DANCING VALENTINES

Annual event hosted by Riverside High School’s autism unit

Riverside High School again welcomed students from throughout Northeast Ohio to a special Valentine’s Day Dance.

The Feb. 14 party has been an annual tradition for over 10 years for the Painesville Township school. It is hosted by the school’s Autism Unit and caters to special needs students, not only from the Riverside district, but any student across Northeast Ohio.

The dance offers special needs students, including those with autism, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, a chance to celebrate and enjoy the kind of extracurricular fun others may take for granted.

Special attention was given to the individualized needs of those

“This is a great opportunity for students to spend time with their friends from other schools and a great way for professionals to network and collaborate for future events.” — Emily Santo, multiple disabilities intervention specialist

in attendance, evidenced through the roaming chaperones and noise-cancelling headphones available.

Riverside students helped prepare for the event and also buddied up with attendees during the event.

This year’s version saw attendance from throughout the area although students from Willoughby schools were not there. Riverside Intervention Specialist Korene Engelking explained that budgetary restrictions which led to busing cutbacks meant Willoughby missed out.

In addition to plenty of dancing, students were also able to capture the moment with a photo booth before sitting down to a catered lunch. Both the dance’s DJ and photo booth were courtesy of a donation from Innovative Blends Entertainment.

“That’s the best part, being able to see them all dance.” Engelking said while helping to prepare the guests’ meals.

“Everything is donated,” she added. “Local businesses all helped out. A lot of our families, actually, go out with friends and pick up the food. Businesses open early, just so we can have the food ready to have in the morning.”

“This is a great opportunity for students to spend time with their friends from other schools, and a great way for professionals to network and collaborate for future events,” said Emily Santo, multiple disabilities intervention specialist.

ADAM DODD — THE NEWS-HERALD Students from multiple Northeast Ohio schools were invited to participate in Riverside’s Valentine’s Day Dance, Feb. 14.

ADAM DODD —THE NEWS-HERALD Special needs students from across Northeast Ohio were invited to participate in Riverside’s Valentine’s Day Dance, Feb. 14.