Base's annual Special Needs Carnival this Friday Published July 19, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Timothy Boyer 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis special needs and Exceptional Family Member Program families are invited to the free Special Needs Carnival scheduled from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 20 at the Airman and Family Readiness Center parking lot. The event has a Luau theme with the kids getting leis and hula dance performances, said Elaine Daly-Roth, 60th Force Support Squadron AFRC community readiness technician and acting EFMP coordinator. "The most important piece of the carnival is getting the families together," she said. "It is important for families to create support systems with people who can understand what they are going through." For the parents, there will be resource tables that include everything from county programs to local gymnastics programs designed to work with special needs children and their varying abilities, Daly-Roth said. "Aside from information, we hope to provide an outlet for our special needs families," she said. "The games and rides we will have are geared toward the differing needs of our families so that all the kids can participate." Among the activities will be two bounce houses, face painting, pony rides, balloon animals and snow cones, Daly-Roth said. There will also be food, to include a gluten-free table to accommodate the medical needs of some of the kids. "Families can bring a blanket, sit and eat while their children have fun with all the activities we will have for them," she said. To sign up for the event go to TravisAFRC.com.