Sensory Friendly Events in DFW
by Karah Chappel, MT-BC
I love an outing. I love exploring museums, parks, movie theaters, and zoos. I have a feeling I’m not the only one. That being said, sometimes the sights, smells, and sounds of a new place, especially with a lot of other people can be overwhelming. That’s why I (with the help of a few other friends) have put together a list of all the places with sensory accommodations in the DFW metroplex. Tag along as we build your next day out!
If you are new to sensory accommodations, let’s take a second to talk about them. There are a lot of reasons someone may benefit from sensory accommodations. Folks with diagnoses like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or other developmental disorders are often hypo- or hyper-sensitive to specific senses, meaning they want increased or decreased sensory input compared to what a neurotypical person processes. Autistic folks also often have a different sensory processing experience, which you can explore more in our blog about Autism and music therapy. Examples of sensory accommodations could be turning down lights, turning off music, providing fidget tools or noise canceling headphones, or describing the sensory profile of the experience ahead of time. All of these options, plus many more, are extremely important. Sensory accommodations provided or supported by an organization make the experiences more equitable. Everyone deserves to look at beautiful art or watch penguins swim or explore extensive gardens while feeling comfortable and regulated.
Here’s our list! Each place name will take you to the website listing their accommodations. I’ve also included a short description of what accommodations are available at each event. Some organizations offer year-round accommodations while some are only available at certain times, so make sure to double check before you plan your excursion.
Amon Carter Museum of American Art: Check out the museum’s Sensory Explorations, free events designed for families of Autistic kids of all ages to look at the art and do hands-on art making.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth: Rather than specific events, this museum has year round accommodations, including assistive listening programs, as well as a contact number to address any specific needs you may have.
Fort Worth Zoo: I am particularly impressed by all the offerings at the Fort Worth Zoo. You’ll want to fully explore their website to check out the free sensory bags of tools like fidget toys, noise canceling headphones, and custom communication boards you can borrow on site, the accessibility guides and maps you can review ahead of time, and the social story they provide to explain what an excursion at the zoo will be like.
Fort Worth Botanic Gardens: Another winner of year-round accommodations! Explore physical accommodations as well as detailed descriptions of the sensory experiences for each building and area of the gardens to prepare.
Fort Worth Dream Park: A free outdoor playground, the park is accessible for a variety of medical and sensory needs and also includes interactive and musical elements around the area. Bonus: see if you can spot the Heart & Harmony brick near the one of the entrance gates!
Studio Movie Grill: Visit the theater for special screenings of top movies with the lights up, volume low, talking and movement welcome. Tickets are free, but first come first served!
TEXRail: Consider riding in the “quiet car,” the first (or last depending direction) car of the train for less sounds.
State Fair of Texas: Every Wednesday of the state fair, visit early in the morning when lights will be turned off, there will be designated quiet zones, and the fair will provide a list of recommended activities that are “easy on the eyes and ears.”
Dallas World Aquarium: The aquarium provides all-the-time accommodations as well, based in their sensory guide that gives a play-by-play of what to expect at the aquarium, as well as custom communication boards.
AMC Theatres: Visit during sensory friendly film showings, created both for family-friendly and mature audiences, to have lights turned up and sound turned down.
Chuck E Cheese: Sensory Sensitive Sundays© facilitate the arcade opening early with dim lights, quieter sounds, and sensory friendly arcade games.
Crayola Experience: Sensory Sundays follow the popular template of lights dimmed, music turned off, and a quiet room available on the third Sunday of every month.
Dallas Children’s Theater: The theater provides sensory-friendly shows, as well as parent tip sheets, social stories, and summaries of the shows. They also offer sensory-friendly acting classes.
Dallas Zoo: Sensory Friendly Days at the zoo include reduced noise and crowds, art and sensory activities, and sensory spaces facilitated by occupational therapy students which you can prepare for by looking at the sensory map.
Explorium Denton Children’s Museum: The museum offers early access on select days for reduced light and noise, as well as noise canceling headphones and fidget toys upon request.
Build-A-Bear Workshop: Lowered lights and music coupled with a step-by-step guide of the building process that can be reviewed ahead of time makes visiting the store more comfortable.
Texas Rangers: Watching a ball game comes with a variety of sensory accommodations including providing fidget toys, noise canceling headphones, and a feelings thermometer. There are additional accommodations of closed captioning, assistive listening devices, and a sensory room for a quiet space.
Kimbell Art Museum: Studio A is a sensory-friendly space for kids to drop in to touch interactive exhibits.
Meow Wolf: The entertainment space provides bags of sensory tools, audio descriptive tours, as well as staff trained in supporting disabled folks’ needs.
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza: This museum provides a social story including pictures detailing the experience, including sensory bags that can be picked up at the Information Desk.
Bonus: Sensory Days Dallas improves access to a variety of Dallas attractions through Sensory Friendly days. Continue to check back with them for upcoming events.
Do you know of any other sensory events we missed? Let us know in the comments!
