When North Arlington resident Deborah Wertalik started Special Angels recreation three years ago, she helped give children with autism and other developmental disabilities the opportunity to play soccer and basketball with their peers. As the girls in her group grew older, they asked for an activity that would be more fitting for teen-aged girls.
Wertalik started SPARKS, Special Angels Recreation Kids cheerleading squad, in November and 16 girls signed up. "Apparently, there was a need for it," she said.
On March 29, the girls performed a showcase at a cheerleading competition at Queen of Peace High School and had a blast. It wasn’t long before the girls, whose disabilities include cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, started mimicking their fellow cheerleaders, applying makeup, posing for the cameras and returning cheers to the competing teams. "They don’t feel any different from other girls," said Wertalik. "They know what cheerleaders do."
The other cheerleaders returned the favor, stomping their feet and cheering on the girls before their performance, which Wertalik took as a sign that the teen girls in attendance understood their peers’ disabilities and accepted it.
While the girls have a lot of fun, cheerleading and dancing also teach the girls valuable motor skills and teamwork.
Linda Ferrara enrolled her 17-year-old daughter, Samantha, in the program after participating in Special Angels basketball. "They looked very impressive. They had their stuff together," said Linda Ferrara. "It’s been a positive experience. They really make them feel good about themselves."
The girls have the opportunity to be part of a team and have shown impressive dedication. "They belong to a group that supports each other and they’re all sisters now," said Wertalik. "They got the confidence and that’s all they need. They’re gonna get far on that."
The program also gave Linda Ferrara a place to share information with other parents on raising a special needs child, particularly information about public school "child study team" experiences, which she described as "unpleasant, to say the least."
Samantha Ferrara had nothing but positive things to say about her experience with SPARKS. "I like it. It’s a blast. I like the girls and I like to have fun and I like the dance moves. It’s awesome," she said.
Lauren Ryan, who co-coaches the girls with her sister, Melissa, said she is lucky to be a part of the program. "At the end of the day, you see all the moms crying because they never thought they’d see their daughter put on a [cheerleading] uniform," she said.
The program gives the girls a chance to show competitive spirit and Ryan treats the girls like regular kids. "I tell them, ‘The sky’s not the limit, there’s footsteps on the moon,’" she said.
Wertalik wants to take the group even further. She plans on bringing the girls to cheer at local football games and possibly bringing them to a cheerleading competition at Disney World. For Special Angels as a whole, Wertalik hopes the group will one day have its own building and recreation field. Currently, the group uses the Lyndhurst Health Department six nights a week to hold its various events, including sports, social skills, a support group for parents and cheerleading.
