Horizon Over the Spectrum Awarded G-SPAN Funding for Sensory Garden & Healthy Eating Initiative

I’m excited to finally share some really good news!

Horizon Over the Spectrum has been awarded funding through the Georgia State Physical Activity and Nutrition (G-SPAN) initiative, and this support will allow us to bring a vision to life that has been on my heart for a long time.

We’re launching a Sensory Garden & Healthy Eating Initiative—a calm, inclusive space where Pre-K students and their families can explore gardening, learn about fresh foods, and build healthy habits through Harvest of the Month experiences.

Horizon Over the Spectrum Secures G-SPAN Funding to Enhance Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs for Pre-K Students and Families through Sensory Gardens and Healthy Eating Initiatives.

As a parent of children on the autism spectrum, I know how overwhelming “healthy eating” conversations can feel. New foods, unfamiliar textures, and pressure to try something different can quickly turn into stress instead of learning. This initiative was intentionally designed to be the opposite of that.

Our initiative will focus on:

• Gentle, hands-on exposure to fruits and vegetables

• Learning where food comes from through gardening

• Low-pressure tasting experiences tied to Harvest of the Month

• A sensory-friendly environment that honors each child’s pace

This grant is meaningful not just because of the funding—but because it affirms that inclusive, sensory-aware approaches to nutrition matter.

Families raising neurodivergent children deserve access to programs that meet them where they are.

I’m incredibly grateful to the Georgia Health Policy Center, G-SPAN, and the CDC’s State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program for believing in community-based solutions and for investing in organizations like ours that are rooted in lived experience.

This is just the beginning. Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing updates, photos, and opportunities to get involved as the garden grows—literally and figuratively.

Thank you for continuing to support Horizon Over the Spectrum. Every step forward is because of this community.

Stay Connected

We'll be sharing updates as the Sensory Garden & Healthy Eating Initiative launches, including class visits, family activities, and Harvest of the Month features. Follow us on Instagram to follow our journey!

Attached Press Release (PDF)