On July 24th, GPB hosted a Sensory-Friendly Family Meetup at the Atlanta Metropolitan Library in collaboration with the Multiple Autisms Collective.

Multiple Autisms Collective is a collaborative operation between Georgia Tech and The Color of Autism Foundation. Their goal is “to raise awareness of autism in diverse communities through real stories of struggle and hope”. Earlier this year they released Navigating Autism in Communities of Color, a documentary telling the story of six Black families. In the film caregivers are documented in their journey of accessing services, diagnosis, and advocating for their children. The film seeks to highlight some of the systematic inequalities that families of color face when accessing care for their children.

At the meetup, parents had the chance to learn about local resources for their children with autism and developmental delays. Organizations brought a variety of resources for families to learn more about providing care to their children. Organizations included The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), the Georgia Department of Public Health, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Marcus Autism Center, SPARK, the nation's largest autism research study, sponsored by Emory University, Hopebridge Autism Center and SHINE, a parent support group for children with autism.

While parents learned about these amazing resources, children played and interacted with one another in a safe, sensory-friendly environment. They had the option to take a break and color in the Quiet Area or play and embrace their energy in the Active Area.

Though the event has ended, the conversation around autism and developmental delays continues. Learn more about the film and Multiple Autisms Collective, as well as learn about community resources here.