The DuPage Children’s Museum has opened its doors to a new program for children with special needs and their families.
“Family Night Out” offers fun and learning for children on the autism spectrum and with other sensory processing disorders.
Limited to 300 people, the event is designed as a calmer, less crowded, and sensory-friendly evening at the museum.
“It’s so wonderful to see the museum opening up and being accessible for families with kids with disabilities. Sometimes it can be overwhelming for our kids to walk into a facility like this with all the exciting lights and noises and so to have the museum be accessible in a sensory-friendly way and in a way that provides resources and staff for our kids makes it feel so welcoming and I’m so grateful that they’re doing it,” said Carrie Noe, a parent to a child with autism and a volunteer at the DuPage Children’s Museum.
Children were able to explore the museum, listen to stories, sing along with an artful impact performance, and so much more.
Many local organizations that support children with special needs also participated in the evening.
“We’re thrilled with the agencies and foundations that have given us money to have this event for families of special needs kids to come as an entire family. Lots of times families have to leave someone at home or siblings at home, so this is one event in the community where the entire family unit can come and just play,” said Jill Samonte, the community access coordinator for the DuPage Children’s Museum.
“Family Night Out” will now be held three times a year, thanks to local funding.
Naperville News 17’s Christine Lena reports.
