Creativity with compassion builds sensory-friendly wonderland for kids with special needs
December 19, 2023 Courtesy of Jed Dunstan with AdventHealth
With Christmas right around the corner, team members from AdventHealth Waterman are helping to make the holidays a bit more magical for a family with special needs through the 2023 Habitat for Humanity of Lake-Sumter Jingle Build event.
About a dozen team members including Pediatrician, Dr. Sherryl Gordon-Spence, along with registered nurses Cameron Munoz and Heather Cedeno, who have a deep understanding of the sensory needs of autistic children, designed a built playhouse for this special family. In addition to being nurses, both Munoz and Cedeno both have children on the autism spectrum, providing them with unique insights into creating an environment tailored to these children’s specific requirements.
“Individuals on the autism spectrum view the world around them a little differently — they like tactile things and to manipulate items,” explained Cedeno. “They seek different sensory inputs like flipping light switches or stroking fabrics.”