Customers will be asked if they would like to donate change by rounding up their bill to the next dollar.

Walk participants should park on the east side of the mall near J.C. Penney and Dick’s Sporting Goods. The event will kick off on the second floor near the play area between the stores. Children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families will participate in the walk, some with the assistance of wheelchairs and therapy dogs.

Late registration is available up until noon the day of the event. Registration information and forms are available at http://www.unmc.edu/mmi/ or by contacting Karol at 559-5771 or kwarchola@unmc.edu.

Sponsors of this year’s event include Omaha’s KGOR radio, No Frills Supermarkets, Crouch Recreation Design, Westroads Mall, C. Louis Meyer Rehabilitation Foundation, Munroe-Meyer Institute Parent Recreational Strategic Planning and Advisory Council and the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Recreational Therapy.

From Jan. 31 through Feb. 20, No Frills will sponsor the “Round It Up” campaign in all 15 area stores. For three weeks, customers will be asked if they would like to donate change to benefit recreational and respite services for adults with developmental disabilities by rounding up their bills to the next dollar.