Over the weekend, we celebrated the launch of Little Fox’s Hidden Disability with a sensory-friendly community event designed especially for families who often find traditional events overwhelming or difficult to attend.
With more than 100 attendees across the day, the event was filled with laughter, connection, understanding, and so many beautiful moments that reminded us exactly why inclusive events matter so much.
Because noisy and crowded environments can be challenging for many children with sensory needs or hidden disabilities, we intentionally split the event into two separate sessions to help reduce crowd sizes and create a calmer, more comfortable environment for families.
Children enjoyed exploring the soft play area, sensory tables, face painting and craft activities, while families had access to communication boards placed throughout the venue to support different communication needs.
One of the most special parts of the day was having the Sensory Bus from Autism SA attend the event. Families could visit the bus whenever children needed a quiet and calming space away from the excitement. Watching children explore the bus and regulate in a safe environment was such a highlight of the day.
We also created a quiet space nearby for children who simply needed a break, because inclusion means understanding that every child experiences events differently.
And of course, making sure there was plenty of yummy food available for everyone was important too! Families enjoyed everything from potatoes on a stick, nuggets and chips to coffee to keep the parents fuelled throughout the day.
During the event, families gathered together for a reading of Little Fox’s Hidden Disability, a story created to help children better understand hidden disabilities and the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.
Our pop-up shop from Little Paws Plushies was also set up on the day, filled with emotional support plushies, fidgets and copies of the new book.
Most importantly, the event helped raise both awareness and funds for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative.
Some of the most meaningful moments came from conversations with families throughout the day.
Many parents shared how rare it is for their family to attend public events without feeling stressed, judged or worried about how others might react to their child’s needs. Hearing families say they felt seen, understood and welcomed was incredibly emotional.
Another family shared how much they loved seeing the sunflower lanyard and hidden disability representation included in the book, and their child was already asking if there would be more Little Fox stories in the future.
As an autistic author and mum to two autistic children, this event was deeply personal to me. Our family regularly uses the sunflower lanyard, and after speaking with younger children who didn’t understand what the sunflower represented, I knew I wanted to create a story that could help start those conversations in a gentle and engaging way.
Books are such a powerful tool for helping children learn empathy and understanding — and using cute characters to do that makes it even more meaningful.
Thank you to every family who attended, to everyone who supported the event, and to those helping spread awareness for hidden disabilities and sensory inclusion in our communities.
For more information about Little Fox’s Hidden Disability, visit:
Lisa McArthur-Collins Author Website
To purchase a copy of the book, visit:
Little Paws Plushies
