• Editor’s Note: This is one of those really cool stories about the good things that are happening in Kane County schools. The Thursday, Nov. 7, concert is open to the public. Photos are courtesy of Elgin High School Band Director Robert Sanchez.
  

The Elgin High School concert and varsity bands will be performing “A Sensory Friendly Concert” on Thursday, Nov. 7, featuring soft music and dim lights, designed to raise awareness for autism spectrum disorder.

The one-hour concert will begin at 7 p.m. in the EHS auditorium, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin. It is free to attend, but donations will be accepted to support autism awareness and research.

Robert Sanchez, Elgin High School’s band director, said the environment will be accommodating to those with ASD.

“It is extremely important to us to create an inviting and safe environment for those who fall on the spectrum, ” Sanchez said. “Nobody will be judged or looked down on here.”

During the concert, guests will be free to get up and walk around as needed. There will be fidget objects available for those who need them, as well as headphones for individuals with auditory processing issues.

Concertgoers will be welcome to step outside into one of the “quiet rooms” outside the auditorium.

Sanchez asks that guests read the childhood classic “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown before arriving to the concert. There will be images from the story playing overhead during the performance.

“The goal is to engage those who fall on the spectrum with visual aspects. We want everyone to feel included,” Sanchez said. “This is about individuals who fall on the autism spectrum getting to enjoy something they typically wouldn’t. They deserve to have the same experiences as everyone else.”

About School District U-46

School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago.

In total, the district encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. More than 38,000 pre-K through 12th graders attend the 57 district schools and programs. To learn more, visit the U-46 website, Facebook page or follow on Twitter.