Central Valley nonprofit organizes musical events for children with autism | Opinion

For families with neurodivergent children whose brains function in atypical ways, everyday experiences that many take for granted — such as going to the movies or attending a concert — can be difficult or sometimes even impossible due to an autistic child’s needs or behaviors (like making noise or not being able to stay in areas for long stretches of time). My family and I know this firsthand, as my younger brother is on the autism spectrum and has limitations on how long he can stay still at public events.

This is why I founded ‘Sounds, Voices and Rhythms for Autistic Minds,’ a nonprofit organization with a mission to create inclusive, sensory-friendly entertainment experiences for neurodivergent children and their families. Specifically, we focus on the role of music — something that has been shown to be very beneficial for autistic individuals.

The organization began with a simple idea. What if we could offer families with neurodivergent children a chance to enjoy a movie together without worrying that they would disrupt others or be judged by the public?

In June, we held our first movie screening designed for these purposes, showing “Lilo & Stitch.” The event was a big success, not only because of the great feedback we received from the dozen families who attended, but because, for many of these children, it was their first time in a movie theater. The response from families who attended the movie screening so far has been deeply touching, with many saying they finally feel seen and welcomed.

We created a space where children and their parents did not have to apologize or feel guilty for stimming (movements and sounds neurodivergent children make in order to deal with sensory input and emotions) or needing more space than usual (which was done through spacing out families in the theater).

The experience was more than simply watching a movie. It gave parents and their children the chance to be together as a family without worrying — something that many of these families have not been able to experience for so long.

SVARAM is one of the first organizations dedicated to this purpose in the Central Valley, and we are committed to expanding. Moving forward, we plan to create a calendar of events for neurodivergent children to experience live concerts and musical shows. Music is known to be beneficial to neurodivergent children, so giving them access to musical events is a priority for us. For our movie screenings, we also try to choose movies that are heavily music oriented.

Most recently, we held an orchestra concert in partnership with the Clovis North High School Chamber Orchestra. The audience consisted of nearly 100 special education students.

Whether it’s the melody of a piano or the laughter during a movie, we believe that every family deserves to experience special, musical moments together.

We are currently seeking partnerships, sponsors and volunteers who share our goal. If you’re a musician, an educator, a parent or simply someone who believes in creating a more inclusive world, we invite you to join us. Together, we can continue building a space where every child can be empowered through music.

Matthew Paul is a senior who currently attends Clovis North High School.