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One springtime event children with special needs often miss out on is visiting the Easter Bunny at the mall. For some kids and their parents, this fun photo opportunity is actually a scary and stressful time, so families skip it all together. For children with special needs in Northern California, however, this year will be different.
On Sunday, April 17, the Caring Easter Bunny will hop out early at Stanford Shopping Center to welcome children with special needs. Before the mall opens, these children are invited to a space set up to support sensory, physical and developmental needs.
“This is an amazing opportunity for families of children with special needs to come out and enjoy a day that has been specifically designed with their needs in mind,” said Sheryl Young, CEO of AbilityPath.org, a partner in the program. “Having the event during closed mall hours provides a calmer sensory friendly environment, a number system allows for children with special needs the opportunity to explore other things while they wait for their photo to be taken and simple tweaks to the photo set allow for children who might be sensitive to a camera’s flash, to still enjoy that special age-old tradition of having their photo with the Easter Bunny displayed on the mantle!”
There will be coffee and treats provided by La Baguette and Starbucks to give families the opportunity to socialize and connect. Additional coloring activities will be available for children as well.
If you are unable to attend on the 17th, the Easter Bunny will be available for private photo sessions with children with special needs on April 18 from 9am to 10am. If you visit between April 12 and April 23, and mention AbilityPath.org, you can receive the exclusive Caring Package.
The Caring Easter Bunny event runs from 9am until 11am (PST) at the Center Pavilion in Stanford Shopping Center at 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palto Alto. Families are encouraged to RSVP at www.facebook.com/abilitypath. A percentage of the photo package sales will be donated to AbilityPath.org to help them continue their work in supporting families of children with special needs.
The Caring Easter Bunny is collaboration between Stanford Shopping Center, The Noerr Programs, and AbilityPath.org, a national online resource for the special needs community. For more information check out the Caring Easter Bunny Flyer.