Note: There's a fine line between being grateful for programs that allow our children to participate in every day events in a way they can handle, and sheer outrage these cheery articles never ask, "WHY?" While this is a gorgeous event run by the Railroad Museum of New England, and it’s sure to dazzle individuals of all ages, we can’t help but wonder…  Imagine train cars full of visually impaired tots to teens tap, tapping white canes as they board. Would anyone speak up? 

In the seven years it’s been running, the special outing has grown in leaps and bounds. This year, they’re adding even more space.

“It was amazing because it started as 1 car then 2 cars then 3 cars – how about we do the whole train? And now we’re at 2 full trains, 310 people a train,” said Newall.
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Connecticut Families

WTNH Connecticut: Autism-friendly holiday train adds more cars to meet growing demand

THOMASTON, Conn. (WTNH) – “When we first started Sun, Moon and Stars, we started it as supper club so families could be together in a judgement free way,” says Christine Faressa who realized the group for families affected by autism could do more, helping participants enjoy activities that neurotypical families take for granted.

So, the mom of 12-year-old Domenick partnered with the Naugatuck Railroad and the Railroad Museum of New England to create a festive, sensory-friendly excursion.

“That’s really what we’ve tried to do with Sun, Moon and Stars is build a community around these kids and my son where every event and every activity, he sees his friends,” said Faressa.

“The music is tuned down, our bell distribution from Santa is different and everyone on the train is understanding of what’s going on in the environment they’re in,” said Operations Director Orion Newall, noting that this is the only holiday train experience of its kind in all of New England.

In the seven years it’s been running, the special outing has grown in leaps and bounds. This year, they’re adding even more space.

“It was amazing because it started as 1 car then 2 cars then 3 cars – how about we do the whole train? And now we’re at 2 full trains, 310 people a train,” said Newall.

The goal is to be inclusive and to share these historic, restored trains and stations, dating back to 1881, with every child of every ability.

“The car we’re standing in right now is from 1927,” said Newall.

Let’s face it: kids love to ride trains, especially when the passengers are also Santa Claus and Rudolph.

“As I walk through the train and I talk to some of my families – so many new families, as well – it’s just the joy and appreciation and the happiness, that’s it, the smiles, we love seeing the smiles,” said Faressa who knows the need is there and plans to continue expanding this effort – and others – to keep creating those smiles.

“I’m really excited. It’s really just a joyous thing when you see the train coming down the tracks and the lights and all the things,” she says. “It’s magical, it’s Christmas magic!”

Newall hopes this idea spreads all around the country. The Sun, Moon and Stars Autism Friendly Santa Express runs the weekend after Thanksgiving.

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The Wuhan Cover-Up: And the Terrifying Bioweapons Arms Race (Children’s Health Defense) 

“Gain-of-function” experiments are often conducted to deliberately develop highly virulent, easily transmissible pathogens for the stated purpose of developing preemptive vaccines for animal viruses before they jump to humans. More insidious is the “dual use” nature of this research, specifically directed toward bioweapons development. The Wuhan Cover-Up pulls back the curtain on how the US government's increase in biosecurity spending after the 2001 terror attacks set in motion a plan to transform the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), under the direction of Dr. Anthony Fauci, into a de facto Defense Department agency.

Join us in congratulating Dr. Brian Hooker and Robert Kennedy, Jr. and the Children's Health Defense imprint on the huge news that Vax Unvax Let The Science Speak was #11 on the New York Times non-fiction best sellers list this week.  This is important because it tells those who feel they shouldn't question science, "Hey, it's OK to read, and learn and make your own decisions."  It's currently 124 on ALL of Amazon books.  Buy a copy HERE