COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The lights and sounds at the SC State Fair are exciting to many of the guests that visit — but for others the attractions can feel overwhelming. That’s why on Thursday, folks were able to attend “Sensory-Friendly Morning” at the fair — allowing everyone to join in on the fun. For two special hours, all of the lights and sounds that normally bombard guests at the State Fair are kept off, or to a bare minimum. The more quiet environment allows participants with autism and other sensory processing disorders the ability to enjoy the fair like everybody else, without feeling sensory overload. General Manager Nancy Smith says the fair can be a tradition for everyone — including those with disabilities. “So when you come out and see them laughing and smiling and enjoying the fair, it’s a real sense of knowing that we’re making a positive difference in all of our areas,” Smith says. ABC Columbia’s Lee Williams spoke with several guests that are apart of the Brookland Cayce Bearcat Buddies, as well as with mom Deshombre Samuels who says “Sensory Day” made all the difference for her son Shokhi, who has autism. “So I brought Shokhi to Sensory Day because he has autism, and last year, we actually discovered Sensory Day, and the years before we’ve tried to bring him and it hasn’t been a good experience. But I encourage any parent who has a child with any disability to try Sensory Day because now he actually likes the fair,” Samuels says. The SC State Fair remains open through Sunday, October 20th. Categories: Local News, News Tags: Deshombre Samuels, Nancy Smith, sensory processing disorders, Sensory-Friendly Morning