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The sixth annual Autism Festival in Houston, organized by Success On The Spectrum (SOS), provided a judgment-free and inclusive space for children with autism and their families. This event, arranged by the autism treatment franchise, encourages fun interactions within the public sphere.
Nichole Daher, Founder at Success On The Spectrum, expressed her gratitude and satisfaction with the community's involvement: "Special thanks to all of our volunteers for making this event happen. I love that the community comes together to create these special memories for our kids."
A YouTube video documenting this year's festivities reveals that SOS's impact extends across the United States, with numerous locations hosting social events for children with autism.
According to Daher, these events are not solely for children. She told the Houston Daily: "By organizing autism events, we strive to foster a sense of belonging and alleviate the discomfort that parents may experience in public settings. We hope to give parents the ability to enjoy taking their children out to have fun."
Daher founded SOS in 2015 as an Autism mom herself, according to information on the SOS website. She sought to maximize potential for her daughter with autism and thus created SOS using a blend of science, fun, community safety and high parent involvement.
This year’s Autism Festival in Houston offered a variety of activities. Daher noted that bubble and face painting booths were particularly popular among children while adults relished offerings from a barbecue food truck.
One parent shared her family's experience in the YouTube video: "I found out about this event on eventbrite.com, and it was perfect. It's free to the community, very inclusive for children with autism, and a very fun event. My daughter had so much fun."
Looking forward to next year's festival, Daher informed the Houston Daily that it will be held on the north side of Houston which will allow them to include more games and bouncy houses.
Since its franchising in 2018, SOS has expanded to over 33 locations in 11 states, becoming the first Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) franchise in the country, Daher revealed in her interview with the Houston Daily. Residents can learn more about this year’s event by watching the provided YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR-2YJW3ABY&t=6s.