Special Needs Eggstravaganza Egg Hunt

 Chapelstreet Church - Keslinger Campus | 3435 Keslinger Road, Geneva 

​

DETAILS:  Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 11:00am - 11:45am | Experience Easter at a Sensory-Friendly Event! Families will travel together on a scavenger hunt. Discover toy and candy-filled eggs. Participate in an interactive experience showing the miracle of Easter. Invite a friend – this is a free family event. This event is designed specifically for families who have children with special needs. Arrive any time before 11:15 AM. The experience will last about 30 minutes. FREE and there is NO REGISTRATION required.

inclusion game night

Batavia Public Library

10 S. Batavia Avenue, Batavia

​

DETAILS:  On the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30p - 8:30p, teens and young adults of all abilities - and their families and friends - are invited to meet new people and play board games and card games in a relaxed setting. No registration required.

sensory stories and play

St. Charles Public Library

1 S. 6th Avenue, St. Charles

​

DETAILS:  Thursday, October 31 from 11:00am - 12:00pm in the Helen Gale Story Room, join the SCPL for an extra wiggly story time followed by a time to play with other children and meet other caregivers. Designed with sensory differences in mind, and open to all.

sensory sensitive sundays at

Chuck E. Cheese

506 S. Route 59, Naperville

​

DATE: First Sunday of every month at 8:00a.

DETAILS:  Our Sensory Sensory events include a trained and caring staff that work to ensure each guest has a fun-filled visit. We realize that the Chuck E. experience can be very stimulating for any child, so our mission is to create an event that allows ALL kids to be a kid.

FAMILY NIGHT OUT

DuPage Children's Museum | 301 N. Washington Street, Naperville

​

DATE: January 25, February 23, March 21, April 18

DETAILS:  Family Night Out provides an evening of play and learning for children with special needs and their families. This after-hours event allows for a time to experience the Museum in a calmer, less crowded environment. Some lighting and sound will be muted, and additional sensory activities and cool down spaces will be provided.

Admission is FREE, but registration is required and will be capped at 300 guests. Complimentary snacks and beverages will be available. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food.

chords for kids

Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College | 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville

​

DATE: March 28, 2020 at 7:00p

DETAILS:  North Central College hosts this 12th annual FREE concert for children with special needs and their families. Music and motion come together as children with special needs enjoy instrumental music. The music at the concert will range from classical pieces to popular tunes. Wigglers are welcomed! Wheelchair seating is available.

Admission is free, but tickets are required; call the North Central College Box Office at 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.

lights up, sound down movies

​

THREE MOVIE THEATERS IN AND AROUND THE TRI-CITIES OFFER REGULAR SENSORY-SENSITIVE MOVIE TIMES.

​

Click the EXPLORE MORE button below to be taken to the "Sensory-Friendly Movie Times" Page in FOTF's Sensory-Friendly Guide!

low-sensory early exploration

Museum of Science and Industry | 5700 S Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

(773) 684-1414

​

DATES: Sundays from 8:30a - 9:30a on April 26 | June 14 | August 30 | October 18 | November 22

​

DETAILS:  Low-Sensory Early Exploration are free events where guests can explore featured exhibits in a less crowded and more sensory-friendly environment from 8:30a - 9:30a.  Exhibits offered during the morning event will be altered to be more sensory-friendly. Some exhibits within the Museum will be altered until noon on these dates.   You can check out noise-reducing headphones and weighted vests for free from Guests Services in the Entry Hall. A quiet room offering sensory toys, water and a space to relax is also available until noon on these dates. 

PLAY FOR ALL

Chicago Children's Museum | 700 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago

(312) 464-8249

​

DETAILS:  Held the second Saturday of every month, Play For All (PFA) events invite children and families with disabilities to experience Chicago Children’s Museum’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens 1 hour early, at 9 am, for pre-registered guests. The first 250 visitors to register receive free admission. Groups that register are also free, and we provide transportation.

​

For more information, accommodation requests, or to register as a group, please call the Play For All hotline above or email Kat West, Play For All Team Lead, at katherinew@chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

CALM WATERS

The Shedd Aquarium | 700 E. Grand Avenue, Chicago

(312) 939-2438

​

DATES:  Sunday, February 9, 2020 from 8:00a - 10:00a + Wednesday, May 13, 2020 from 4:30p - 7:00p

​

DETAILS:  Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration. REGULAR ADMISSION RATES APPLY.

SENSORY SATURDAYS

Field Museum | 1400 S. Lake Shore Dive, Chicago

(312) 922-9410

​

DATES:  March 7, 2020 + April 18, 2020

​

DETAILS:  This event welcomes families and children with disabilities as well as with sensory processing needs. It is free with advance registration, but space is limited to 40 guests so that families can enjoy a crowd-free space. To register for a Sensory Saturday event, please email accessibilityeducator@fieldmuseum.org.

PLAY WELL DAYS

LEGOLAND Schaumburg | 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg

​

DATE: First Saturday of EVERY Month from 8:30a - 10:00a

​

DETAILS:  LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago is teaming up with AUTISM SPEAKS® to provide a brand new sensory friendly LEGO® experience! Special accommodations will be made during Play Well Days including reduction of sound and light levels, quiet spaces, a reduced center capacity, staff training by Autism Speaks, earplugs will be provided at request.

​

COST:  $15 per ticket

sensory-friendly Sundays

Morton Arboretum | 4100 IL Rt. 53, Lisle

​

DATES:  Select Sundays, May - October, 2020 from 8:30a - 9:45a

​

DETAILS:  Sensory Friendly Sundays offer the opportunity for families with sensory needs, to experience a less crowded Children’s Garden with minimal noise. Participants are welcome to stay once the Children’s Garden opens to the public at 9:30 a.m.  Regular admission rates apply. Limit 75. Recommended ages: For families with children 18 months to 10 years

SENSORY FRIENDLY MORNINGS

Brookfield Zoo | 4100 IL Rt. 53, Lisle

​

DATES:  Fourth Saturday of every month (except in April and September) in 2020

​

DETAILS:  Inviting children and families with disabilities to visit the Hamill Family Play Zoo from a low-sensory perspective before the doors open to the public. The Hamill Family Play Zoo will open one hour early for pre-registered guests to attend this event. Guests who pre-register will also receive free admission and parking to the zoo for that day. Registration will open on the first of each month and close 48 hours prior to the event.

​

TO REGISTER: Follow link below and click on "Inclusion in CZS Programs and Customized Programming"

Families on the FOx's SPRING GUIDE

​

Click the EXPLORE MORE button below to learn more about ALL THE SPRING THINGS in and around the west + far west suburbs!

Families on the FOx's

GALAS + CHARITY EVENTS

​

Click the EXPLORE MORE button below to learn more about specific events in and around the Tri-Cities benefitting these local charities and nonprofits!