LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It can be hard sometimes for children who are on the autism spectrum to enjoy all of the things that other kids do. So in 2016, Chuck E. Cheese created Sensory Sensitive Sundays, a national program in partnership with the Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). The Louisville Chuck E. Cheese is the only location in Kentucky that participates.

“It’s been wonderful because we can bring him some place that he enjoys where we’re not chasing him around, and it gives time for me and him to spend together outside of the house,” said Shellie Nacions, whose brought her 13-year-old son for the past eight months.

It’s still the same fun, but with minor adjustments. General Manager of the Louisville location, Ryan Duncan, said staff were trained by CARD. One aspect taught is to allow a child to work through any moments where they may have a sensory moment due to overstimulation. That’s why the lights are dimmed, music is turned off, and Chuck E. Cheese himself only makes an appearance if requested.

“It gives families the opportunity to come here and experience Chuck E. Cheese whenever other times might be too much of a sensory overload for their children,” Duncan said.

David Lester's son Jacob's first experience at the family entertainment center was during a regular day.

“It was just the opposite of the Sensory Sunday,” Lester said. “There were kids everywhere…and Jacob loves to press buttons so he liked to run up and play games that other kids were playing. He was hard to keep up with.”

He and his wife now only bring their five-year-old, who is on the spectrum for autism, to Sensitive Sensory Sundays. He explained that the difference is night and day.

“We can sit down and be confident that he’s moving around, staying out of trouble. We keep an eye on him, but we don’t have to keep a hand on him,” Lester told Spectrum News 1.

Nacions appreciates the environment, which allows her kid, Andrew, to be who he is. She said, “The kids and the parents accept him for the way that he is.”

It may only be once a month, but those two hours provide a safe place for every kid to be comfortable with who they are, and where they are.