ST. Local News Father says daughter with autism turned away at Sylvania Playland

SYLVANIA, Ohio — A father said his 6-year-old daughter with autism was turned away from a specific play area at Sylvania Playland over the weekend, prompting him to speak out about what he called a lack of accommodation for children with disabilities.

Jacob Nodine said his family went to the indoor play center on Saturday for a cousin’s birthday party. Shortly after arriving, he said his daughter tried to play in a quieter section of the facility designed for children ages zero to three.

That’s when he said an employee told the family it was not “autism hour.”

“My big question is where do non-toddler children get to play if they’re not physically or mentally ready for the bigger structures,” Nodine said. “They also refused to refund after we paid for the hour.”

Nodine said his daughter cannot climb the stairs or ladders in the main play area independently, which is why he tried to bring her to a quieter space.

“Our children with disabilities deserve a lot better from this community,” Nodine said.

Sylvania Playland owner Joe Younes disputed Nodine’s account and said the situation was misunderstood. He said the employee involved was 17 years old and became flustered as the interaction escalated.

“Most of our workers are 16, 17, 18,” Younes said. “They’re not 100% trained on how to deal with situations. I think this whole misunderstanding was taken out of context.”

Younes also said the business changed the name of its accessibility-focused hour from “Autism Hour” to “Sensory Hour” in December 2025. Sensory Hour is held Saturdays from 9 to 10 a.m. and is intended to provide a quieter environment for children with sensory sensitivities.

Nodine said other parents have since reached out to him with similar experiences. Younes said many families have also told him the weekly Sensory Hour has been a positive addition to Sylvania Playland.