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Sensory Friendly Access
Join us for our next Sensory Friendly Event! October 14, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Mogas Industries
Sensory Friendly Day is an opportunity for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) to explore the Children’s Museum of Houston in their own way and in their own time!
These exclusive events will:
•Provide a comfortable, protected and accepting environment.
•Allow parents to make connections with other families.
•Offer new tools and resources.
Doors will be closed to the general public.
There will be no music.
Sound reducing headphones will be available.
Fresh Café will be closed, so feel free to bring your own food if needed.
To register, please contact Lydia Dungus at (713) 535-7238.
For more information about the day contact Katherine Cox at (713) 535-7266.
The Children’s Museum of Houston is committed to making our Museum accessible and interactive for all. Below you will find useful information for planning a more comfortable and enjoyable visit with your family.
What to Expect
The Museum can often be crowded, loud and have bright lights. Our semi-annual Sensory Friendly days offer a wonderful relief from extra stimuli. Staff goes through the Museum ahead of time to turn down lights, limit extra sounds, and stop distracting motions. Extra signage is added to help visitors determine things not to climb on, and entrances between exhibits where it is good to stop and wait for your adult before continuing.
As for the rest of the year outside of our Sensory Friendly days, we offer other suggestions. If you are looking for a quieter time to visit, consider visiting Tuesday through Friday after 1:30 p.m. during the school year. Visiting first thing in the morning during the summer and on weekends tends to be slightly quieter too. If your child has trouble with transitions, consider visiting towards the end of the day. Several announcements are made prior to our 6:00 p.m. closing encouraging visitors to make their way to the front of the Museum for departure.
If sound in the galleries becomes too much, ear defenders are available for check out at the Information Booth. If you need a quiet place to take a break, consider visiting the Parent Resource Library, the Brown Auditorium or ask a staff member if a Discovery Room is available to use.
If your child has light sensitivities, we suggest bringing along a pair of sunglasses for them to wear.
To plan your visit, check out our interactive map and be sure to pick up a copy of the map at the Information Booth upon arrival at the Museum.
Museum Story Guides have been created to help you and your child familiarize yourself with the Museum and its exhibits before you visit. Written from a child’s perspective, the guides can be helpful in planning which exhibits to visit and in which order.
Download Simplified Museum Story Guide
Safety
The front doors of the Museum are staffed during operating hours by a Courtesy Officer. The officer keeps a watchful eye out so that children do not enter or leave the building without an adult.
Adults who visit the Museum without children must check in with our Admissions Booth before entering the Museum.
The Children’s Museum of Houston staff is trained to look for and reunite lost children with their families as quickly as possible. Our staff members are easy to identify in their teal polo shirts and khaki pants. If a child becomes separated from their family and is found by a staff member, they will be brought to the Information Booth. If a parent becomes separated from a child they should alert a staff member as soon as possible. The Museum staff has procedures in place for sending information out to individuals staffing the Museum exhibits so that they can look for the child.
If you have questions related to our Sensory Friendly access, contact Katherine Cox at 713-535-7266.