MIAMI — March is National Developmental Disability Awareness Month. The month was officially declared by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1987, asking everyone to provide “encouragement and opportunities” to help people with developmental disabilities improve their lives. In commemoration, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s Disability Services division, in its longstanding efforts to promote independence, inclusion and accessibility for people with disabilities, invites the community to attend these free adapted and inclusive special events:
Friday, March 8
Free Family Movie Night by Waving Hands, Inc. Enjoy “Incredibles 2” The Movie (in CC/Audio).
6:30 p.m., Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St., Miami (Shelter #10, next to lake, Miller Dr. Entrance).
Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services presents this free closed caption/audio family movie night by Waving Hands, Inc. Also, free kids’ activities, include face painting, popcorn and games. Be sure to bring blankets, chairs and refreshments. For more information, contact
Saturday, March 9
Paralympic Experience
10 a.m.-3 p.m., Tropical Park, 7900 SW 40 St., Miami.
This adaptive sports event will feature wheelchair basketball, archery, boccia, wheelchair tennis and beep baseball. Event is for individuals with physical and visual disabilities. Special guests include Miami-Dade Parks’ famed Miami Heat Wheels wheelchair basketball team. Lunch will be provided. Paralympic athletes from all over South Florida turn out for this adaptive sports event. They are of all ages and ability levels and include military veterans. Admission is free and open to the public. Adapted sports participants are advised to register in advance of the event date. Register here. For more information, contact Jody Cox at 305-234-1673 or
Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services presents the 2019 Paralympic Experience with these partner agencies: Barbosa Tennis, City of Miami Parks & Recreation, Coloplast, FIU Recreational Therapy Club, Jackson Health System, Leisure Access Foundation, Team Paradise Sailing Miami and The Woody Foundation.
Thursday, March 21
Transition Resource Fair
5-7:30 p.m., Betty T. Ferguson Recreation Complex, 3000 NW 199 St., Miami Gardens, Florida.
Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services in partnership with the City of Miami Gardens presents this free event aimed at helping teens and adults with disabilities obtain information about post-secondary resources when transitioning from high school into the community. Community agencies, including Miami-Dade County Public Schools, will be available to answer questions. For more information, contact Thera Johnson at 305-935-4588, or
The Miami-Dade Parks Disability Services division promotes the involvement of persons with disabilities in all Miami-Dade County Parks’ services and activities. As a Paralympic Sports Club, staff train persons with physical and visual impairments desiring to engage in recreational and competitive adaptive sports.
About Miami-Dade Parks
2019 marks the 90th anniversary of Miami-Dade Parks! Celebrate with us all year and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or on our website for information on our yearlong celebration and the latest news and updates from Miami-Dade Parks!
Miami-Dade Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 270 parks and 13,573 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world and focused on Placemaking, Health and Fitness and Conservation and Stewardship. The nonprofit Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade supports Miami-Dade Parks’ efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors.
