With Christmas just around the corner, the Champaign Urbana Autism Network hosted its sensory-friendly breakfast Sunday, at the City Center in Champaign.
Children with autism can struggle waiting for hours in crowded places, which can make it hard to attend other holiday events for kids, said Julie Duvall, executive director of CU Autism Network.
“It’s the lights, it’s waiting in lines—it’s too much for them. So we want to ensure they have the same experience as other kids,” she said.
The event, which began in 2017, included Christmas jazz music performed by the Urbana High School jazz band. Families participated in ornament crafting, an auction, and photos with Santa.
Mary Satterwhite attended with her nine-year-old son James, who has autism. She describes James as a bright, young boy who has his own YouTube channel where he posts videos of ceiling fans, Legos, and dominoes.
She said they’ve attended these events since he was three and the community has been incredibly supportive.
“It’s really nice for the kids to meet Santa in a safe space without having to wait in line for two hours….Kids on the autism spectrum in particular don’t wait well. So it’s really nice they can come and go as they please,” Satterwhite said.
Devin McCoy, a mother of two kids with autism, said she recently joined the CU Autism Network and is in the process of navigating the community.
Events like these are helpful, she said, because they allow parents to connect with others who have kids on the autism spectrum.
The CU Autism Network is operated through sponsors and donations, Duvall said. More information can be found on the group’s website.
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