This past Sunday, my family and I went to Sesame Place. The park has not officially opened for the season; it will open April 27. We were allowed in, along with many others, because the park celebrated children with special needs in honor of Autism Awareness Month. My five-year-old brother is autistic and was given vouchers by his therapist. It was nice to enjoy the park without the normal volume of people, and it helped children like my brother have a chance to try some rides and explore the area.

We started out the day trying to get pictures with the characters. We were in line for a picture with Cookie Monster but, unfortunately, he was taken away for a break before we could reach him. We eventually got to take a picture with Bert and Ernie, my favorite Sesame Street characters.

We enjoyed a few rides with my brother, but after each ride, it was difficult to get him to understand he could not immediately get right back on. He disliked waiting in line, and later in the day as more people arrived, the lines got longer. It became too much for him, so we bought some funnel cake and left. It was a beautiful day to visit, and I am glad my brother was able to see his favorite characters.

— Nia Scott, intern