April is Autism Awareness Month; Local families attend Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day

April is Autism Awareness Month and close to 70 people from four area counties recently attended the third annual Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day at Celebration Cinema in Mount Pleasant; organized by the early childhood partners of the Clare-Gladwin and Gratiot-Isabella Great Start Collaboratives.  

With the sound turned down and the lights turned up, Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day offered local families affected by autism and other sensory sensitivities the chance to spend a day at the theater while being free to walk around and talk as they wished. Everyone in attendance received free admission, free popcorn, and a free beverage as they watched the movie, “Big Hero 6.”

“The Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day was a big success,” said Julie White, Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant at Clare-Gladwin RESD. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to relax, be themselves, and just have fun together.”

Officers from the Michigan State Police, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department greeted families with a sticker and a smile as they arrived at the theater. Additionally, players on the Beaverton Rural Schools Varsity Football Team also volunteered to get refreshments ready for movie attendants and showed families to their seats. 

McGuire Chevrolet; a 'Family Friendly Business'

McGuire Chevrolet in Clare is the most recent recipient of the Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative’s (GSC) Family Friendly Five Star Award. The award is presented six times per year to local businesses that support and encourage children and families through their business practices.

McGuire Chevrolet has partnered with the Community Nutrition Network to host numerous free food distribution events during 2014 for local families. The business has also sponsored multiple food trucks. “I’ve known what it is like to be in need, so this partnership is important to me,” said Tom Kleinhardt, president of McGuire Chevrolet. “I also believe strongly in giving back and paying it forward.”

McGuire Chevrolet is located at 712 W. 5th Street in Clare.  

To nominate a local business for the Family Friendly Five Star Award, please contact Great Start Parent and Community Liaison Brandi Warner at 989-386-8644 or bwarner@cgresd.net.

The Clare-Gladwin Great Start Collaborative, operated by Clare-Gladwin RESD, works to build a coordinated system of community resources and supports to assist all families in Clare and Gladwin counties in providing a great start for their children, prenatal through age eight. To learn more, visit www.cgresd.net/cggreatstart. 

Local families invited to 2nd annual 'Day of Play'

Children and their families are encouraged to run, dance, skate, create, and explore at the second annual Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 26 from 4 - 7 p.m. on the shared campus of the Isabella Community Sportsplex and the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum.  

Organized by the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum with help from representatives from the Clare-Gladwin and Gratiot-Isabella Great Start Collaboratives, EightCap, the ICE Arena, Morey Courts, MidMichigan Health, My104.3 WCZY, Staples, and MSU Extension, the Worldwide Day of Play will feature free activities for parents and kids to enjoy together, including ice skating with free rentals, and hands-on fun at the museum. Morey Courts will use a portion of their facilities to host family recreation opportunities. A multitude of community partners and local public service agencies will also be in attendance to share in the night’s activities.

Emulating Nickelodeon’s annual Worldwide Day of Play which shuts down television programming for a day to encourage kids to get off the couch and get active, the September evening of action will emphasize the many benefits that play provides in the lives of children.

“Play changes kids’ lives,” said Jennifer Fields, co-founder of the Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum. “It inspires parents and educators and can transform communities. So come out and play!”