Clowns, face painting, and stormtroopers will greet participants at the 2017 Walk and Roll for Disabilities being held at 10:30 a.m. on March 5 at Oak View Mall, 3001 S. 144th St.
Participants can register in advance through midnight on Thursday, March 2, at www.mfdisabilities.org or on the day of the walk.
The event, which is sponsored by the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities, will feature booths from 11 nonprofits and businesses that perform services and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities.
"They can help our families see what's out there that could assist their child with education, therapy, or just plain old having fun," said Mary McHale, president of the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities.
Some of the fun, McHale said, will include appearances by the 501st Garrison (a.k.a. Star Wars stormtroopers and characters). Dearheart the Clown and her friends will conduct face painting, and will be joined by Mr. Rainbow, a nationally known clown.
The event also will have a photo booth large enough to incorporate assistive devices such as wheelchairs.
"This event raises funds for the Thursday night programming at MMI, which provides recreational opportunities for adults older than 21, and also provides respite for their family members if the individual is still living at home," McHale said.
"Since the Walk and Roll started, working in conjunction with MMI recreational therapy, we've been able to help them expand the program offerings so that more individuals can come on Thursday night and participate in the same things that their typically developing peers would participate in, such as cooking clubs.
"After the age of 21, most programs stop funding any 'fun' things for individuals with developmental disabilities. The vision of the Meyer Foundation for Disabilities is to provide those program opportunities for adults over the age of 21, so that they can go to the movies or be part of an art project or cooking class, those types of things."
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