Special Olympians skate with Disney performers

Some of the special-needs athletes participating in yesterday's Special Olympics skating event with the performers of "Disney On Ice" couldn't speak.

But they vocalized, smiled broadly and clapped.

"That's from the excitement," said Sylvia Seaborne, a John Marshall High School exceptional education teacher who came to the Richmond Coliseum with the group. "They're making noise. That means they're happy."

About 40 Richmond and Chesterfield County Special Olympic skaters who attended the morning performance of "Disney On Ice" were treated to a post-program skating clinic, with a special appearance by Minnie and Mickey Mouse.

Ashley Grant, an 11-year-old fifth-grader at Greenfield Elementary School in Chesterfield, was up and dressed in her glittering pink skating outfit since 6 a.m., said her mother, Julia Grant.

"She always has to have a beautiful dress on," she said as her daughter skated on the rink with other athletes and Disney performers. "She's been talking about the show every day for the last month."

Her daughter became interested in ice skating two years ago, Grant said. She took her to the Richmond Ice Zone in Midlothian.

"She thought she was going to glide on the ice and be able to do a couple of spins, but she fell on her butt," she said. "It took her awhile to realize that if you fall, you get back up. She's come much further than we thought."

The sociable Ashley took some other youngsters by the hand and guided them in their skating. She often picked up her friend Christopher Worsham, who attends Salem Church Middle School.

Edward Hargrove, Christopher's stepfather, videotaped his son's little steps on the ice, his clapping, singing and repeated falls, which he seemed to do for fun.

"Just to see him having fun and enjoying himself is great," he said.

For some of the skaters, the event offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, said Seaborne, the John Marshall High teacher.

"To be out here with Minnie and Mickey, characters they see on TV every day, it just warms my heart," she said.

These kinds of events are important for children with special needs, Grant said.

"It's such a self-esteem builder for these kids," she said. "It's something they can do, that everyone else is doing and that they're good at."

Contact Juan Antonio Lizama at (804) 649-6513 or .