Deaf football player keynote speaker at Special Needs Fair Published Sept. 15, 2011 GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Airman and Family Readiness is hosting a free Special Needs Information Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Event Center. A special guest speaker, Martel Van Zant, will be on hand for the event and is scheduled to make remarks at 1 p.m. Van Zant, from Tyler, Texas, is a former starting cornerback for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Van Zant is deaf, born without eardrums after his mother suffered from chicken pox while pregnant. He will share his inspirational story with the help of his interpreter, Allie Lee. Lee was Van Zant's right-hand man during the cornerback's four years of playing football for the Cowboys. The fair also will include workshops entitled "10 Basics of Special Education," and "TRICARE and Special Needs" at 11 a.m. and 11:35 a.m. Numerous community special needs partners will be at the fair. There will be free activities for all ages, including smoothie tasting, Zumba workouts, LEGOS, bubbles, face painting, bird house building for kids, and much more. The Exceptional Family Members Program connects active duty family members who have special needs with many helping agencies both on- and off-base. The Air Force's Exceptional Family Member Program provides support to military families with special developmental, educational or medical needs, or that have family members with disabilities.
