BHS opened its doors to something it has never hosted before on Sunday, April 27.
Students, families and community organizations gathered for the school’s first Neurodiversity Festival.
The event, organized by a planning committee of school staff and parent volunteers, was formed around a powerful idea: to celebrate minds of all kinds.
Jenny Hancher, a member of the Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network, described her goal for the event.
“It’s for everybody to [come together and] get the chance to see each other, with all the inclusive family, where kids with sensitivities can feel at home,” she said. “My daughter has sensory issues and something like this is good for her.”
Fellow parent volunteer Grace Lin agreed with Hancher’s description of the event.
Sarah Beringer, parent of second-grader Ari Clark, moved to Beachwood this past summer and learned about the event through the Beachwood Buzz.
“I didn’t know there was this neurodiversity community and I am so interested,” Beringer said.
She said the event gave her family something she had not expected to find so quickly in a new community.
“It makes us feel a sense of belonging that the Beachwood schools and community recognizes that there are students with differences, and that is celebrated,” Beringer said.
In the cafeteria, a gallery-style talent showcase replaced the traditional standing display table. Instead, attendees could scan QR codes at each student’s poster to view their artwork and an array of other talents.
Junior Joseph Coffey’s station featured a gold-lettered poster with photos of him playing the trombone. A QR code pulled up a video of him performing the Avengers theme song.
A third-grader who identified himself as Gal performed live magic tricks for anyone who stopped to watch, showcasing another way students put their passions and talents on display at the event.
Scientific passions also had their place at the gallery.
Second-grader Ari Clark, whose passion is chemistry, was among the students displaying their extensive knowledge of the subjects they know and love best. Clark was able to provide facts on every element on the periodic table, impressing attendees with a remarkable depth of knowledge.
Beringer described the energy of the event with enthusiasm.
“It’s fun to see all of the kids in their element, displaying their knowledge of the subjects they are really passionate about,” she said.
Beyond the talent showcase, the festival offered a range of activities designed with sensory needs in mind.
Attendees could contribute to a collaborative art piece featuring the neurodivergent infinity symbol.
Jenny Julka, co-chair of the Beachwood Neurodiversity Family Network, described the meaning behind the symbol in an e-mail.
“The neurodiversity infinity symbol represents the infinite range of brain variations, the spectrum of possibilities for neurodivergent people, as well as acceptance, inclusivity, and pride,” she wrote.
She also explained how the art piece was finalized and framed after the event.
“The collaborative art piece is currently stored at my house. We plan to fill in the few missing areas within the mosaic, add the words ‘Celebrating Minds of All Kinds.’” she added. “Then we will be in touch with Kevin Houchins [Director of Equity & Community Engagement] about whether the school district would like to display it at the Board of Education, or in any of the school buildings.”
Face painting, therapy dogs and sessions in music and art therapy were also held throughout the afternoon.
For students who needed a quieter space, a cozy tent was set up inside the school library to offer a low-stimulation environment.
Outside, the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities parked their sensory van in front of the school, and both the fire department and police department came out in support.
Snacks in the cafeteria included kosher popcorn, cotton candy, nachos and pretzels.
Beringer spoke to what she hopes the festival means for others moving forward.
“I hope that neurodivergent students and their families feel like they belong,” she said. “It’s also a good opportunity to meet other people in the community and get to know them.”
She shared what she has observed about Beachwood since arriving.
“In Beachwood as a community I’ve noticed that there is a greater recognition of neurodiversity, which you don’t see in every community,” she said
According to event organizers, approximately 232 people attended the event.
Julka explained how they felt after seeing how successful the event went.
“We [the planning team] were really pleased with the turnout, as this was our first attempt at an event of this kind,” she said.
She reflected on the importance of the festival as a transition from the network’s previously hosted events in an e-mail.
“Most of our group’s previous events have been educational speakers focused on specific topics, such as executive functioning, trauma-informed parenting practices, and the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions model, as well as social events,” she wrote.
“This was our first time hosting a large celebration aimed at bringing people together to embrace and celebrate the differences in how we think, learn and experience the world,” she added.
Whether attendees came to watch, participate, or simply feel seen, the message of the event was clear: in Beachwood, all kinds of minds are worth celebrating.
