The smiles from hundreds of people who congregated at the Wheeling Park Ice Rink this past Sunday was evidence enough that Inclusion on Ice was another rousing success –and one that more and more people have enjoyed each year.

The event, presented by Augusta Levy Learning Center, Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and the Wheeling Nailers and in its fifth year, allowed skaters of all ability levels to have fun in a safe, inclusive environment.

This year was the events largest, with more than 600 people taking part in skating, bounce houses, face painting, food and more good times. There also was a sensory room and resource fair.

“The whole reason we do this is because the community needs to come out and support people with disabilities,” Easterseals Marketing Director Betsy Bethel-McFarland said, “because not everybody who has a child with a disability would bring their child to the public ice rink on a regular day. But because this is a special event, is free and geared toward people with disabilities of all kinds, then they can do it.”

Everyone should have the chance to take in a day on the ice, to have the opportunity to enjoy the wind in their face and hair as they speed around the rink. Inclusion on Ice makes that possible, and hopefully even more will participate next year.