JAM Dance hosts special needs fair

A Bellmore dance studio recently hosted a special needs fair that organizers hope helped families locate necessary programs and services.

JAM Dance and Fitness Center, located at 227 Bedford Ave., hosted the fair on March 22. The fair was the launch party for a nonprofit organization called Everything Special Needs, Inc.

The mission of Everything Special Needs, Inc. is to provide a comprehensive directory of services and programs that meet the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The group aims to help parents and caregivers, agencies and anyone who cares for individuals with special needs navigate through difficult processes.

At the fair, JAM Dance and Everything Special Needs, Inc. welcomed vendors that they thought would be of interest to special needs families. Groups included Keep Moving Forward, Inc. (an intensive physical therapy outpatient center in Garden City), Massapequa Challenger (a baseball program for special needs children), HOPE Fitness (a nonprofit with a fitness facility in North Bellmore) and Special Olympics New York.

There was plenty of fun to be had at the fair as well, with raffles and food, craft and face-painting stations. JAM Dance students and staffers also led dance routines, making everyone move, groove and smile.