Philadelphia, PA - Inclusivity is embedded in the initial pledge of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love as well as Sisterly Affection. Nowadays, the city keeps that promise to citizens and visitors with sensory sensitivity attractions.
Sensory-Friendly Attractions in Philadelphia
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Philadelphia’s dinosaur museum provides children with autism and families exclusive access to Science six Saturday as well as Sunday mornings. The Museum Stories assist visitors of all developmental capabilities to explore the museum on their own, most notably the Dinosaurs Around the World exhibition - 2019. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1060, ansp.org
Brandywine River Museum of Art
Famous for three generations of Wyeths, the art museum offers Sensory-Friendly mornings. Registered families can take part in pre-visit social stories as well as delight in hands-on activities, alongside assistance from experienced volunteers, fidgets, noise-canceling headphones along with sensory break locations. Visitors may acquire a sensory-friendly museum pack that contains social stories, fidgets, noise-canceling headphones as well as activities suggestions during regular hours. - 1 Hoffman’s Mill Road, Chadds Ford, (610) 388-8120, brandywine.org
The Franklin Institute
The museum offers five Sensory-Friendly Sundays a year when the institute adjusts exhibits. Trained staff and volunteers are also on hand to create a comfortable atmosphere for guests on the autism spectrum. Visitors who pre-register will be admitted free of charge, as are guests who get there before 9:30 a.m. The events come to an end at noon. Daily, sensory maps are readily available for both permanent and temporary exhibits. - 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
LEGOland Discovery Center Philadelphia
At unique Sensory Days, trained staff from The Ruttenberg Autism Center create a peaceful, quiet, gentle atmosphere for kids to play. Break rooms, reduced light, music therapy as well as pre- and during-visit social stories are open to families, at discounted ticket price. Plymouth Meeting Mall, 500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, (267) 245-9696, legolanddiscoverycenter.com
The National Constitution Center
The museum is devoted to U.S. history, and the Constitution offers Sensory Friendly Sundays four times a year. The all-day events begin with pre-visit guides, safe spaces, customized programming as well as trained staff to assist guests. - Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Sensory-Friendly Mornings happen quarterly with Sunday Family Programs throughout the galleries of the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as on select summer Wednesdays and Saturdays together with Art Splash, a user-friendly exhibit for children. Featuring reduced lights and volume, far fewer crowds, sensory break areas, on-hand occupational therapists as well as hands-on art activities tailored toward all developmental levels. Main Building, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway; Perelman Building, 2525 Pennsylvania Avenue, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
The Philadelphia Zoo
America’s first zoo worked with the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to create KidZooU, a hands-on, child-centric exhibit that uses the Universal Design concept to offer an inclusive, enriching experience for children. Pre-visit materials, including a picture-exchange system, are available on the zoo’s website. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
The Please Touch Museum
Where children learn through play. Every day, Please Touch provides a dedicated quiet space, sound-reducing headphones along with staff trained to help. Four Sunday mornings per year, Play Without Boundaries offers children with learning as well as developmental disabilities on the autism spectrum with a sensory-friendly, all-access museum encounter alongside Floreo virtual reality, therapy pets together with community health professionals. Memorial Hall, 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
Sensory-Friendly Attractions in New Jersey
Adventure Aquarium Camden
On the Delaware River Waterfront, residence to the blue penguins, a hammerhead shark as well as roughly 8,500 aquatic species, established its very first sensory-friendly event back in 2018. The aquarium joined with South Jersey's Samulance to create F.I.S.H. Night, a Family Inclusive Special Hours exhibit, and the aquarium staff adjusts the lighting and sound levels to create a stress-free setting for guests. 1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ, (844) 474-FISH, adventureaquarium.com
