The Staten Island Children's Museum To Host Sensory Friendly Fun Night For Children And Families Impacted By Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Staten Island Children's Museum, in partnership with the GRACE Foundation of New York, will host a "Sensory Friendly Family Fun Night" on Thursday, November 29 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for children and families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The event's activities are designed for children ages 5 - 11 years old and will include creating a "passport" to use while exploring the Children's Museum's hands-on exhibits and participating in a special art workshop. The artwork created at the event will be displayed in the Children's Museum's own Community Gallery in April and at the GRACE Foundation next summer.

In addition, GRACE Foundation staff will be on site during the event to help the Children's Museum create a sensory-friendly environment for the participants to enjoy. The evening will include a high ratio of staff to children in a controlled space to better attend to the participants' social and emotional well-being. The program will take place on the Children's Museum's first floor in 3 hands-on exhibits: the Ladder 11 firetruck, Big Games and Great Explorations. Each exhibit will have a special tactile activity to help focus on fun and learning. The theater space Portia's Playhouse will be used as a quiet zone for children who may get overstimulated and need a break from the activities.

The GRACE Foundation continues to work with many families across Staten Island and will be able to offer a sense of familiarity for families they know as well as offer a clear understanding for how to best create a nurturing and supportive environment during this special evening.

How to Register

Tickets are $6 per person and must be purchased in advance - only a limited amount of tickets will be sold. A light dinner will be served. To register, please contact Jami Kilichowski at the Children's Museum at (718) 273-2060, ext. 137 or reservations@sichildrensmuseum.org.

New "Access Art for All" Outreach to ASD Community

This event is just one of the programs that will be offered through "Access Art for All," a new outreach effort geared for the Staten Island Autism Spectrum Disorder community from the Staten Island Children's Museum, the Staten Island Museum and the Staten Island Zoo in coordination with the GRACE Foundation. During this year-long program, participants will be able to:

• Visit the three cultural attractions and enjoy some quieter time during private hours with the support of GRACE Foundation staff.

• Participate in an immersive art experience based on the exhibits and collections of the hosting cultural organizations.

• Join a community event, showcasing the art and the creative process, to be displayed at the three venues.

"We are proud to partner with these organizations to bring programs and events to our guests and their families who are impacted by ASD," said Dina Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Staten Island Children's Museum. "We hope that 'Access Art for All' will create an even more inclusive cultural community on Staten Island."

The Staten Island Children's Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Museum's hours for September - June are Tuesday- Friday from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. For more information, call 718-273-2060, email info@sichildrensmuseum.org, or visit sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part, with public funds provided through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Staten Island delegation to the NYC Council. Significant operating support is also provided by the NYS Council on the Arts, Corporations, Foundations, the Trustees and Members.