Sky High Sports Center holding sensory-friendly hours for kids with autism

NILES, Ill. (WLS) -- Kids and families are getting the chance to jump around for a good cause. Sky High Sports and Autism Speaks are teaming to raise awareness.

The founder of the Sky High Sports Centers has a son with Asperger's and saw a need for a place for families like his to enjoy active fun in an accepting environment.

This month kids and families are jumping Sky High for Autism Speaks. The sports facility will hold sensory-friendly hours every Tuesday and Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. in Niles and Naperville.

"What we're trying to do is build environments for families that are welcoming and excepting of neurodiversity," said Keith McCormick, Executive Director of Autism speaks in Chicago..

McCormick says families will get the chance to enjoy the trampoline park with a few modifications like softer music and lights dimmed for the comfort of the guests.

"We're really trying to encourage some physical activity and a lot of them really thrive in an environment like this because they really enjoy burning off some of that extra energy," McCormick said.

For many parents it's more than just play it's getting to be a part of an understanding community.

"This is great because it makes you feel like you're not alone. Usually when your kids are diagnosed with autism it could be pretty heartbreaking and you feel alone and you feel left out but just being here and seeing other parents, seeing other kids with special needs it makes you feel like you're part of something," said parent Raquel Torres.

"Parents here basically have mutual things in common because we have children with autism. So we just sit here and talk and let the kids enjoy themselves," said parent Juan Medina.

For the month of October when jumpers head to Sky High they can purchase a pair 2-dollar autism awareness socks with 100-percent of the proceeds going back to the local chapter of Autism Speaks.

For more information, visit skyhighsports.com/autism-speaks/.