2025 Illinois State Fair

After receiving a letter from the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) inviting them to the Sensory Station, Ashley Partridge and her son Wyatt (12) made their very first trip to the Illinois State Fair.

The Sensory Station is an air-conditioned, dedicated quiet zone with activities and resources to help visitors regroup and refocus at the fair.

They stopped by on Aug. 9 during Sunflower Hours, a time when the fair lowers the noise so families can enjoy a calmer, more sensory-friendly experience.

“We try to go to a lot of places that have sensory hours just so it's a little calmer for him, a little quieter, less crowded,” Ashley said. “I feel more accepted with his needs during the sensory hours.”

Wyatt has Phelan-McDermid syndrome, a rare genetic condition. For Ashley, seeing other families at the fair with children who have disabilities felt like finding community.

“They feel like a family to us. And other people understand our difficulties in life.”

Inside one of the Sensory Station’s Calming Pods, complete with sensory swings, foam block puzzles, and sound machines, Ashley reflected on the ways DSCC has supported her family. She spoke warmly about their connection with their DSCC Care Coordinator, who checks in regularly to make sure their needs are met.

“They’re going to be your lifeline for life,” Ashley said about DSCC. “You’re going to rely on them more than you would think. We like that they check in all the time to make sure we're okay, we have everything that we need. We always advocate for parents to get connected with DSCC.”

Thank you, Ashley and Wyatt, for sharing your DSCC story. We’re so happy the Sensory Station and Sunflower Hours made the fair an accessible and memorable experience for your family.

We are proud of our DSCC team members who helped staff the Sensory Station from Aug 7-10 and grateful to all the families who made it such a special four days.

Check out this recap video to learn more about the Sensory Station, meet Ashley, Wyatt, and some of the amazing DSCC team members who made this outreach possible.