Thursday, October 1, 2026
An inclusive Easter egg hunt at Uniondale’s John J. Byrne Community Center brought dozens of families together on Sunday for a sensory-friendly celebration designed for children of all abilities.
The event, organized by Siblings Helping Siblings, drew about 60 attendees, and was intended to create a welcoming space where children could participate without the pressures of a larger gathering.
Siblings Helping Siblings Founder Maria Tejada, of Roosevelt, launched the initiative three years ago. The idea, she said, grew out of her experience with a daughter with special needs and a lack of inclusive spaces for her family. She has also organized events at the Roosevelt Public Library.
“It started because of my daughter,” Tejada said. “In our experience at that time, we didn’t see many spaces that welcome the whole family, especially those with disabilities.”
Many siblings, who are often young themselves, do not fully understand conditions like autism. As a result, activities they want to take part in may not be accessible to a brother or sister with a disability, which can lead to frustration and arguments.
Siblings Helping Siblings isn’t a nonprofit, Tejada explained, and relies on support from family and friends to fund its activities. Despite limited resources, the organization has expanded to in-clude sensory-friendly movie screenings and seasonal events.
There aren’t many local sensory-friendly environments for holiday events, and finding a location for an egg hunt, Tejada said, wasn’t easy. “We’re going to think about it,” organizations told her — reluctant, she said, because of a lack of awareness of autism. “We believe in inclusion,” she said.
But the community center didn’t hesitate to work with her. It is known for hosting events and inviting families from across Long Island, to give them a glimpse of Uniondale.
Sensory-friendly environments are designed to reduce overstimulation from noise, lights and crowds, which can be overwhelming for those with autism and other developmental disabilities.
“I’m trying to create more memories with all of them,” Tejada said. “I’m also giving my oldest daughter the opportunity to create memories with my middle one — that’s what I’m really proud of.
I want her to have the same childhood I had.”
At Sunday’s event, children took part not only in the egg hunt, but in photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny, arts and crafts and face painting, and a “sensory table” offered materials like sand, rocks and other textured objects to help keep children engaged.
Tejada created a calm and flexible environment to accommodate a range of needs. The music was kept low, and activities were spaced out to prevent overcrowding. Children were free to move around, make noise or take breaks without judgment — something Tejada said is often not possible at traditional events.
“If your kids want to jump, your kids want to scream, we understand that everybody goes through this,” Tejada said.
For parents like Michael Silva, who traveled from Huntington with his two children, Aidan, 13, and Kaileen, 11, both of whom are on the autism spectrum, the event offered something special.
“We’re always looking for things to do with the kids,” Silva said. “It’s not easy — we’ve got to be with them at all times, in controlled spaces.”
He explained that he avoids large events because some people might not understand autism.
“I feel safe in these kinds of spaces,” Silva said. “I know someone is going to understand if my son blocks a door or looks at them and doesn’t say anything.”
Aidan, he said, “looks like an adult, but he’s still a kid — his body grew up first.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 36 children in the United States is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, highlighting the growing need for inclusive and sensory-friendly spaces.
Kaileen especially enjoyed the activities, including the face painting and the egg hunt, while Aidan was able to participate at his own pace.
Of the candy Kaileen collected, her father said, “She wasn’t going to eat it all, but it felt like an accomplishment for her, like, oh my God, I got all this.”
The face painter, Kristen Silveira who specializes in working with children with disabilities, adjusted her approach to each child’s comfort level. While some children opted for full-face designs, Kaileen chose a smaller one — stars on her cheeks — so she could comfortably take part in other activities.
Tejada said she hoped to expand Siblings Helping Siblings in the future, with plans to host more events throughout the year, depending on available support and funding.
“Our goal is to build a support program,” she said, adding that she also wants to create resources specifically for siblings of children with disabilities, who she said are often overlooked.
