By Stephanie Irvine

Lincoln-Way-area parents of children with special needs can look forward to a worry-free evening out, featuring an Italian dinner and the knowledge that their child is safe and having fun, too, thanks to the Kevin Molloy Team and Advocates for Acceptance’s Special Needs Parents Night Out event.

The unique event on May 29 will give special needs parents the chance to enjoy a true date night with a table for two at Gatto’s Italian Restaurant in New Lenox and their choice of four meal options.

Date nights are often impossible for special needs parents, because it can be challenging to find someone who is both capable of meeting their child’s unique needs and available for an evening out.

Advocates for Acceptance’s Jeanine Kozlowksi, a special needs parent herself, knows how tough it can be. Her 9-year-old son, Austin, lives with main schizencephaly and cerebral palsy. His vision is also affected by septo-optic dysplasia and cortical vision impairment.

“This has been an event I’ve been wanting to do forever, because until recently, we hadn’t had a date in seven years … we didn’t have anyone to care for our child … his needs are so complex,” Kozlowksi said.

With this event, special needs parents won’t have to stress or worry about their child’s care while they’re out to dinner. Parents will begin the evening off by dropping their child off at the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Center, where they will be supervised by 15 trained special needs professionals.

The special needs children will be grouped appropriately by ability and have access to the sensory room, the gym and other activities.

“I’ll pair them with an aide, who will assist them, determine what groups will play together, make it where they’re with their own age group or ability, so they can have fun, no one has to worry about their child being hurt because it’s an older kid, and they don’t have to worry about their kid taking off out a door, they’ll know they’re safe,” Kozlowski explained.

Additional volunteers will be there to help out as well. Organizers will snap a picture at drop-off to ensure everyone is reunited at the end.

The event also offers flexibility. If parents can’t make it right at 5 p.m. for dinner, they can come when it works for them, so long as they leave enough time to enjoy dinner (recommended no later than 7 p.m.), and make it back to Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Center promptly at 8 p.m. to pick up their child.

When parents arrive at Gatto’s, they’ll simply present their ticket and let the staff know they’re there for the event. They’ll then be seated at their own table in the private room.

If parents finish up dinner early, they can even spend the rest of the time as they wish before picking up their child at 8 p.m., Kozlowski said.

Special needs children do not need to be school-aged, Kozlowski emphasized, noting that often, parents care for their children with special needs their whole lives, well into adulthood — and that’s also when many resources drop off.

“I don’t care if the special needs child is 40 years old — I want them to have fun and be safe,” Kozlowski said.

The cost of it all? Free to parents because of State Farm Agent Kevin Molloy’s generosity.

“The Molloy State Farm team is constantly looking for ways to make a difference in the lives of those around us, and with the help of Mayor Tim Baldermann, this opportunity presented itself, and Jeanine took it and ran with it,” Kevin Molloy said of the event.

Being the parent of a child with special needs can be tough — enduring doctors’ appointments, social situations and activities of daily living, even finding parking, all come with their own set of unique challenges.

“One of the main things that I’ve come across from helping families and knowing special needs families: we’re all exhausted, and we barely sleep when we’re in a season when things are tough — there were days I didn’t eat,” Kozlowski said.

“If I could take a few hours of that pain or that burden away to reset them and give them a break, why not?” Kozlowski added.

It’s partly why Jeanine and her husband, Justin Kozlowski, founded Advocates for Acceptance a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting an inclusive society where everyone has equitable access to activities, accommodations and opportunities to thrive.

“The nonprofit makes my heart happy. Seeing these parents and kids smile, all the kids have so much fun, the communities all come together to support it,” Kozlowski explained.

Together with their directors, Alyssa Thielmann, Julie Kmetz and Kelly Hickey, the group works to establish positive change, activities and events to help those in the special needs community.

This latest event for the group is focused on giving special needs parents and their kids an evening they can all look forward to — something Kozlowski said parents with special needs desperately need.

Though Kozlowski does a lot of the heavy-lifting, she’s very quick to share the humility, giving credit to everyone involved in the nonprofit — Molloy and his team, Baldermann, Lincoln-Way Special Recreation, New Lenox School District’s Superintendent Laurie Motsch and Haines Principal Dr. Hall. The list went on as her gratitude for others was evident.

“I’m very big on making sure the people who support us and help us are recognized. I want to acknowledge them because what they’re doing for us really matters,” Kozlowski said.

The event is open to all in the Lincoln-Way School District.

“We decided to open our first event to all of Lincoln-Way area instead of just New Lenox. Then if it’s successful, we will try to do events in each town, but each will be open to all of Lincoln way area. New Lenox, Manhattan, Mokena, Frankfort and even Homer Glen.

Molloy added, “Blessed to be able to support this. It’s going to be a game-changer for these parents.”

The event has limited spots and is exclusive to Lncoln-Way special needs families. Parents can learn more and reserve a spot by visiting https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/special-needs-parents-night-out. Those interested in working with Jeanine on hosting an event in their community can visit www.advocatesforacceptance.org or reach out directly at [email protected].

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.