Learn a little more... with a link!
- Website Article: Special Needs, Ice Hockey Meets Special Needs | Read about a dad & how his special needs son loves hockey.
- Magazine Article: Parenting Special Needs Magazine, January-February 2017, Cleveland Rockin’ Wildcats, Special Needs Hockey with a Heart | Ohio hometown team loves to play hockey no matter what the abilities
- Website: Special Olympics | Find a sport to play or learn how to volunteer..
Read the script:
IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A COMMUNITY IS PULLING TOGETHER TO GET CHILDREN OF ALL ABILITIES ON THE ICE.
TOM DEMPSEY REPORTS.
NAT SOT: "ONE TWO THREE..."
TOM: FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS... EVERY DAY... WACO PORTER HAS HELPED HIS DAUGHTER SIMONE.
WACO PORTER / SIMONE'S FATHER: "WE'VE HAD SHUNT REVISIONS. WE HAVE CEREBRAL PALSY."
HIS DAUGHTER'S CONDITION... LEADING TO A CHILDHOOD FEATURING OVER THIRTY SURGERIES... AND MULTIPLE SEIZURES.
NAT SOT PORTER: "LEAN TO THE RIGHT."
BUT ON MONDAY AFTERNOON... THE TWO SHARED JOY AND SMILES.
(NAT POP)
A SPECIAL EVENT... FEATURING SKATING AND SLED HOCKEY PUT ON BY THE KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS AND VARIETY K-C.
THE FIRST EVER HERE IN THE METRO.
WACO PORTER / SIMONE'S FATHER: "SHE'S BEEN SHOOTING GOALS AND JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME."
TOM DEMPSEY / REPORTING: "FINDING HOCKEY AND SKATING EQUIPMENT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN LIKE THIS HOCKEY SLED CAN BE TOUGH TO FIND AND EXPENSIVE. BUT THIS WHOLE EVENT CAME TO BE THROUGH A LOT OF COMMUNITY HELP."
JAMES ARKELL... THE SON-IN-LAW OF KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS OWNER LAMAR HUNT JUNIOR... AND FATHER OF THREE-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL... KNOWS WHAT ITS LIKE TO RAISE A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
JAMES ARKELL / MICHAEL'S DAD: "HE DOESN'T SAY A LOT BUT HIS EMOTIONS ARE VERY EXPRESSIVE."
ARKELL... WORKING WITH VARIETY K-C OVER THE LAST YEAR... TO BRING IN DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT... TO MAKE THE EVENT POSSIBLE.
JAMES ARKELL / MICHAEL'S DAD: "SEEING OTHER FAMILIES HAVING THIS MUCH FUN AND THE JOY ON THESE KIDS FACES... GETTING TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY GET TO EXPERIENCE MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT."
AN EXPERIENCE LEADING TO SPECIAL MEMORIES FOR FAMILIES... INCLUDING WACO AND SIMONE.
WACO PORTER / SIMONE'S FATHER: "ANYTHING I CAN DO WITH HER WHERE SHE'S HAVING A GOOD TIME AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN IT... I LOVE THAT."