HAMILTON, Ohio—The Sssh program, created for the Butler County Fair by 4-H member Daniela Gomes, allowed some developmentally disabled kids to enjoy the fair in a way they never could before.

Sssh stands for sensory sensitivity safe haven. For two hours on a recent morning, about 30 developmentally disabled youngsters visited with sheep, goats, bunnies, even a Highland cow; they played games and visited a sensory table. 4-H members assisted so they could enjoy the fair experience in a quiet, calm atmosphere.

“Matthew (age 11) is on the spectrum,” said his mother, Tricia Pickens. “He is autistic. We have a hard time doing the fair. His older sister used to go to the fair, and it was always hard bringing him.

“This event was great,” she said. “We walked in; it was quiet. They had several different types of animals. The kids that were there were amazing with the special needs kids. They took their time with them. They talked to them about the animals. My son could just be himself.”

Gomes grew up with two siblings, Joseph and Ruby, with developmental disabilities. She learned about the Animal and Me program at the fair. This program pairs a 4-H member with a developmentally disabled youth. The 4-H member works with that youth and helps them learn to show an animal at the fair.

“I have two siblings; they are both dear to my heart,” Gomes said. “They are both diagnosed with developmental disabilities. I would help my brother get his medicine and brush his teeth. I grew up with this unique worldview. This was my normal. I realized as I got older that that wasn’t normal for everyone.”

Everyone doesn’t realize the wide range of developmental disabilities and their unique needs. Gomes thought the Animal and Me program was wonderful, but she thought of the 4-H motto, “make the best better.”

“I realized not every kid or individual can have the mental capacity or the physical capacity to show an animal,” she said. “My brother Joseph, diagnosed with a severe case of autism, wouldn’t mentally be able to show an animal. I have a friend, Alfonzo, who has a severe case of cerebral palsy. He can’t physically show an animal.

“I am a Christian,” she explained. “I felt the words in my head like, you can know better, you can make a change. So, I started talking with Emily Masters (4-H educator, Butler County) and Erin Sloan (4-H program assistant, Butler County). I did a lot of research, and I talked with professionals.”

She came up with the idea of having a quiet morning at the fair for these young people, with some 4-H youth coming in with calm, small animals, Gomes said. The individuals could come into a quiet atmosphere and interact with animals because it is therapeutic to them.

They could also interact with other youths, their peers, and have some fun activities and games. This took a lot of research. 

“I am not a professional, and I am not trained,” she said. “I am just someone who grew up with siblings who were diagnosed with developmental disabilities. I had to do a lot of research online and read books. I got with some professionals at the Cincinnati Center for Autism and went over the plan with them.”

She reached out to people she had never met and came to appreciate that this tight-knit community of people involved with the developmentally disabled was close and supportive of one another.

“I had people come who I have never met,” she said. “They have given me all this advice and been very welcoming. Because again, I am not trained, and I wanted to make sure that this program would be helpful and uplifting and not harmful.”

Then Gomes, who is on the junior fair board and this year’s Butler County Fair Special Interest Department Queen, had to fill out the requisite paperwork and get all of the required permissions.

“We’re hoping some people will be uplifted and encouraged and just blessed,” she said.

Laura Holmes brought Chloe and Parker, her 3- and 6-year-old children.

“They really enjoyed it,” Holmes said. “They liked being able to pet all different animals, and they loved all the kids and teenagers who had the animals – they were super friendly. They had a painting station which Chloe really liked.”

Before the event, Gomes spoke with the 4-H’ers who helped with the project about what to expect, how to react in certain situations, and the basic rules of interacting with individuals with developmental disabilities. It was an easy fit because 4-H members are encouraged to get involved in leadership and serving the community.

Gomes, who is going into her senior year and is homeschooled, is not finished with her project now that the fair is over.

“I hope to take this to the junior fair board conference in January and get other counties to start having programs of their own so this doesn’t stay small,” she said. “Every single person can make an impact. People diagnosed with developmental disabilities are the largest minority group in the world, but they are the most unseen. That is what I am trying to change.”

Gomes, the daughter of Ed and Maranda Gomes, is a member of the Oxford Creative Clovers 4-H Club. Theresa Davis and Vicky Sherman are the advisers.

Gomes plans to make a career of working with people with developmental disabilities.

“Eventually I want to take that overseas because I saw my parents fight to get help for my siblings here in America,” she said. “In other countries it is worse. I want to share the love of Christ, and I want to help them because they don’t get the help that they need.”