Long Island Children’s Museum's Sensory-Friendly Performances for Autism Awareness Month

3/25/15 - By Linda DiProperzio

It’s no secret that Long Island is a great place to raise kids. And one of my family’s favorite outings is to our sponsor, the Long Island Children’s Museum. Not only does it have plenty of educational and fun activities (my kids love the Bubbles area, ClimbIt and Communication Station, to name just a few), but the museum also plays host to many entertaining performances the entire family can enjoy. LICM prides itself on being a place where all kids can learn and play.

With that in mind, Long Island Children’s Museum is kicking off Autism Awareness Month with sensory-friendly performances of the Experiential Theater Company’s The Adventures of Perseus, with two evening shows on Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2 (World Autism Day) reserved exclusively for families with children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities.

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Long Island Children’s Museum Theatre is part of a select group of organizations across the nation that provide barrier-free theater for families with children on the autism spectrum. Since 2011, The Theater Development Fund (TDF) has made many popular productions (The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Spiderman and more) available for children on the autism spectrum to watch and enjoy.

Parents of children on the autism spectrum or with other sensory sensitivities know that seeing a show can be a challenge. My older son dealt with some sensory issues when he was younger; loud sounds and dark rooms were an issue (he still doesn’t love loud noise), as well as the ability to sit in his seat for long periods of time. Instead of risking a public meltdown, we simply stayed home.

Now Long Island families don’t have to miss out on anything. This year, with funding from the National Endowment of the Arts, LICM is presenting The Adventures of Perseus, which explores the use of puppetry in storytelling, while introducing children to characters from Greek legends. In addition to the performance, pre- and post-show workshops focus on the forms of puppetry used, including hand and rod, shadow and Bunraku-style puppets and marionettes. 

So, what makes a performance sensory-friendly?

  • Lower sound levels, especially for startling or loud sounds
  • Guests are free to talk, leave their seats and move freely during the performance
  • House lights in the theater are left on low throughout the performance
  • Designated Quiet Room adjacent to the Theater
  • Trained staff and volunteers

LICM is providing resources to make sure that families are comfortable during the performance and their visit to the museum, such as:

  • Downloadable Social Script
  • Seat selection
  • Take-home, themed “fidgets” presented in Theater

The recommended age for the show is 9 years old and up, and admission costs $9 per person ($7 for LICM members). Buying tickets in advance is encouraged and can be done online.

And for more activities and events for the entire family, be sure to check out our Long Island Events Calendar.

This post is sponsored by Long Island Children’s Museum, but the opinions are those solely of the author.

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