My wife and I realized at an early age that something was different about Annabelle.  At first, we recognized severe sensory issues – bath time, brushing hair, a fear of being touched, especially by medical professionals - and growth issues.  As time went on we noticed an extreme ability to read even well beyond her years and some difficulty with socialization.  Eventually, she was diagnosed on the autism spectrum with what used to be called Asperger’s Syndrome (and hyperlexia).  As she has gotten older she has grown into these traits and learned to utilize them to her advantage, including a love for singing, dancing, music, and theater.  

As anyone with a child with disabilities can attest there are challenges to face sometimes on a daily basis.  For many kids with autism, for example, these may be difficulty, or awkwardness, in social settings, inability to recognize social cues, unknowingly being blunt, inability to (or not caring to) engage peers, impulsive behavior, moodiness, excessive worry/stress/anxiety… the list goes on.  These characteristics may be accompanied by delays in language/learnings / physical movement skills and/or obsessive needs for routine/structure, or other medical issues like seizures.

There are, of course, very positive traits as well.  Many children with autism possess a musical gift such as being able to pick up an instrument and play it or recognize pitch, etc.  Their desire for structure and routine make them extremely reliable and they tend to be exceptionally honest.  They are precise, punctual, follow the rules, and have a strong desire to finish many tasks once they begin.

There are different challenges for different disabilities.  You can imagine the difficulties a blind or deaf child might face – even many things we take for granted.  Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy are a couple of other disabilities that can cause many challenges for these children.

Then there are some challenges that just about every child with a disability faces.  Their peers (other children) may not recognize anything else other than they are different.  They may not be talked to due to their social struggles or simply because of this view that they are different.  It can be difficult to make, and/or keep, friends even if they desperately want to.  

Belle wanted a karaoke party for her 10th birthday.  She wanted to invite many of the kids she has met and gotten to know through her various theater endeavors, especially the ones from the Penguin Project.  You can read more about this on our Resources Page, but this is an organization that gives the special needs community a chance to be in a real theater production.  Belle met many new friends through this event, which was the first time the Flagler Playhouse hosted it – February through May 2023.  As she spoke to them many shared that they had never been invited to a Birthday Party before.  We discovered that this also applied to other events such as Christmas / Holiday parties.

Yes! You’re Invited! was born primarily as a way to include especially children in the special needs community who may not normally get invited, or to go, to these kinds of events.  

Kids, all kids, should get to experience the joys of childhood with their peers.