A Close-Up Look At People Who Matter : They Enrich the Lives of Retarded ‘Kids’

Sit in Dixie Henrikson’s office for a short while with the constant stream of staff, volunteers and “kids” going in and out, and you might think the Activities for Retarded Children in North Hollywood is just one big family.

Or a zoo.

“One huge zoo,” said Henrikson, who 29 years ago was ready for “the golf course and the bridge table” when she gave birth to her daughter, Debbie, who was born with Down’s syndrome. Instead of retiring, Henrikson and Mary Schallert started ARC 25 years ago, and both women say the organization has enriched their lives.

“It keeps you young,” said Schallert, whose daughter, Suzie, is mentally retarded.

Officially, Schallert is associate director of the agency, and Henrikson is executive director. But the two women run the agency together.

Henrikson and Schallert met in 1969 at Studio City Park and decided to create their own programs so their children could build friendships and have activities that other children have.

Today, ARC, which formally incorporated in 1975, serves 120 members, with a Saturday camp that includes tennis, swimming, softball and other sports, as well as camping trips, parties and dances.

Henrikson also conducts the English Hand Bell Choir, a popular group during the holidays. The choir has 16 mentally disabled members, who--though of adult age--are still lovingly called “kids” by Henrikson and Schallert. A fund-raiser with the choir is scheduled for Sunday at Campbell Hall School in North Hollywood.

Those who might reject the idea of a choir of mentally retarded children and adults would be surprised at the group’s skill. At a major construction firm’s Christmas party, the employees’ initial skepticism was overcome as soon as the bells started ringing.

“There wasn’t a dry eye at the end of the first number,” Henrikson said.

Henrikson uses a large sheet of paper with the musical notes written out as she directs the choir. As she points, the choir member with the bell for that note rings it.

The choir has performed for major Christmas events in Beverly Hills and has been on television.

At first, Henrikson and Schallert were known to the children as “Aunt Dixie” or “Aunt Mary,” although now most have outgrown using those names.

“We grew up with the kids,” Henrikson said. Her 29-year-old daughter, Debbie, is a member of the choir.

“It’s been a second family to me,” said Nilo Choudry, a Culver City mother whose 23-year-old son, Zak, plays softball in ARC’s Saturday program.

She said ARC has made a big difference in her and her son’s life since they joined the group 10 years ago. “People tell me he’s more verbal and more outgoing. I think a lot of it is because of (ARC).”

There is something enjoyable about working with people who do not mentally grow beyond the age of a child, Henrikson said. “You’re in Peter Pan land for all your life.”

But both women say their “kids” aren’t mere innocents; they have well-rounded personalities.

“They’re nice people,” Schallert said. “Even if they did something that wasn’t nice, you would know why.”

“They’re fun and loving and emotional,” Henrikson said, after one ARC member, a woman looking forward to her 29th birthday, came in to set the plans for the celebration.

Birthdays are very important at the agency. “It’s bigger than Christmas as far as they’re concerned,” Henrikson said. “The little things are so important. They still are little kids.”

So, even if the two women do not have typical retirements, they are pleased their children have had better lives because of the agency they founded.

“They’ve had a better life than I had as a kid,” Schallert said.

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