On Saturday, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe Family and Community Services hosted the first annual Community Carnival. Family and Community Services felt the need to hold the carnival as a way to take some of the stigmatism away from their program. Nancy McMahon, Acting Consumer Services Facilitator, added, “The purpose is to give more people awareness of disabilities, and adults and children with disabilities in the community.”

The Community Carnival had games like the ring toss and dart game, a DJ playing live music, a bouncy house, and food. Members of the community were there helping as well. There were plenty of laughs and smiles to go around.

As McMahon said, the purpose was to raise awareness, which was done through information tables containing material on the program and the services offered. The staff present functioned as an information source as well.

Annie Bonaparte tries to convince people to play the dart game.

McMahon explained many of the services they provide, like working with adults and children, teaching them daily living skills, and how to cope with their emotions. McMahon said, “We do community hab, respite, supplemental group day hab. We take them out and do different activities. We teach them safety, cooking; a little bit of everything and have fun while we do it.”

“There was more information tables set up specifically about the programs, autism is one that we are working on today,” McMahon said, “they have papers about ABA, and stuff like that.”

Helping make the carnival a success were all the IRA, or Individual Residential Alternatives. Community members who are in the program helped out, as well as those individuals living in Sweetflag Estates.

McMahon, who is also a residential aide said, “We are pulling it together as a team effort and having some fun while we do it.” Judging by the smiles they were successful to that end.