Sensory Friendly and Accessible Places to Visit in the Midwest
It’s just about that time. Summer vacation! If you’re looking for some fun, sensory-friendly summertime activities to take a day trip or just stops to make along the way of an already planned trip we’ve got you covered. We’ve gathered up a list of activities and places to visit that accommodate all your sensory needs and are within 5 hours of the Quad Cities.
Illinois
The Morton Arboretum Children’s Garden – Lisle, IL
The children’s garden at the Morton Arboretum was created with accessible design in mind and accommodates children and companions of all abilities. The garden features areas to climb, splash, dig, and explore as kids immerse themselves in the garden. There is a picnic area, wading pond, and more.
Most of the garden is accessed by paved paths and accessible wooden bridges. Guests who have sensory needs can borrow headphones, fidgets, visuals, and other calming tools for free by leaving an ID. The website even offers tools to get your child ready for a visit including a sensory map, an activity choice board, story, and more. To learn more about accessibility at the Children’s Garden visit https://mortonarb.org/location/childrens-garden/#access-and-inclusion.
Sensory Garden Playground- Lisle, IL
While you’re in Lisle at the Children’s Garden, stop on by the Sensory Garden Playground. The park features a 2 to 5-year-old pony stable playground, tree top swings, an accessible tree house, a sound garden, and a fragrance garden. The park is currently working on a 5 to 12-year-old playground and just installed a Gravity Rail and GT Wave.
This gym is packed with a ton of opportunities for sensory play. They have suspended equipment with swings for balance and vestibular treatment, crash mats and pillows for motor planning and strength, a zip line for stress release and body relaxation, a trampoline for building leg and core strength, an indoor play structure for climbing and increasing playground skills, sensory-based toys for improved auditory processing and fine motor skills, and a fine motor and arts and crafts area for improved hand-eye coordination. The entire gym is built for those with sensory processing disorders.
Sloomoo Institute- Chicago, IL
If you love slime, do we have the place for you! The Sloomoo Institute celebrates joy through sensory play. A general admission ticket to the Sloomoo Institute in Chicago gets you access to their DIY bar where you can design your very own slime and choose from 40+ colors, 60+ fragrances, and 150 charms. You also get access to 25 slime vats with different textures and scents, slime covered mirrors, a lake full of slime, and access to the Sloomooverse, which is an augmented reality with ASMR.
Iowa
The purpose of the Enabling Garden is to demonstrate gardening for physically impaired individuals. The garden features raised beds and vertical gardens as well as a water feature, rain garden and many seasonal plants and flowers. Signage throughout the garden explains the design and construction methods used to make it accessible.
Miracle Park’s all-inclusive playground features more than 14,000 square feet including double wide ramp, roller tables, sway fun gliders, a sensory play center, and an omni spinner. All play accessories are wheelchair transfer height making it easy to transfer in and out of a wheelchair. The playground is also covered in a rubberized, latex-free surface.
The Science Center features sensory friendly hours the second Tuesday of each month from 4-7 P.M. Admission is free during this time, but advanced ticket registration is required. No matter the time you visit, the center offers a sensory guide that maps out which areas of the building have high, low, and moderate sensory input and whether there’s visual, auditory, or touch stimuli. Their website also features a social story that helps prepare your child before they attend the science center. Once you’re there they also offer sensory backpacks that include noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, weighted stuffed animals, and fidget toys.
Blank Park Zoo- Des Moines, IA
If you’re looking for more to do in Des Moines, the Blank Park Zoo is another great place to visit. There are designated quiet zones throughout the zoo that allow those that are overstimulated to take a break and relax. The zoo offers a social narrative that prepares your child to attend the zoo and know what to expect. In addition, they offer sensory bags that include fidgets, noise cancelling headphones, and other resources to help you have the best possible zoo experience. They even have weighted lap pads available to rent.
