By: Madison Rosenberg, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
SOUTH JERSEY – In a sea of overstimulating, inaccessible play, Shark-E’s Autism Foundation aims to bring a new wave of inclusive fun to South Jerseyans.
Eric Cooper, CEO and founder of Foaming Shark Party, along with his father James Cooper and colleague Jeral Miller, started the entertainment company that specializes in interactive foam parties, and is aiming to mobilize the experience to neurodivergent individuals around South Jersey with Shark-E’s Foam Sensory Van Project. The van would travel to families, organizations, or low-income areas with neurodivergent individuals, so the clients could engage in a place they are familiar with.
Eric Cooper’s mission is clear: he wants to bring communities together by offering an experience where children with autism can play without worry, without overstimulation, and be able to have fun with their peers.
“I want to be an advocate to get people to understand that autism doesn’t mean you’re different,” Eric Cooper said. “You’re just learning and seeing the world in a different way. I feel like bridging that gap between the community and kids with autism in this way would be unique.”
Eric Cooper, who has participated in youth programs such as FEDUP 4-U, and has family members who have autism, realized when he started Foaming Shark Party that his neurodivergent clients were particularly fond of the sensory interaction with the foam.
“I saw that these kids were having so much fun with [the foam], I thought, ‘What if I engaged this into a charitable thing?’ and there was a need for it, and it worked,” Eric Cooper said.
Regular Foaming Shark Parties require a lot of setup, according to Eric Cooper. Sometimes homes or buildings have limited or no access to water and electricity, which are necessary for a regular foam party. A lot of time is taken setting up music and other equipment needed for a fun time. The van would allow for little to no setup time, so that clients can jump right into the party. Self-sufficiency and flexibility are the main benefits of operating the van, and it is a big step toward making these services accessible to everyone.
“You shouldn’t feel excluded because of…how you learn differently or any abilities you have or don’t have,” Eric Cooper said. “I’m just leveling the playing field for all kids to be in the same situation.”
Accessibility and inclusivity are core values of Foaming Shark Party and Shark-E’s Autism Foundation. Along with making the parties sensory-friendly, the company uses allergen-free and biodegradable foam, ensuring ecological and allergenic safety. In parties where foam with dye is being used, the dye can be completely washed out, guaranteeing that children can have as much fun as possible without giving extra hassle to parents. While it is not encouraged, the foam is safe to ingest as well, taking that extra step to ensure total safety and worry-free play for clients of all kinds.
Extensive experience in community programs, as well as personal experience, is the driving force behind the program. The satisfaction of bringing joy to kids who see and live in the world in a different way is what makes everything worth it to Eric and James Cooper.
“The safest and best way to advocate for autism is not through lectures and handing out papers,” James Cooper said. “It’s engaging. It’s making a comfortable atmosphere for people to learn while having a good time. We’re sensitive to working with these kids, and sometimes they aren’t comfortable not being around their family and friends. This engages with them and lets them play in a way that they feel more free to be themselves.”
Eric Cooper’s goal for Foaming Shark Party is to have a real brick-and-mortar facility, where all the operations can be contained, and appointments can be scheduled so clients can go to the facility and not have to utilize their own water and electricity. There would also be a dedicated sensory room, so neurodivergent clients have a space to go and play with their friends in a way that is catered to their needs and will not cause overstimulation or discomfort. Eric Cooper also plans for educational elements to be incorporated into the program, so it can be appealing to collaborate with schools or non-profit educational programs, in addition to obtaining the van, so they can continue to be able to keep the foamy fun on the road.
For everyone involved in the program, they recognize that there is a lot of community and people involved in keeping operations running, and to continue to be able to provide this service to those who need it. They also want to be a secure space for their clients and to be a pillar of example for others to follow.
“We have a responsibility to pass the torch backwards,” Eric Cooper said. “Our kids…have to start somewhere to break these barriers. We have to lead by example. It’s okay for them to feel what they feel and do how they do. We’re here for them, and we want to extend our hand to reach out and help. We have to lead, and break that mold.”
Even in a non-administrative role, being a part of this program still inspires others.
“Being the mascot, being able to get in the suit and take that step backwards and being a part of this is humbling,” Jeral Miller said. “It’s amazing to know everyone’s in the right spot. If I can make people happy, joke around, dance, they’re engaged, it warms me up.”
Foaming Shark party is doing everything they can to bring fun to individuals of all ages and abilities, and it’s working. Boasting over 500 families served, 150 events hosted, including over 25 school events, Eric Cooper continues to bring delight and inclusivity to communities in South Jersey.
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