In an effort to help kids with sensory issues enjoy dining out more, Mary’s Pizza Shack has teamed up with an autism nonprofit to offer diners so-called sensory-friendly kits free of charge, the Sonoma Index-Tribune reports.
Sonoma Valley outposts of the California casual-dining chain provide use of the kits—plastic cases filled with items aimed at keeping diners from feeling overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of the restaurant, including noise-reducing earmuffs, a blanket and stress-reducing activities such as puzzles.
Any family who asks for a kit is provided with one, and each of the items inside are thoroughly cleaned between uses, the Index-Tribune says.
The kits are promoted via a decal on restaurant storefronts as well as through table tents. Restaurant staff are also trained on sensory issues by the nonprofit, Anova.
“We’re doing this just because we can and we should,” Mike Clark, manager of a Mary’s location, told the Index-Tribune. “We’re very family-oriented. We want all of our customers to enjoy our restaurants and are eager to take whatever steps to make that possible.”
Read the full story via the Index-Tribune.
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