The end of summer may feel like the perfect time to spend a day at the fair or carnival. But between loud noises and flashing lights, these events are often inaccessible for people with Autism spectrum disorders.
Maya Vijay, a Los Altos teenager and student at St. Francis High School, set out to create a neurodivergent-accessible space that captures that same sense of summer fun.
“I wanted this to be a fun celebration for the end of the summer, which is an event that a lot of these kids typically don’t get to experience specifically for them,” Vijay said.
Vijay’s event, titled “Together Day,” was hosted at Grant Park on Aug. 15. Neurodivergent kids and families gathered for a serene day full of accessible games and activities.
The fair included three main tables with different games and activities, such as hand and arm painting, bowling and paper crafts. It also featured various toys and prizes, including fidget and stim toys.
Vijay felt that it is important to hold events like this, since neurodivergent children often do not have access to celebrations like this.
“This event is filling the gap between purely clinical spaces and then inaccessible events for them,” Vijay said.
Vijay added that she has been working with neurodivergent children, through tutoring programs and occupational therapy, for around six years. Vijay also started a club at her school called the Buddy Program, which focuses on accessible tutoring.
“It’s really become a passion of mine,” Vijay said. “I thought, in addition to working in those special ed classrooms, maybe there was a more fun way to bring together many families from all over the Bay Area.”
While this is the first accessible fair that Vijay has planned, she hopes to host similar events throughout the year.
