Even before the doors opened, families lined up, eager to explore new entertainment, sports programs, camps, and other enrichment opportunities for their children. In its ninth year, the Cobb Schools Community Resource Fair continued the event’s legacy of supporting families of students with disabilities, connecting them with valuable resources beyond the classroom. 

"We are the only district in the metro area that has this kind of fair, where we invite all of our vendors who have fun things for our students," said Dominique Terens, Cobb Schools Supervisor of Special Education Compliance. 

A Life-Changing Experience for Parents

For many parents, the resource fair held at the Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy is more than just an event—it’s a gateway to life-changing information. 

Parent MacKenzie Rideout described the overwhelming relief of having so many resources in one place. 

"It's nice to see in person all the options that he has, whether it's a summer camp or a weekend event. I saw a really cool splash pad thing at a water park, which I never even thought of. I think that would be a really cool thing for my kid," she shared. 

The Cobb parent also reflected on how valuable the fair would have been when her son was first diagnosed with autism. 

"I wish that I'd known about this at the time of the diagnosis... I think that would have taken a lot of the anxiety out of that initial search." 

Because she found the resource fair so valuable, she plans to recommend it to other parents and is looking forward to bringing her child next year. 

Another parent, Jacquelline Dosdos, expressed deep appreciation for the support provided by Cobb Schools and the fair, describing it as fantastic. "I'm just so happy to be here. It's a fun event and very helpful to us. We get more resources as well,” she said. 

Ms. Dosdos was thrilled to learn about new opportunities, including sensory-friendly environments like those offered by the Atlanta Hawks and Six Flags. Thanks to what she learned at the fair, she said, “We're more confident about taking our kids to places.” 

A Hub of Resources and Fun 

The fair featured a variety of vendors offering everything from sports and arts programs to therapy and summer camps. Each year, the fair welcomes new participants and fresh opportunities for families but also welcomes the return of family favorites. 

"Parents tell me that they find opportunities for sports camps, summer camps, equestrian riding, movies, theaters that they can go to, dancing, Taekwondo—you name it," Ms. Terens said. "Even if you've been to the fair before, there's always something new for you." 

Interactive elements made the event engaging for students as well. 

"I feel like our vendors have almost gotten into a competition. Each year, it's like, 'What can we do to engage the students more?'" Terens added. 

Vendors provided hands-on activities, including sensory-friendly materials like slime, to create an immersive and enjoyable experience. 

A True Labor of Love 

The resource fair is a labor of love for the Cobb Schools team behind the event. 

"I've been working in special education for more than 25 years, and I love this opportunity to be able to give back to our community and also to bring our community in to work together to meet our students' needs," Ms. Terens shared. "Usually, when I leave here, first, my feet will hurt a lot. I've smiled so much that my face will hurt tomorrow."

However, for the veteran Cobb educator, it’s all worth it, especially when she sees all the smiles of the students. 

"We love to have the children here. We see so many children, from the little babies to the preschoolers all the way up to the high schoolers. It’s great to see them interact with our vendors because they want our students to come to their venues and participate in the activities they have found for them,” Ms. Terens explained. 

The event’s success is a testament to Cobb Schools’ unwavering commitment to supporting students and their families beyond the classroom. 

Ms. Dosdos summed it up, "From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all the staff from the public school district for incorporating everything. It’s amazing to have all of this, even outside school. All these activities help promote well-being for our kids, which is so important. We can't thank them enough." 

Supporting Cobb Families Beyond the Fair 

For Cobb parents, the fair served as an extension of the support they already receive for their students during the school day. Ms. Rideout shared how the school system has supported her family from the beginning. 

"They could not have been more accommodating. They answered all the questions. We got to meet with the administration. They helped us with his IEP, and whatever struggles have come up in the school year so far, they've always kept us apprised of what happened and some strategies that we could use to make sure that those things don't happen again,” the Cobb mom explained. “I can tell that they very much care about my son." 

Dosdos echoed similar sentiments, expressing how much she appreciates the Cobb Schools team that ensures her son is supported every step of the way.

“We work with so many great teachers, staff, and even the bus drivers. They take him home safely, and he goes to an inclusive behavioral school right now for Cobb, Aspire, which is great,” the Cobb mom added. “It's amazing that we have great teachers and staff that work with our kids. Our schools are amazing. It's a great experience with the best.”