‘Everyone’s Got Talent’ celebrates inclusion in St. Clairsville
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Everyone’s Got Talent returns to the St. Clairsville Park & Recreation Center Amphitheater on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The seventh annual talent show is presented by the Arc of Ohio and is meant to raise awareness for people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Arc of Ohio Regional Director Kara Olshanski said more than 40 contestants will be performing Saturday, featuring both people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"This is an inclusion event, which is definitely the message we want to get across. We don’t identify to the crowd which contestants have intellectual and developmental disabilities or not, but the judges are judging the special needs talent so they can get a prize through the judges," Olshanski said.
She added that attendees can pay $1 to cast a vote for the People’s Choice winner.
This year’s event will include free children’s entertainment, such as animals from the Oglebay Good Zoo, games, activities, prizes and a resource carnival.
Olshanski said the resource carnival will bring in various professionals, organizations and businesses that have something to offer families and individuals with disabilities.
"It could be anything from a high level behavioral service to the Wheeling Nailers, because the Wheeling Nailers offer special needs nights," Olshanski said. "We want our families to come out and be able to hear and talk to the directors and business owners so that they’re not afraid if somebody in the community or a school says to reach out to an agency. They won’t be afraid because they have that firsthand experience."
She added that more than 20 businesses, agencies and organizations that come out under the umbrella of community and education will be in attendance to inform everyone in attendance.
"This is all about opportunity. It’s opportunity for the public to come and see special needs talent highlighted in the limelight in a positive way," Olshanski said. "It’s also an opportunity for people that have talent to come out in the community and meet new friends that maybe have special needs or people with special needs to meet everyday singers. It’s also an opportunity for families."
She added that the carnival will have various free items for all attendees.
"We want to equip the families with the things that they need. We’re all the professionals in the field so we know what the families need," Olshanski said. "We’ll also have a duck pond game and a sensory obstacle this year that’s like a jungle but is pool noodles."
She added that there will also be a dunk tank that will have local movers and shakers in the community who will be dunked.
Olshanski added that the Arc of Ohio wants residents to attend Saturday’s event and show the contestants their support.
"It will also give people an opportunity to socialize and network with one another. People always say, 'I want to help, I wish I could do something for that kid that has autism. Well, this is something that you could do,'" Olshanski said. "Anybody can be part of this event. They can create a food table or do an activity that they want to do for the community or put their talents up on the stage."
This year’s event is sponsored by Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance, the Village Network and Heritage Early Learning Center.