Miller Park Zoo will continue sensory tours this fall. The tours will be held in the evenings on the first and third Thursdays in October, November and December.
Events and volunteer coordinator Silvia Schuh said the tours, introduced in June, were brought back due to popular demand. She said after morning and evening times were offered, the evening times were well-received.
Tours are held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and feature one animal per month. Registration is required.
The zoo offers sensory tours so those with sensory sensitivities are able to visit the facility during a quieter time, Schuh said. Staff also can offer guests a sensory bag that includes noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools and verbal cue cards.
Those with sensory sensitivities usually experience a sensitivity through one of their eight senses which creates a heightened response. It is common in people diagnosed with autism.
In order to lead the sensory-friendly tours, some zoo staff were trained by KultureCity, which was founded in 2013 with a mission to create a world where autistic individuals can be accepted and reach their full potential.
Miller Park Zoo staff have received training to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to de-escalate a sensory overload situation, or a time when sensory sensitivity becomes too much for an individual to cope with.
Depending on the popularity in the coming months, the zoo hopes the tours can continue into next year as well.
