Americas High School's small gym was transformed into a circus, complete with clowns, muscle men, and lions, to honor the achievements of medically fragile students during the Socorro Independent School District's annual Celebration Day on May 9.
The event, themed “Under the Big Top,” provided a fun and inclusive experience for students who are wheelchair-dependent and face challenges due to medical conditions or disabilities.
“I think every student is a child first, right? It doesn't matter their disability. And they deserve an opportunity to experience everything any other kid would. So, we (provide) a sensory-rich environment with adaptive events and activities that they can do with their strengths,” said Sandra Gutierrez, an SISD occupational therapist.
Students participated in various adapted activities and sensory-based experiences with the help of teachers, adaptive physical education coaches, and therapists. Some activities included a sensory tunnel and Paws for Love pet therapy, featuring three teams of therapy dogs that visited the students.
Students dressed in circus-themed costumes, such as lions and monkeys, and many decorated their wheelchairs with colorful streamers. The festive event also included games, prizes, a photo booth, music and food.
Tashia Encinas’ son, Jaylon Encinas, a student at Myrtle Cooper Elementary School, flexed his muscles in a muscle man costume.
Encinas said when her son was first diagnosed, doctors told her Jaylon Encinas would never walk or talk. However, thanks to the support from SISD’s special education services and additional therapy and resources, Jaylon is now standing and is expected to walk. He can also say "mama" and "daddy."
“It's been overwhelming, but a beautiful feeling to see that my child is celebrating his achievements,” Encinas said. “The school cares so much for our special needs children and helping them and just coming together with everybody and celebrating them. It's a beautiful thing.”
Gutierrez said that SISD has been hosting this celebration for medically fragile students for more than 25 years. There are currently about 25 self-contained medically fragile students in the district. She emphasized that SISD was dedicated to creating an environment that was tailored to each student's individual strengths to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
"Some of our kids, you know, depend on a lot of us for a lot of their needs, their feeding, their walking, any of their self-care needs. But our kids can do a lot of things on their own. And that's what this day is about, showing our kids and our families what their kids do every day in class," Gutierrez said.