For children with disabilities or with special health needs, who rely on wheelchairs, their lives are made more difficult when the chair they use is need of some tender loving care.

One local organization is hoping to address those needs before the beginning of the school year.

Children’s Rehabilitation Services, a part of Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, held its annual “Wheelchair wash and Tune-up” for special needs children and their families Wednesday. The organization also gave away free school supplies.

Rehab nurse coordinator Melvina Moss, said the event is helpful to the children.

“We thought it be a good idea for children who have wheelchairs to get things tuned up — see if any adjustments or repairs are needed before school,” Moss said. “We also thought it be a good idea for other community agencies to come in and offer educational information regarding their services … to parents.”

Representatives from A&A Home Health Equipment and National Seating and Mobility cleaned, tightened and fixed wheelchairs to help children get ready for school.

“You really get equipment ready for kids for school … more than getting (equipment) clean,” Jeff Lane said. “It takes pressure off of kids and teachers when everything’s clean and ready to go. This is also a great time for families.”

Odessa Taylor, a parent consultant with Alabama Department of Rehabilitation, was responsible for the event and school supply giveaway.

Taylor has counseled parents and believes she can connect with them based on the fact her daughter didn’t speak until age 2 ½ and had multiple surgeries in order to walk.

“I can get more out of them (parents) because I’ve been there,” Taylor said. “If I had given up on my child (who’s now 21), she may’ve never walked.

“Children with disabilities already have Xs against them. Any little bit we can do lets them know we care (and) we’re going to do our part,” Taylor said. “It’s our way of giving back.”

Parents who attended Wednesday’s event were thankful for the help.

“This is pretty much home,” said Synice Edwards, mom of 6-year-old Takirrious King. “This is my first time at the wheelchair wash. It’s important because these wheelchairs are very hard to maintain … especially the older it gets.”

Alfred Muse said he comes every year with his son Xavier.

“It (the wheelchair) loses parts and sometimes, I’m too busy to work on the wheelchair, so it (this) helps,” Muse said.

Dallas County Emergency Management Agency, Yellow Dot program, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Selma Police, AllKids, Women, Infant and Children (WIC), Alabama CARE Ambulance, Dallas County Health Department, HealthMark and Selma Fire Department also attended the event.