Discovery Center at Murfree Springs has been in the forefront of museums tackling inclusion for both children and adults. They are committed to providing opportunities for ALL children to play, explore and grow no matter their physical, behavioral/sensory, financial, or other needs.
During All Access Night on Tuesday, February 11, the children’s museum celebrated the grand opening of two new inclusive features. Chill Zone, a sensory calming area serves as a quiet and safe retreat within the museum for any child with a sensory processing disorder. A sensory room is a space designed to help an individual with sensory issues learn to regulate their brain’s negative reactions to external stimuli by developing coping skills for these experiences.
Another new addition is the ADA bathroom located in Tiny Town which can serve older children and adults with special needs. The Discovery Center is so proud to offer this amenity to their guests and they hope this will provide families the privacy and accessibility they need to enjoy their visit to the museum to the fullest. DC’s hope is to see other organizations follow their lead in providing accessibility for ALL.
The second Tuesday of every month, Discovery Center hosts All Access Night. This is a time when they close down the museum to the public so special needs families can visit in a calmer setting.
This program came about thanks to Discovery Center’s focus on accessibility and inclusion and their Special Needs Task Force. This is an advisory council made up of physicians, teachers, parents and other professionals who work and advocate for our special needs community. The Discovery Center Special Needs Task Force’s next goal is to grow their summer special needs camp offered to high school aged children. Thanks to the support of donors in our community, Discovery Center was able to partner with the Riverdale Special Education Program and offer a free camp to their students. It was such a success; the museum would like to add more students this summer!
For more information on Discovery Center’s Accessibility and Inclusion Initiative, please visit
https://explorethedc.org/accessibility/.
As of right now, the 28th Annual Secret Garden Party and Tour scheduled for the weekend of June 5th is still on! The Discovery Center is so grateful to Sharon and Dr. Murali Kolli for opening their beautiful home and backyard for our community’s favorite summer social. We hope to see you all there!