(SPANISH FORT, Ala.) Friday night, the Spanish Fort Sparklers started on the sidelines, cheering on the Toros as they pounded the court, waiting for their first big half time show. Ramsey Wilder, Emily Grant and six more Sparklers all have special needs, ranging from autism to Down Syndrome. They attend Spanish Fort Middle School and High School.
Cali Quinlivan leads the group along with five varsity Spanish Fort High cheerleaders. The Sparklers formed as part of the Sparkle Effect, a national program that encourages cheerleading squads to include students with special needs. It's the first squad of it's kind in Alabama.
"I think it's very important for them to develop communication skills and social skills," says Quinlivan, "and this is just a great opportunity to feel like a typical peer and just hang out and be part of the cheerleading squad.
"It's great," says Sparkler Ramsey Wilder. "It's because the fans are out here." Sparkler Emily Grant says she does it because it's fun.
And at half-time, the Sparklers took that fun to the court, performing a special cheer. In return, they got a standing ovation.
"It brought tears to my eyes," says Quinlivan. "It was incredible, it was amazing, it was perfect."
The night was a great victory for the squad and their proud parents. "We need more of this kind of stuff for kids like this," says Tommy Wilder, Ramsey's father, "because they're often times just kind of put aside and just left out of a lot of things that most kids take for granted."
The Spanish Fort Sparklers will perform at every Spanish Fort High women's basketball game in January.
