Maggie Roso and Michael Simyn sat at a table in the corner of the Union Gold Rooms on Sunday afternoon playfully laughing at each other, eating brownies and waiting for the perfect song.

"Maggie said that all of her dances are for me," Simyn said. "She likes to dance, and she's been looking forward to this."

The DeWitt couple attended the second annual Very Special Valentine's Day Dance on Sunday with about 100 other special needs patients from around the state.

"It's just so beautiful being here at Michigan State," Simyn said. "I love the chandeliers."

The dance, sponsored by the MSU Supply Chain Management Association and Marketing Association, offered free dancing, food and crafts to the participants, including Kay Cromwell.

"I have not been to a dance in years," she said. "At the home we have a curfew so we can't go out because we have to be in by 11."

Both people with special needs and business students can benefit from the event, supply chain management senior Claire Azrak said.

"It's an opportunity for two communities who normally don't get in contact to meet with each other," she said. "True, MSU is a big campus, but it's also enclosed and mainly made up of students."

Scott Field is one of those students.

The 37-year-old suffered a football injury while playing for Lansing's Waverly High School which caused him severe brain damage.

His nurse, Shawna Stewart, brought him to the dance in a wheelchair on Sunday dressed in a new outfit and corsage.

"I like to get him out as much as I can and expose him to special needs people, people he can relate to," Stewart said. "We try to keep it as normal as we can for him."

Stewart said the event serves as part of his daily rehabilitation to regain control of his hands and his speech.

"Everyday is rehab for him," she said. "And not only rehab but to give him a normal life that a man would have."

In the back of the room, a smile spread across Ron Knapp's face as music blared from his speakers.

Knapp, who has down syndrome, said "being a DJ is life" and being part of a celebration for people with special needs is even better.

"I think it's nice for people with disabilities to get out in the community," he said. "I love it very much."

The music pleased Gary Collins II, who extended his arms to every new face that walked through the doors.

"Gimme some love," the 25-year-old Ypsilanti resident said as he fixed his red silk tie and hugged one of his friends.

Collins walked around the room introducing himself to everyone and asking some to save him a dance.

"I love dancing and I definitely love eating," he said. "And making new friends is always great."