TRAVERSE CITY — As part of their 25th anniversary, Grand Traverse Area Children’s Garden is hosting a sensory-friendly awareness event on Friday.
For families with members who have physical or neurological diversities, it can be challenging to attend events due to triggers or physical barriers.
“Accessible, but more important, understood by the greatest extent of people. Doesn’t matter size, age, ability or disability. There’s going to be a calm space – visual supports, regulation, stations, sensory breaks,” said executive director Sarah Kuschell.
Each child gets noise-reducing headphones and a chance to watch and dance during an acoustic set with local band The Accidentals, then enjoy a musical petting zoo with the Traverse City Philharmonic. There will be sensory breaks throughout the show and regulation stations.
The event, made possible by grant funding from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was planned with specialists who will be onsite for guidance and resources.
“One of the great things about this event is that you can truly be yourself,” said Kuschell. “Having the space to be you, having the option to have your brother or sister there, your mom or dad there. I think sometimes families feel like they can only have one parent come or they can only be there for so long. And that flexibility is definitely going to be here with this event.”
The July 26 event is free, but registration is required to limit the crowd size.