{"id":110477,"date":"2024-04-19T09:38:56","date_gmt":"2024-04-19T14:38:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=110477"},"modified":"2024-07-09T11:36:49","modified_gmt":"2024-07-09T16:36:49","slug":"mmi-partnership-offers-families-a-judgment-free-dining-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/04\/19\/mmi-partnership-offers-families-a-judgment-free-dining-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"MMI partnership offers families a judgment-free dining experience"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Georgia Ryba still remembers the days when dining out was tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the time she broke a dumpling in half to serve to her daughter, who is on the autism spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe had a meltdown. I didn\u2019t realize breaking the dumpling was a trigger,\u201d Ryba said. \u201cI left a really big tip and never went back. A lot of families struggle with that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryba, a respite care associate at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, said dining out has gotten easier as her daughter has gotten older. Now Ryba has teamed up with Autism Eats, a national organization that helps families experience judgment-free dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first sensory friendly dining experience in Nebraska is set for May 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pizza West, 12040 McDermott Plaza in La Vista.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Families will pre-register and pre-pay at autismeats.org<\/a>. Cost is $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Financial assistance may be available. There is no registration deadline, but reservations are capped at 45 diners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Food will be served buffet-style, with a menu including pizza, chicken tenders, salad, fries, pitchers of soda and dessert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne of the things that can be a real hindrance for families when they go out is waiting for everything,\u201d Ryba said. At the May event, \u201cthere\u2019s no waiting for a waiter. No waiting for a bill. We\u2019re eliminating all of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restaurants bring other challenges, like the noise level, new smells and bright lights that can be triggers for some children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSometimes people don\u2019t understand what\u2019s going on,\u201d Ryba said. \u201cThere\u2019s a feeling of judgment, of being seen as not parenting right. They don\u2019t understand that your child is just overwhelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Autism Eats, which is based in Boston, helps to organize the events and handle finances.\u00a0The group also provides guidance to restaurants on how to prepare a welcoming space for families. The organization recently was named a Rising Star by the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryba hopes the event provides a break for parents from having to cook and clean up the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not going to be judged in any way. Ten forks might end up on the floor, or your kid might want to twirl around while they eat pizza,\u201d Ryba said. \u201cFolks also get a chance to connect with other families, and other diners can see us having a good time and celebrating who we are.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Munroe-Meyer Institute partnered with Autism Eats to offer families with children on the autism spectrum a judgment-free dining 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