BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — Summer is the time for play in every childhood, made up of magical moments on swing sets, slides, and jokes between friends, but not every kid gets that chance.

According to the U.S. Census, at least three million children in the United States have a disability of some kind.

And for those kids, what would typically be a summer filled with fun and sun is often sprinkled with doctor’s appointments and intensive therapy sessions.

But Sanford Children’s Therapies is looking to keep the moments of childhood magical at Magical Moments Park.

This week, Sanford brought their patients to a Bismarck park to celebrate a year of therapy through Park Week.

“Our kids work so hard,” said physical therapist Kelsey Birdsall. “They come to therapies weekly, and they give so much when they’re there. And it’s really exciting to be able to come to the park for a week and be able to see all the hard work and everything they’ve accomplished over this last year.”

During the week, Sanford’s occupational, physical, and speech therapists conduct their therapy sessions in the park to gauge how well children can operate in their natural elements like going up play sets and sliding down slides.

Many of the children come to Sanford with a wide array of diagnoses from Down Syndrome to cerebral palsy.

However, through the sessions conducted at Park Week, therapists are able to adjust therapeutic techniques and strategies to ensure patients are getting the best treatment possible.

But the timing of Park Week — in the middle of summer — is important too, wedged in during Sanford’s therapy intensives, where child patients meet several days a week to work on motor, speech, and life skills.

But Park Week is more than that.

Families of patients say it’s an important milestone for their children, who have been working tirelessly to re-enter playgrounds and schools with confidence and independence.

To therapists and families alike, Park Week is also a celebration of how far patients have come.

Kris Ferderer, for example, has seen how the power of play has transformed the health and wellness of her daughter, Elliott, who has right-sided cerebral palsy.

“All of her therapists at Sanford are amazing,” said Ferderer. “I care about her so much. And just they’ve really done a lot to help her to get her to where she is today.”

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