TOMS RIVER – If you’ve ever been to a fair or street festival, you know that it can be overwhelming. The sun is beating down. Music is blasting. The smell of food cooking is carried by the breeze.
As people try to get you to come to their booth, they entice you with colorful decorations. They might even call out to you. The sounds and sights of people having a good time are all around you.
And you’re probably wiped out by the end of it. Part of it is sensory overload.
Now imagine that you have a sensory processing issue that makes this even more overloading.
One in six people have some kind of sensory need, whether it stems from being on the autism spectrum, or having PTSD, Parkinson’s, dementia or some other sensory processing disorder. It’s a challenge for them to manage the lights, the sounds, and the crowds.
Because of this, families limit their time at events like this or skip them all together. They don’t want their loved one to become overstimulated and overwhelmed.
However, many therapists will say that for most people, engagement in the community can be productive and helpful for them.
This is why the Toms River Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Developmental Disabilities is raising money to purchase a mobile Sensory Activation Vehicle that will be used at public events throughout town. This will be like a mobile sensory room that can be parked at special events.
“We can help those with disabilities and their families enjoy community events such as street fairs and festivals,” the fundraiser stated. “By adding a sensory room to community events, we can help Toms River to become a more inclusive township where all of our residents can benefit from social events within our community. A sensory room is a dedicated space that gives access to tools and equipment that can be used to help an individual de-escalate and self regulate so they can reenter the event feeling secure, confident and a valued member of the community.”
For more information, visit kulturecity.org/f/toms-river-township/ or email educator Tracey Fournier at traceyfour@gmail.com.
Donations can be made through the above website or by sending a check made out to Kulture City, mailed to TRMACDD, c/o 1358 Hooper Avenue, Box 180, Toms River, NJ 08753.
