Walter Jimenez II has been working with the special needs community for years, but his foray into comic book conventions is a growing project.
Jimenez is a transition specialist with Frisco ISD, where he works with individuals with special needs every day.
“I have worked with adult special needs students for over 10 years. I know that getting information out to parents and getting students connected to outside services are such big hurdles,” Jimenez said. “I also know that many of my students big fans of superheroes. I decided to try to bring those worlds together.”
Originally conceptualized in Frisco, FrisCon brings the comic book and special needs communities together to meet comic and anime actors, participate in cosplay and hang out with other comic book fans. The event will take place on March 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This years event features guests such as Chuck Huber, a voice actor known for voicing Kurogiri in My Hero Academia and Pilaf and Android 17 from Dragon Ball Z; Melanie Kohn, who voiced Lucy in four Peanuts specials, the full-length feature film Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown, and several commercials; comic artist Mohammad Jilani; Halo and Terry Parr, creators of Aerobicide: The Extreme Ninja Workout; and Laurie Calcaterra, author of Path of the Pale Rider.
For those into cosplay, Clan Muraan’s Mandalorian Costuming Club, 501st Legion’s Vader’s Best Storm Troopers, Avengers Initiative and Heroic Inner Kids will be present to promote their products and/or discuss cosplay.
While FrisCon is free to attend, several performers and guests will have products and signings available for purchase. Details on prices and products are available on the website.
In addition to comic-related guests, organizations that work with kids and adults with special needs in the community will be available for information, including MyPossibilities, the Association for Independent Living, Concept Connections, Wind Rose Academy, Cornerstone Ranch, Special Strong, Best Buddies and Plano nonPariel.
“I am super excited about what has been put together,” Jimenez said. “I’m hopeful people will hear about this and get excited to attend.”
