What Are Sensory Friendly Hours? Why Are They Important

Aka Part of the Don't be Dick Series On Autism

Normally, I put stuff about the Intern, aka my son behind the paywall. I know not everyone follows me for autism content. They come for the art and the dog. And behind the paywall controls the weirdos or the keyboard warriors who love RFK jr from bothering the shit out of me. That said, part of being an advocate for my son is educating people so there are hopefully less dicks in the world when he’s older. This is the beginning of a series on autism I will be doing called the Don’t be a Dick series. Feel free to subscribe to enjoy future posts about this, and of course, my artwork and the dog.

Last night we went to the Children’s Discovery Museum for a special sensory friendly hours evening. Which meant lower lighting, less noise and fewer people. These are all things my 6 year old son who is on the autism spectrum loves of course. But what people forget sometimes when they see events like this, is how incredible it is for the parents of special needs kids. Especially with an invisible disability like autism can be. So few of these kinds of things exist for us. In an age where it seems like one person getting something suddenly means you’re getting less, there is so much more going on here than simply Autistic Kids Get Their Own Hours at a Discounted Rate…

Let me try to explain to you what it’s like to have events like this held at local businesses and attractions. My son is more comfortable. Obviously that makes me happy as a parent. Takes a lot of stress away and less chance of a meltdown(btw a meltdown is not a tantrum or my kid not getting enough discipline). But better than this is I am surrounded by parents that get it. I don’t have to explain anything. I don’t have to apologize or have a teaching moment with someone and their kid. I don’t have to practice restraint with a parent who is being an asshole (if one more person tells me about how probiotics will cure my son’s autism ‘symptoms’, I swear……)

No judgements that my son still likes to drink milk in a bottle occasionally, isn’t potty trained or repeats what sounds like random phrases from television shows that I then also have to repeat (ever been in Target and had to repeat the phrase multiple times, ‘Granddad has a penis and Meemaw has a vagina’ because your son is working through the realization boys and girls are different and if you don’t repeat it he will grow increasingly frustrated and start yelling it to get you to comply?)

There were kids at the museum flapping their arms in enjoyment. One that was squealing like a velociraptor every time the ball she threw fell into a water exhibit. One girl kept trying to drink the water, and her mom kept rushing over to pull her away. These are just a few behaviors that I don’t bat an eye at (been there myself, especially with the wanting to drink stuff he shouldn’t) that I’ve also seen neuro typical parents cringe at. Or make looks. Or better yet, pull their kid away as if autism is contagious.

So these inclusive events are not just for the kids themselves. It is a moment for the special needs parents to not be hypervigilant (at least not as much). To relax more. To enjoy their kid being themselves and stimming without all the bullshit we encounter every other moment of our lives. To elope in a safe, enclosed environment with staff that is aware of what autism actually is and how to interact with the kids. And if I want to make a friend, it’s easy at stuff like this. If I want to talk tips, advice, or get ideas for home, these are my people. OR, if I just want to sit quietly and decompress while my son watches a working stoplight for an hour telling me each color and what that color means as it cycles, I can do that too.

So if you’re a business that can host something like this, do it. Us parents will love you for it and we will patronize often. We will tell all our friends how awesome you are. If you see an event like this and know someone with a kiddo on the spectrum, tell them about it. Hell if you’re a good friend you’ll offer to go with so you can see what it’s like and be an extra set of hands. No parent of a special needs kid minds an extra set of hands.

And if you don’t know anyone who would enjoy sensory friendly hours or run a business that could incorporate them, don’t complain my kid has access to something, Karen. Inclusion is not a bad word. Equal access is not a bad thing.