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Sensory Bounce Suits Kids of All Needs

Dylan and Reilly Mead are like any other 9-year-olds growing up in Fairfield — with two exceptions. First and foremost, they are twins. Secondly, one of them is on the autism spectrum.

"It's definitely a baffling situation," said Jim Mead, the boys' father. "You just kind of wonder, hmmm, what happened?"

Dylan beat Reilly to walking by three months. He was also the first to start stringing sounds together into those prelanguage baby words like Dada. But after the boys' first birthday, something changed. Reilly kept progressing, while Dylan seemed to regress.

Raising twins can be a challenge enough. Raising an autistic child presents its own complications. When Jim and Kelly Mead search for activities for their sons, they have to work extra hard to find something appropriate for both boys. "There's not a ton out there where his typical peer, his brother, can join in and they can enjoy it and have a fun time."

That's where BounceU in Stratford comes in. The business takes the concept of the carnival Moon bounce and kicks it up a notch, filling a building with huge inflatable slides and obstacle courses. The BounceU locations specialize in birthday parties and group events. Three times a week, though, the one in Stratford hosts a special "sensory bounce" for kids with special needs.

The idea comes from owners Wendy and John Van Kirk, who raised an autistic daughter of her own. Although the staff members aren't licensed special needs counselors, they are all trained by Wendy on what to expect and how to work with the children. Van Kirk also works as an educational consultant focusing on autistic children, and those with other disabilities. According to both Wendy and Jim, Dylan has benefited from the sensory input, calming and regulating him, so he is better able to concentrate.

The Meads and their sons have attended the sensory bounce programs for two years. While Dylan and Reilly spend hours wearing themselves out, the Meads gets to relax. They feel comfortable enough letting his boys play there that Jim will even answer the phone if the staff members have their hands full. "It's an activity that they both really enjoy, and they get to do it together," said Mead.

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