a ‘Field Day’ By Erin McClary MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Dakota High School’s Cougar football players spent the afternoon helping children with autism participate in a Summer Field Day event at Chippewa Valley School’s new Sequoyah Elementary July 30. More than 60 Macomb Intermediate School District autism students gathered on the grounds of the school to play T-ball, run bases, toss footballs and kick soccer balls alongside Dakota’s state-champion football players July 30 and Aug 6. MISD teacher Allison Dolehanty said the activities the students participate in during Summer Field Day are a fun way for them to learn the basic skills she teaches back in the classroom. She said the more important activities during the event involve sensory stimuli, where they children learn through feeling. Some of the stops involve water, sand, grass and tires; while others simply teach them basic sporting skills like kicking, running and throwing. “Everyone looks busy, happy and wet,” Dolehanty said July 30, which happened to hit temperatures in the 90-degree range. “They really seem to be loving it.” The football players signed on as a way to give back to the community — of course, at coach Mike Giannone’s suggestion, said Dakota senior and varsity football player Danny Stafford, who ran the 50-yard dash stop with fellow player senior Scott Grenier. When asked what they get out of the whole thing, he said a T-shirt. The team does not participate for school credit, but mainly to do something good for the community, Grenier added. Their stop wasn’t too busy, though, as the majority of kids were hovering over a wading pool for the “toe grab” activity or running with eggs in the spoon race. “When they get to race, they seem to smile more,” Stafford said. This is the first time he and Grenier had the opportunity to help children with autism learn the fundamentals of sports. And Caroline Riddock, media clerk at Sequoyah, said this is the first time the entire Cougars team has taken part in an activity like this; however, they are known to help out with other activities in the community. Riddock works with the children in the school’s autism program on a weekly basis, talking with them and showing them how to check out books. Children in the MISD autism program range in age from 3 to 12 years old. “We thought it’d be a good idea doing community service in the community in which we live,” she said. “These children don’t get a chance to have these opportunities.” You can reach Staff Writer Erin McClary at emcclary@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1118. |
