The December, 2019 holidays are near, and Apara Autism Center has gathered up a list of some autism and sensory friendly events happening in Houston all month long!
- Sensory Santa is coming to town! On December 1st and 8th , 2019 (times vary) Santa will be available for pictures at various mall locations around town. Autism Speaks is thrilled to be partnering with Cherry Hill Programs again this holiday season to provide sensory-friendly Santa Experiences for families, now in more premier locations than ever before! Individuals of all ages and abilities are welcomed. Sensory-friendly visits with Santa are free and keepsake photo packages will be available for purchase. Space is limited and RSVP is required. For more information and to RSVP, go to https://www.autismspeaks.org/events/sensory-friendly-santa?location_lat=29.5984434&location_lng=-95.6225521&location=25
- Sensory Friendly Holiday Lights in Sugar Land will take place on Thursday, December 5th , 2019 from 6:00-9:00pm. Hope for Three is sponsoring this one-night event in which sound will be turned down, a sensory friendly safe room added, free S’more for all kiddos, a carnival, Santa and more. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to https://www.hopeforthree.org/wp-content/uploads/Skeeters-Holiday-Lights_Hope-for-Three_Final.jpg.
- On Saturday, December 7th from 10:30am-12:30pm, The University of Houston- Clear Lake, Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities will be hosting a community speaker event, titled ‘Safety is no Accident: Preparing You and Your Learner for the World Around Them’ presented by Karlie Hinkle. Click on the link below to register for this free event. https://apps.uhcl.edu/ECommerce/Schedule/CADD
- Monday, December 9th from 10:00am-3:00pm, The Children’s Museum of Houston is hosting a Sensory Friendly Day at the museum. At this event, doors will be closed to the public. There will be no over-head music playing in the exhibits and sound-reducing headphones will be available. Outside food and drinks will be allowed in. Admission is just $5 per person. (https://www.cmhouston.org/event/sensory-friendly)
- Also, on Monday, December 9th starting at 6:00pm, the Space Center of Houston will be hosting Galaxy Lights with reduced stimulation for families. Galaxy Lights reduced stimulation experience will have lower audio levels and additional designated quiet spaces for visitors diagnosed with conditions such as, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder. To accommodate more families, tickets to this event are a special lower price of $15.95, and children three years and younger get in free. To purchase tickets and learn more, go to https://spacecenter.org/event/sensory-friendly/
- On Thursday, December 12th from 10:30am-12:00pm our very own, Amanda Sitomer Smith, will be presenting to the Arc of Fort Bend on ‘Addressing Challenging Behaviors’. Amanda will discuss the functions or “why” people engage in challenging behaviors, how to prevent and then respond appropriately to these behaviors. Amanda will walk through practical examples and provide ideas about visual supports to help the person before, during, and after engaging in the problem behavior. This event is free! Join the Eventbrite here: (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/addressing-challenging-behavior-amanda-sitomer-smith-tickets-83021977971?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_content=follow_notification&utm_campaign=following_published_event&utm_term=Addressing+Challenging+Behavior+-+Amanda+Sitomer+Smith&aff=ebemoffollowpublishemail)
- Finally, on Saturday, December 14th from 2:00-3:00pm, ‘Rhythm is the Answer’ will be having their monthly class at Memorial Park (near baseball field). This free class brings the Dance and Drum communities together to teach kids with autism to drum and dance for Therapy and FUN! To RSVP, please go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rhytm-is-the-answer-monthly-event-tickets-55115163939?aff=ebdssbdestsearch .
We hope you and your loved one enjoy some of the holiday events above and please let us know if you attended an event that you enjoyed!
Happy Holidays from everyone at Apara Autism Center!
