The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community’s Recreational Services Super Kids and Teens Club celebrated Valentine’s Day with a special Roaring Twenties party. Community youth who are medically diagnosed with a physical or mental disability and their families were invited to a night of fun that included dinner, dancing and photo ops at the Salt River Community Building on Wednesday, February 12.
“It’s been 10-plus years that we’ve been participating in the Super Kids Club program,” said Lisette Rincon. “It has been the longest-lasting club for the youth with special needs. The [staff members at] Recreational Services have been really engaging, and trying, and focusing on the children; I think it’s very beneficial for a support or social program for them.”
Rincon explained that her son Daniel is able to socialize more thanks to the Super Kids and Teens Club.
“He is sensitive to noise and lights, and being out in the Community has been helpful for him to learn to be around that. He is familiar with everyone because he has been attending for a long time.”
The Super Kids and Teens Club averages 15 to 20 youth. The group gets together twice a month and has one field trip or activity each month. Teens were included in the program in 2019.
“This is our biggest event of the year, and this year we went with the Roaring Twenties theme; everyone likes to dress up and dance. It’s also a good time to get to know the families and their siblings,” said Social Program Manager Sera Gould. “These events are fun; the long days [are] worth it [when we] see their smiling faces when the event is over and they go home and talk about it till the next event.”
The Super Kids and Teens Club is intended for children with functional limitations who are not able to participate in other SRPMIC Community Recreational Services programs due to their disability. For more information about the Super Kids and Teen Club, call Community Recreational Services at (480) 362-6360.
