BAINBRIDGE, Ga. (WALB) — Decatur County families experienced a more inclusive Halloween celebration with the debut of the community’s first-ever Pop-Up Sensory Zone.

Held Saturday, Oct. 31, during a local Trunk-or-Treat, the initiative was organized by The Village Perinatal Services, Inc., and co-sponsored by the Families First Foundation alongside local leaders and business partners. The sensory area provided a calm, supportive environment for neurodivergent children, youth with autism, and families navigating sensory overload.

Raven Parris, founder of The Village Perinatal Services, said offering accessible spaces is essential for Southwest Georgia families.

“This sensory zone is important to me because I believe all children and families deserve to feel included in our community and have a space to simply be,” Parris said.

The sensory zone featured accommodations such as noise-reducing headphones, shades, fidget tools, a dedicated calming and play area, and a festive picture communication board to assist non-speaking participants.

Ambrica, founder of Families First Foundation and an autism mother, said the initiative received an enthusiastic reception.

“As an autism mom and founder of a community outreach foundation, I know the importance of inclusive spaces,” Ambrica said. “We got a lot of positive feedback from parents and caregivers, and hope to do this again.”

Parris credited broad community support for making the sensory space a reality, thanking co-sponsors including Bainbridge City Councilwoman Marquita Harris, The Old Post Office, Bank OZK, Rural King, Chick-fil-A Bainbridge, LongHorn Steakhouse, JBCF Business Solutions, The Anderson Family, and board members and supporters of The Village Perinatal Services.

Organizers said they hope to continue partnering with local entities to provide sensory-friendly spaces at future public events throughout Decatur County.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.