Looking for fun activities for a child with autism? Put Sensory Street on your radar

The long-awaited return of Sensory Street is coming soon to Pensacola.

The second annual Autism Pensacola Sensory Street, presented by the Studer Foundation, is a free community event that is being held on June 24-25, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historic Pensacola Museum of Commerce on 201 E. Zaragoza St.

Sensory Street is an interactive community event where people are invited to visit various "sensory stations," each one offering an activity related to behaviors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The event is open to everyone, not just individuals with autism, and is intended to give a glimpse into the world of autism and some of the challenges that people face.

“The goal of Sensory Street is twofold,” Autism Pensacola Executive Director Mary McClellan said. “One is to offer kids a safe space to practice various activities associated with autism, but also to bring awareness and encourage inclusion of individuals who are affected by autism into the community to help them in areas such as employment, education and housing.”

Autism Pensacola, established in 2002, is a Florida nonprofit organization which serves individuals and families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties affected by autism by providing resources for autism support, advocacy, education and networking opportunities.

The start of Sensory Street: First-ever Autism Pensacola 'Sensory Street' hands-on exhibit rolls into town this weekend

You may like: Bubba Watson and his family fund donate $106,000 for new Ronald McDonald House playground

More from Autism Pensacola: Every person with autism is unique. Special Pensacola project shows you how. | Guestview

Last year approximately 1,000 people attended the inaugural Sensory Street event.

This year's event will move away from last year's informational booths and will instead focus on interactive activities. There will be a dance activity with a music therapist will be in attendance, and a horticulture activity where children can plant seeds and take them home.

There will be a hair cutting and dentist's station designed to help children become more comfortable with those environments in the real world. A money counting station to help visitors learn basic finance skills, and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office will bring its horse and bloodhound units to the event.

Alisha Sloan, who has a son with autism, appreciates everything that Autism Pensacola has to offer, such as data and resources for people wanting to learn more about autism.

For Sloan, Sensory Street is a great judgment-free environment for children with autism where they are made to feel comfortable and welcome.

“It's a wonderful environment for our children to go and be able to do something that's fun and interactive without feeling uncomfortable, especially the parents can feel uncomfortable when you go into a social situation and your child is being stared at or pointed out or talked about,” Sloan said.

McClellan and Autism Pensacola hope to make Pensacola a certified autism friendly city and make Sensory Street one of the steps to move in that direction. This event is one of the tools to spread awareness and take away the stigma of autism and about more bring inclusion for those who have it.

“Autism Pensacola is shedding light on the fact that individuals with autism have a tremendous number of gifts to offer the community,” McClellan said. “And they can be just as effective and just as important to the community as their neurotypical peers.”

Visit autismpensacola.org/sensorystreet for more information.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Sensory Street is an interactive event to learn about autism