Sensory Friendly Locations- Northeast Ohio
Sensory-Friendly Locations Around Northeast Ohio
Playhouse Square
Playhouse Square provides various sensory-friendly performances. Check out Playhouse Square’s video social story about visiting the theater. The Playhouse Square sensory-friendly initiative was developed in partnership with Milestones Autism Resources and the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, who co-sponsor the events in this series.
http://www.playhousesquare.org/events-tickets/sensory-friendly-programming
The Cleveland Orchestra provides sensory-friendly family performances throughout the season at Severance Hall in Cleveland. They partner with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities to provide trained volunteers, headphones, fidgets, quiet areas, etc. as well as a relaxed atmosphere that allows for moving, talking, and stimming.
https://clevelandorchestra.com/attend/concerts-for-families/
The Akron Zoo
The Akron Zoo partners with KultureCity to train all staff and volunteers on autism and other sensory needs. The park provides helpful signage designating quiet and headphone areas for visitors, plus sensory bags that include fidget toys, noise cancelling headphones and more. Weighted lap blankets are also available. The Akron Zoo periodically offers "Zoothing Hours," which are sensory-friendly early admission hours without the crowds.
The Akron Zoo Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) board is available for guests who are non-verbal, minimally speaking or language learning to use as a tool to communicate with Akron Zoo staff members and other guests.
The Guest Comfort Station can be used as a private sensory room for breaks, and also now includes an adult-size changing table!
Website: https://www.akronzoo.org/accessibility
Greater Cleveland Aquarium was recently certified sensory inclusive by KultureCity. The Aquarium’s staff underwent training to recognize guests with sensory needs and handle sensory overload situations. KultureCity sensory bags outfitted with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards are now available to borrow as needed on a first-come, first-served basis. Dedicated areas also have been identified for those who may require a quieter environment.
The aquarium also offers Sensory Hours that limit crowds, noise, and lights. https://www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com/event/sensory-hour/
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse has partnered with KultureCity to improve our ability to assist and accommodate guests with sensory processing needs [...] by supplying our Team Members with continuous training and by offering the following resources and accommodations to our guests: sensory bags, weighted lap pads, a social story, and a sensory room.
https://www.rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com/accessibility
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland
The Children’s Museum of Cleveland (CMC) and Monarch Center for Autism’s Welcoming Spaces Program have joined together to develop customized visual, social, communicative, sensory, and behavioral supports that can be found throughout the museum. Some resources that the museum offers include call-ahead accommodations, social narratives, visual schedules, visual/sensory maps, ticket desk tool kits and video models. The museum also has a sensory-friendly room that is equipped with special lighting, classical music, liquid tile mats and a tactile wall.
https://cmcleveland.org/sensoryresources/
Summit Metro Parks
Summit Metro Parks teamed up with the Autism Society of Greater Akron to join the Autism Friendly Communities program. Staff receive special training to assist visitors who may have autism or other developmental disabilities in order to be more accommodating. https://www.summitmetroparks.org/autism-friendly-site.aspx
Skyzone
Skyzone offers special programs at their trampoline parks, including Sensory Hours
https://www.skyzone.com/programs/sensory-hours
Offers free play, therapy, and life skill programs for a variety of ages, geared towards children and teens with developmental disabilities. All programs are delivered by a team of trained volunteers and offered at no-cost to families so that cost is never a barrier to receive resources, support and services.