10/21/12  The children – and their parents – couldn't wait to get inside and play. There is a fish tank, a large bean bag that snuggles a family, Snug Play that can be shaped to be oh, so many joyous activities! sensory cushions, a textured wall that looks like Fantasia, but feels so different wherever you touch it, a gorgeous fabric swing to hide inside, puzzles, sensory toys to squeeze and touch, a box of aromas, aromatic massage tools….a fantasy come true!

After touching speeches by members of the staff and the President Georgina Ngozi, the Director of the Warner Fund came up. The room is dedicated to his beloved grand-daughter, Casey Allyn Young, who died at 21 months. There wasn't a dry eye in the room. A festive lunch preceded the opening of the room, but when the door opened, the kids went wild!

I was brought to the podium by Georgina who spoke about the fateful incident that was the catalyst for change. But trust me, my pleas and cries would have fallen on deaf ears anywhere else. But Georgina loves children – all children – and has dedicated her life to see they everyone has a fair chance at living, loving, and learning.

This room – better than I could have imagined – is Phase I. Georgina wants to evaluate each and every exhibit throughout the museum and put a sensory space where it works. So the entire museum becomes special needs friendly. And her staff has received special training to work with families in insuring that every child has the most satisfying experience possible.

I thank Georgina for taking my anger and frustration and redirecting this energy into something positive. I thank her for hearing my grief and receiving it with compassion. And I thank her for seeing our children as they are – children with a unique sense and experience of the world.