Our mission has always been to educate and make others aware of the behaviors that may be seen by a child on the spectrum or special needs community and how to not be quick to judge the parents or child. Now with Kulture City we can educate employees of our local establishments on the correct way to help someone with sensory sensitivities all while putting their business on the map of areas who support inclusion.
Brent and Cristal’s goddaughter, Shaylee, was diagnosed with autism. For days Cristal and Shaylee’s mom, Michelle, stayed awake searching for the best resources. When they came across Generation Rescue, they knew this was the best possible start and was in California the next week talking with the director, Candace McDonald. Falling in love with all the resources they had for Shay, there was no doubt that there needed to be something like this in Branson, Missouri and surrounding areas.
The first event “Day for Shay” was born. Held at the old Area 57 in Branson, Missouri. All proceeds going to Generation Rescue for Bio-Medical Grants.
The annual event, “Day for Shay”, continued for two years. All proceeds still going to Generation Rescue for Bio-Medical Grants and allowing families the help they needed for their child/children. Getting all the resources they needed for their child to live a full and meaningful life.
The annual event turned into something bigger. More than anyone expected. A “Day for Shay” evolved into ROCK THE SPECTRUM. An event that has activities for kids during the day and then an array of Performers into the night.
Rock the Spectrum continues as an annual event providing resources to parents in the community while raising awareness for Autism. Still providing the money raised to Generation Rescue for Bio-Medical grants and into the community.
Rock the Spectrum is growing incredibly fast by this year. For the first year ever we moved to the Branson Landing.
Rock the Spectrum exceeds all expectations and grows each year with incredible performers, more activities for children, and spreading awareness through each person that attends. All proceeds going to Generation Rescue who then helped Branson get its first and only Sensory friendly, all inclusive, handicap accessible PLAYGROUND!
Covid-19 pandemic hit causing our precious annual event to be canceled 2 years in a row. Not only that but our partnership with Generation Rescue dissolved as well as their foundation because of the pandemic. But that didn’t stop us from searching and attending virtual conferences about Autism, inclusion, and resources our community needed. Not all of these two years were all bad though… “Shay and Pals” was created and officially became a nonprofit organization. We met incredible people on our journey such as Jenny McCarthy. In fact some of the relationships we formed led us to our incredible partnership with Kulture city founders Julian and Michelle Maha.
With a newfound appreciation and respect for Kulture City, a partnership formed. A special one of a kind partnership at that. Specifically structured for our community. We then decided we wanted to help everyone with sensory sensitivities. Ever since we have been getting together with local businesses giving them an option to make their business inclusive. Some businesses even have a unique area suited to helping children with sensory sensitivities as well as bags that have items to desensitize. Not only that but their business is put on the Kulture City app map for being an inclusive area which will help families in choosing where they can and cannot go due to their child’s sensory sensitivities.
Our goal this year is to keep this going strong. Make this year our biggest year yet so we can continue to give these businesses the tools to help those families that visit or live in our area. All while continuing our original mission of educating others on these behaviors and how instead of being judgmental, be kind.
President and Co-Founder
Cristal is the President and co-founder of Shay & Pals along with her husband Brent. They started this foundation in honor of their god daughter Shaylee O’Day. The most important thing for the Hedrick’s is that they wanted to bring awareness to autism. It’s so important to us to make anyone with sensory issues feel welcome and safe in any area they go.
Why I Volunteer
I love advocating for all children with sensory needs. I enjoy bringing awareness and living in a world where everyone feels included. I enjoy raising money through special events and working with organizations directly in our community to make each place sensory-inclusive. It is exciting to see how much we achieve when we all come together to make a difference.
Why I Volunteer
At the age of 18 months, when Shaylee was diagnosed with autism, I did what most parents do, and that was dive right in to see what it was I could do as a mom to help my child. With autism, there are many different social, communication, and behavioral challenges that come with it. I realized very quickly, as we were eating dinner in a local restaurant, Shay was having a meltdown. A man looked over at us and told us to “put some duck tape over that child’s mouth”, this was something we needed to create awareness. Instead of getting embarrassed about the many different meltdowns that were to come and run out of a store or restaurant, I took pride in being able to walk up to the onlookers, introduce them to Shaylee and let them know precisely what they had just witnessed and often hand them a business card with websites they could look at to get even more informed.
Why I Volunteer
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve been that parent holding their child in the middle of a store crying because someone called him a “weirdo”. This type of behavior is not okay. I will forever educate others on how not to judge others so quickly all while helping other parents know there are places that will include their children happily in a judgment-free zone and have tools equipped to help their sensory sensitivities.
Why I Volunteer
At the age of 18 months, when Shaylee was diagnosed with autism, I did what most parents do, and that was dive right in to see what it was I could do as a mom to help my child. With autism, there are many different social, communication, and behavioral challenges that come with it. I realized very quickly, as we were eating dinner in a local restaurant, Shay was having a meltdown. A man looked over at us and told us to “put some duck tape over that child’s mouth”, this was something we needed to create awareness. Instead of getting embarrassed about the many different meltdowns that were to come and run out of a store or restaurant, I took pride in being able to walk up to the onlookers, introduce them to Shaylee and let them know precisely what they had just witnessed and often hand them a business card with websites they could look at to get even more informed.
Why I Volunteer
I love advocating for all children with sensory needs. I enjoy bringing awareness and living in a world where everyone feels included. I enjoy raising money through special events and working with organizations directly in our community to make each place sensory-inclusive. It is exciting to see how much we achieve when we all come together to make a difference.
Why I Volunteer
As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I’ve been that parent holding their child in the middle of a store crying because someone called him a “weirdo”. This type of behavior is not okay. I will forever educate others on how not to judge others so quickly all while helping other parents know there are places that will include their children happily in a judgment-free zone and have tools equipped to help their sensory sensitivities.
