Sensory Friends

01/05/2026

New Year, New Possibilities
From Sensory Friends

As we step into a new year, we honor the strength, love, and resilience of our incredible community—individuals with disabilities, parents, families, caregivers, educators, therapists, medical professionals, and advocates.

This year, we choose hope.
Let's choose to celebrate the small wins.
Let's praise progress over perfection.
Let's get through hard times one day at a time, knowing it will get better.

Let 2026 be the year we unite and amplify our voices, share our stories, and invite the world to see and value positive change.

From our Sensory Friends family to yours:
May God Bless you and your family with good health, joy, love, and success!

01/01/2026

We wish you a Happy Near Year! May it welcome you with good health, love, joy and success!

01/01/2026

We wish you to be Blessed with a Happy, Healthy, Joyful, Loving, and Successful New Year!

12/29/2025

Free Autism Screenings

Free Autism Screenings at the Easterseals School for Limitless Learning! 🧩 Easterseals Florida is offering autism screenings to families at no cost on Friday, February 6th, from 6 - 8 pm. No referral is needed, and all families are welcome. For more information, contact Dorothy Lefford at (386) 944-7856, or [email protected]

12/29/2025

For anyone interested in registering...

Registration is open for BRIGHT (Brave, Resilient, Inspiring Girls Happening Together). The first series for girls ages 9-12 begins on 1/28/26.

Focus areas will include:
~Self-esteem & body positivity
~Building and maintaining friendships
~Managing emotions & avoiding drama
~Journaling & self-expression
~Developing soft skills for school, jobs, and life

*BRIGHT is a social and empowerment program for Autistic and Neurodiverse pre-teen and teen girls designed to build confidence, friendships, and self-awareness.

For more information see flyer.

Registration required:
https://square.link/u/ztmmdxPh

Instructors:
Tracy Schober holds an AAS in Recreation Leadership, BS in Physical Education, Masters in Public Administration, is an advanced doctoral student, and mom of Autistic and Neurodivergent Adult children. Tracy is the Executive Director at Autism Society Greater Hudson Region.
Kendra Kleinke Mesko holds a BS in psychology, is the Vice President of the Bethlehem SEPTA, and a mom of Autistic and Neurodivergent children. Kendra is an Autism Society Greater Hudson Region Board member.

This program is supported in part by an Anderson Foundation for Autism Grant (Anderson Center for Autism), an OPWDD Legislative Grant, NAMI NY Mindful Me, and a collaboration with the Bethlehem YMCA.

Email questions to [email protected].

12/29/2025

Hi friends, these are great tips for days that are really challenging and we're not ha ing a great day to begin with!

Most popular posts May 2025

Co-regulation equals connection.

But sometimes, even with the best intentions, we accidentally send mixed signals.

Here are 5 DON’Ts of co-regulating when your child is overwhelmed:

12/24/2025

May you and your family be blessed with peace, joy, and success.

12/21/2025

Holiday Message from Sensory Friends:

Celebrating Every Family, Every Tradition, Every Beautiful Way of Belonging

As we enter this season of light, reflection, and togetherness, we honor all the holidays celebrated in our diverse community. Whether your family observes cultural traditions, faith‑based celebrations, or simply cherishes quiet moments of rest, we see you — and we celebrate with you.

For many special needs families, the holidays can bring both joy and unique challenges. Sensory overload, changes in routine, crowded gatherings, and unfamiliar expectations can make this time of year feel overwhelming. But here’s the truth we hold close:

There is no “right” way to celebrate.
Your family’s comfort, peace, and connection matter more than any tradition.
Inclusion begins with honoring each person’s needs — lovingly, patiently, and without apology.

This season, may your home be filled with:

• Sensory‑friendly moments that bring calm and connection
• Traditions adapted with love to meet your family’s needs
• Spaces where every child and adult is welcomed as they are
• Joy that comes in your own time, your own way

From our Sensory Friends family to yours:

We celebrate you. We honor your journey. And we’re grateful to walk alongside you as you create holidays that feel safe, meaningful, and beautifully inclusive.

Wishing you peace, warmth, and belonging — today and always.

12/09/2025

Small Business Owners: Want to WIN customers and BE A HERO for families with disabilities?

Join the Sensory Friends Directory — the fastest-growing inclusion hub in Florida and beyond.

Get discovered by families who are actively searching for inclusive businesses.
Boost your visibility with $0 ad spend
Be part of a movement that’s changing lives

If you’re a boutique, restaurant, therapy center, or church — YOU belong here.

🔗 List your business today

🟣 Join the movement for inclusion. Be a Sensory-Friendly Business for the Disability Community.

12/03/2025

One act of kindness or giving will make someone smile. It's these acts that make God's heart smile, too.

Visit Sensory Friends for resources and information on recreational activities, sensory friendly movies and more!

11/30/2025

Have a blessed week, friends!

11/29/2025

These are fabulous tips for reflecting with kids - check them out!

If you’ve ever found yourself mid-lecture, wondering how you got there — you’re not alone.
In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to slip into long explanations, over-talking, and trying to get a child to understand right now.

But here’s the truth: children don’t learn from lectures.
They learn from reflection — and reflection only happens when both adult and child feel safe, calm, and connected.

Guiding a child through reflection can actually help you deregulate too.
It slows the moment down, reduces the pressure to “fix it immediately,” and shifts the focus from frustration to understanding.

You start to see the why behind their reactions — the feelings, needs, and overwhelm that drove the behaviour.
And when the adult feels calmer, the child’s nervous system follows.

If you’d like structured reflection prompts, co-regulation strategies, and guides for tricky moments, they’re all inside my Managing Big Feelings Toolkit. Find it via the link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Follow for more on reflection, consequences, and brain-based parenting this week.