Family Cohort Day Welcomes 44 Guests to Mitchell Farms

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, IDS’s Family Advocacy Network hosted their annual Family Cohort Day at Mitchell Farms in Collins. FAN welcomed 44 guests to this inclusive event where Mississippians with disabilities and their families were treated to a catered lunch and all the fun of the Mitchell Farms Pumpkin Patch.

Families were able to enjoy wagon ride tours, a corn maze, tractor slide racer, culvert slide, animal barn, goat castle, and pumpkins galore while connecting with like minds and the dedicated ladies who run IDS’s FAN.

The Family Advocacy Network at IDS works to advocate for, introduce available resources to, and empower families of Mississippians with disabilities of all ages. Advocates coordinate needed support services and provide a pathway for families to become active participants in the decision-making processes that affect their children’s success.

If you or someone you know needs the support of an advocate to navigate the complexities of the special education system in Mississippi, please reach out to the Family Advocacy Network at IDS through e-mail at FAN@usm.edu.