Able Advocate Day!

We got to go to a carnival fundraiser put in by @ableadvocates yesterday!! It was pretty awesome stuff! They had jump houses designated for big kids and others for little kids and for a ‘calmer bounce’ for special needs kiddos. They had every kind of carnival game and food.

There were designated changing stations for handicap kiddos and my most favorite thing - the SENSORY ROOMS!

   GUYS, there was a “5 senses” sensory room, a dark room full of LED lights and cool light experiments, and a music room-  the kids were in heaven. Lij came out of the 5 senses room after sitting in cotton balls for a good 30min with the most relaxed and satisfied look on his face I’d ever seen. I was in awe when he ate lunch contently and didn’t fight me when I took him potty. Man, the power of cotton balls...

  

My first thoughts when I go into super creative environments with all the amazing things that stimulate and encourage development are sometimes more along the lines of “maybe I should do that”, or, “that’s a really good idea, why didn’t I think of that?!”. But I focused on just enjoying my people and watching them enjoy. It was awesomeness!

  

I’m so thankful for ALL of the MANY people who work their tushes off in an attempt to create an environment that decreased stress for sensory sensitive and special needs kiddos! When my kid’s stress level is on the low end, I’m able to have more fun with him, and it’s an all around good time for the whole fam. ( I’m m not saying we were a perfect meltdown free family for the duration of the carnival .....gotta set those expectations when going to a carnival with 4 littles....but all the accommodations and the environment were amazing!)

It was a great day!

http://www.ableadvocates.org/