By Marion Filler
A newcomer will be joining vendors and nonprofits with tents at Sunday’s Morristown Festival on the Green.
Look for the CoHome banner.
“We are creating a disability-safe space,” said Nate Diskint, director of CoHome, a Morristown residence for developmentally disabled adults.
“For the 60,000 people who come to the event, a number of them will have disabilities,” Diskint explained on Friday. That could include visitors with autism, Downs syndrome, and developmental issues.
“It might be overwhelming for them,” Diskint said.
Anyone who needs is a break is welcome to relax in the tent, enjoy a cold drink from the water station, and escape the noisy crowd. Volunteers in green T-shirts will be ready to lend a hand. CoHome residents will be there, too, along with residents from other group homes.
A sensory bin filled with fun things will be available, to calm anxiety for those who need it. Water beads are a proven favorite, Diskint said.
“We’ll have a whole planter filled with them. They look like marbles but feel like Jell-O,” he said.
CoHome’s idea was embraced by festival organizers at the Morristown Partnership, which is providing the tent, Diskint said. Atlantic Health and Furniture Consultants Inc. (FCI) are supplying sofas and chairs. J. Esposito Builders will set it all up on Sunday morning.
“It’s really cool that the Morristown Partnership wants the fair to be disability friendly, and Atlantic Health really wanted to push on this, too,” said Diskint.
He thanked FCI for the seating, and had special praise for Joe Esposito.
“Frankly, he’s just a mensch,” Diskint said. “He’s been there swinging a hammer for us. Not only does he send his guys who do the work, but he’s there on the job as well.”
More information about CoHome, see its Instagram page, @cohome_morristown.
CoHome to offer stress-free area for the disabled at Morristown fall fest, Oct. 3 - Morristown Green
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