For those with a visual impairment, the zoo offers braille maps and tactile bags that allow you to feel many of the animals at the zoo including several types of feathers, a boa constrictor shed, an Emu egg, a cast of a lion’s footprint, and more. The zoo also offers plenty of stops throughout to feel and hear things including bird sounds, big cat sounds, the feel of many animals through sculpture and the feeding of koi fish.
The Arc pArc and Garden- Iowa City, IA
The accessible and inclusive playground features wheelchair accessibility up to 3 levels and sits on a rubber safety surface. It features a Sway Fun, music board, floating steps, slides, monkey bars, and signing board. In addition to the playground the pArc also includes an Oodle Swing with a platform seat, 2 Cozy Cocoons that swivel, a tire structure, and various garden areas.
Wisconsin
Building for Kids Children’s Museum- Appleton, WI
Every Sunday from 9 AM – Noon the museum hosts Low Sensory Sundays. The volume of exhibits and music is turned low or off and calm down kits and self-regulation tools are available. They also have a Sensory Superstars program the third Sunday of every month that offers sensory friendly activities, guest speakers, and resources for those in the Autism community.
The Milwaukee Public Museum has an app called MPM All In that helps families plan their visit including social stories with videos, a customizable schedule, sensory-friendly maps, communication prompts, and more. They also offer Explorer Kits that include fidgets, braille, and other sensory materials, as well as noise-reducing headphones. While you’re at the museum and feeling a bit overwhelmed, they even have a sensory room that offers adjustable lights and sounds.
Madison Children’s Museum- Madison, WI
The museum hosts special sensory friendly hours several times a year but offers things throughout the year to make the experience sensory friendly no matter the time. They offer cool-down spaces for those who need a break from the stimulation. They also offer bathrooms with both paper towels and hand dryers for those who get overstimulated by the hand dryer noises. In addition, they offer sensory tools including sunglasses, gloves, fidget toys, and noise-reducing headphones.
Missouri
Saint Louis Zoo- St. Louis, MO
The Saint Louis Zoo has earned Sensory Inclusive™ certification through a partnership with KultureCity. The zoo comes equipped with plenty of accessible rentals including wheelchairs and electric convenience vehicles, an adult changing area, ASL interpreters, assisted listening devices and audio descriptive tours, and even an Equal Access Pass. The pass allows guests to forgo a continuous wait in line for attractions like the railroad, the stingray exhibit, the 4D theater, and the indoor buildings to Penguin and Puffin Coast.
The zoo also offers sensory backpacks which include noise-cancelling headphones, weighted lap pads, and fidgets. There are also signs posted throughout the zoo that indicate where people may experience sensory challenges like noise, temperature, smells, and sounds, as well as quiet spaces to relax.
St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station- St. Louis, MO
The St. Louis Aquarium is another certified sensory inclusive place. Their team has been trained in how to assist with sensory issues. They offer a calming corner room for individuals who may need a quiet environment to take a break. In addition, they offer sensory bags with fidgets, noise-cancelling headphones, and verbal cue cards. They also offer wheelchairs and electronic convenience vehicles.
For guests who have low vision or are blind there are areas that feature tactile learning including touch pools, animal interactions and docent carts. With a two-week notice the aquarium can also provide a guided tour for no additional charge. They offer ASL interpreters for those that are deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Nebraska
The zoo has an app, called Omaha Zoo 4 All, where visitors can prepare for their visit with sensory guides, a customizable scheduler to plan your visit, and a card matching game to relax your senses. The app also offers a sensory-friendly map that identifies quiet spaces, low-light zones, high-touch areas, and the best places to move around. The zoo also offers sensory kits with headphones, sunglasses, a sand timer, and fidgets.
Omaha Children’s Museum- Omaha, NE
The children’s museum offers sensory bags at the front desk that include headphones, gloves, sunglasses, and other items. There are also several quiet areas throughout the museum including the Family Discovery Room, Curiosity Corner, and the Wiggle Room for guests 3 years and younger. They also offer a social storybook to prepare kids for their visit. In the Charlie Campbell Science Center that are various cranks that require effort to move and allow for kids to use pressure to regulate.