VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - As families prepare for summer fun, some parents worry about how large spaces, noise and other distractions impact their children with autism.

Wild Adventures is building a quiet room in Water’s Edge to feature a sensory sensitive experience that gives children and families with autism a break from the overstimulation of a theme park.

Tori Pittman, Family Autism Support Team (FAST) President said, “So, families can stay longer and enjoy the whole park. And it’s really a very, very, important nod to our community saying that we are trying to accommodate you, and Wild Adventures has done a phenomenal job of that.”

Wild Adventures partnered with FAST to ensure this space would have the necessary resources.

Chanel Randolph is the mother of a 6-year-old on the autism spectrum. She said this is a perfect way create space for him and others with special abilities.

Randolph said, “My son loves Wild Adventures. But as a child on the spectrum, sometimes you get overstimulated. And others don’t understand why he’s having a meltdown. Being able to go to a seclusive room, allowing him to go through the emotions and process and also be there with other parents and us to console and talk to each other is awesome.”

That is why FAST was developed — to advocate for families and create collaborative partnerships to better the community at large.

“I think it shows their commitment to the community — not just the autism community, but the community we all live in,” Pittman said.

Madison Tucker, a Wild Adventures public relations specialist said, “Our motto is ‘creating memories worth repeating,’ and we want to be able to do that for everyone. Whether you’re five years old riding a rollercoaster for the first time or whether you’re coming here because you did as a kid. We want everyone to have a great experience.”

The quiet room will be ready in May — just in time for families to enjoy summer fun at Wild adventures.

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