Young bowlers rack up lots of fun on the lanes

By Karen Blackledge
The Daily Item

March 03, 2009 07:33 am

— MILTON — People who bowl for sport keep score. Then there are those who rack up laughs and a good effort more than pins.
Pupils in the multi-disabilities class at Liberty-Valley Elementary School are strongly in the latter group.
“Bowling gets them out into the community and is a good physical activity for them,” said their teacher, Ron Toczek.
After he rolls the black ball off the adaptive ramp at Imperial Lanes in Milton, Nick Harris smiles and then claps his hands.
The 8-year-old from Berwick, who doesn’t speak, was expressing his joy in his favorite ways.
He and other children from the class go bowling about five times a year.
Mary Kressler, 10, of Danville, can walk with help from her one-on-one aide, Krissy Marks.
“I like to push the ball,” Mary said. She had downed 17 pins by the second frame.
The other three students, in wheelchairs, also use the adaptive ramps to bowl. Each child bowls two games.
Six-year-old Hera Mowery of Washingtonville often waves her approval while on a bowling outing.
Sierra Miller, 7, of Berwick, will flash a smile.
The Danville district has agreements to provide instruction for children with multi-disabilities from other districts.
Those assisting students in bowling included Jill Shnyder, personal care aide to Hera; Megan Mincemoyer, personal care aide for Sierra; and Tonya Wargo, LPN.
While Wargo was helping Nick, he was quick to push the ball off the ramp.
“We don’t mess around. Bowling is our business,” she said.
n E-mail comments to kblackledge@dailyitem.com.

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