TEXARKANA, Ark. – The Hamiltons Farm Takeover Carnival brought autism awareness to Texarkana on Saturday.
The farm brought bounce houses, a mobile video game station, laser tag, jumping monkey, rock climbing wall, feeding and petting camels, rides, face painting and a make a bear station, complete with snow cones and a food truck.
A laborer for the Hamiltons farm, Paul was happy to greet carnival visitors to sell them feed for Lenny the camel. Or, as Paul called it, “Texar-Camel” a sign he made for the carnival.
Paul has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, which is considered high functioning on the autism spectrum.
Paul was recently accepted into a master’s program in Geographic Information Science (GIS) that he said he is very excited to start.
Farm owner Jessica Hamilton, a retired teacher, said autism is a diagnosis near and dear to her heart.
“For autism awareness we do events at the farm and we had an event at our location that was free to the community and our goal was for every child on the autism spectrum by providing events that cater to the autism community by providing our attractions. My husband Derrick and I like to fit in with inclusion and there isn’t just a textbook definition of autism, so we like to do things to teach the community to be more informed and aware that autism is like any disability other.
In addition to our friend Paul, we have many friends who also have children with autism, and we love to involve them in trying to help their children come out of their shells. And I personally don’t give up on these kids easily,” Hamilton said.
The Hamiltons enjoy using the horses for equine therapeutic purposes, and they teach riding and children with autism can learn to start trusting the horses.
Animals can act as a liaison for children with social deficiencies around people.
Hamilton said, “Our camel Lenny is still a baby, so he’s too young to ride, but our friend Paul, when he sometimes gets overwhelmed or overstimulated, as carnivals can be sensory overload for people with autism, he does a break with Lenny. to relax and recompose.”
Hamiltons Farm mainly caters for private events such as birthday parties, church events, field trips and special events. And, recently they started offering public events like this Carnival Takeover, Texarkana Edition.
The Hamiltons are originally from Texarkana and a portion of the carnival proceeds will go to their home church, Lonoke Baptist Church to donate to their youth program.
The Hamiltons farm is approximately 20 miles southwest of Little Rock, Ark. at 4930 Sparks Road in Alexander, Ark.
For more information call: 870-932-0037
Or email: [email protected]
Or you can visit their Facebook page.
