A sensory-safe Valentine’s Day celebration centered on inclusion and emotional well-being was held Feb. 13 at the Middletown Recreation & Parks Department, as the Infinite Heart Initiative hosted its Love Without Labels Valentine’s Community Party.
The event welcomed children, adults, and families into a calm, supportive environment designed to honor love in all its forms—self-love, friendship, family, and connection—without pressure, expectations, or labels.
Creating a space without labels
“This is love without labels, so that everybody feels inclusive, feels seen, and knows that we are here for them,” said Wendy Javier, president of Infinite Heart Initiative. “Some of our children can’t tolerate loud music or large crowds, so this party is more sensory-oriented and emotionally inclusive.”
Activities included cookie decorating, coloring, painting, face painting, calming music, raffles, and open play. About 15 participants, including adults, registered for the event.
“Sometimes we don’t have things to do with our kids on a Friday afternoon,” Javier said. “This gives families a place to come, have fun, and feel safe.”
A growing partnership at Middletown Recreation
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The Valentine’s celebration highlighted an expanding partnership between Infinite Heart Initiative and Middletown Recreation, where future inclusive programs will be hosted regularly.
Javier announced several upcoming initiatives, including “True Colors,” a large autism awareness event scheduled for April 3 in the recreation center’s gymnasium.
“We’re planning parties every other month,” she said. “We’re also starting community classes here—resin art, no-bake cooking, cookie decorating—and we’re working toward opening a sensory gym. We’ll also have speech pathologists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists involved.”
She credited Middletown Recreation for opening its doors to support sensory-oriented and neurodiverse programming.
Community voices on inclusion
Jessica Rodriguez, a Student Support Facilitator with the Middletown School District and a youth program leader at Middletown Recreation, attended the event both professionally and personally.
“I have a 16-year-old with autism, and I work with students with autism,” Rodriguez said. “These kinds of events are so important. Kids need places to go and things to do outside of school so they feel included like everyone else.”
Rodriguez said parent education and access to resources remain major challenges for families. “A lot of parents don’t know how to advocate for their kids,” she said. “Events like this help connect families with resources and with each other.”
Bilingual speech pathologist Erika Abdelaziz-Oum, who also attended, emphasized the importance of community-based connections.
“These events allow families to practice social skills in a natural environment and build real connections without academic pressure,” she said.
As the Love Without Labels celebration concluded, the message was clear: inclusive, sensory-safe community spaces play a vital role in strengthening families and ensuring that everyone feels they belong.
