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Play for All: What It Means for Every Visitor

by Katie Hench, Chicago Children's Museum Play for All Committee

Last spring, I witnessed a magical moment at Chicago Children's Museum. A young boy of about five or six was on a visit with his class. Spirited and rambunctious, with an unforgettable smile, he was just like any energetic boy, except for one thing—he had limited use of his legs. As he entered the museum, his teacher quickly noted that any attempts to keep him in a wheelchair would be futile. His energy for exploring far exceeded his ability for walking.

Within five minutes, the boy was flying through the museum on crutches, barely skimming the tops of his toes as he moved across the floor. When his arms grew tired, he switched to shimmying on his belly, truly exploring every square inch of the museum. His smile grew even broader as he eyed the rope rigging of the three-story climbing schooner, a favorite CCM destination. Our staff allowed the boy to enter through the exit, enabling him to use his arms to pull himself through the ramp and to the top of the schooner. As he accomplished his goal, a crowd of visitors and staff cheered him on, celebrating his abilities and jovial spirit.

This story is one of many that illuminate the importance of focusing on the child, rather than the disability. CCM is committed to creating unique experiences for all individuals, based on their personal needs, interests, and abilities. Five years ago, we began Play for All, an initiative that advocates for the rights of all children and families to have full museum access. Through Play for All, we have developed new programs, policies, and partnerships related to museum access and inclusion.

An important lesson I've learned from Play for All is that the resources and strategies that are useful for visitors with disabilities can also enhance the museum experience for everyone. To ensure that you and your child have an engaging and successful experience on your next visit, please consider the following suggestions:

• Prepare for your visit by reading CCM's storybook guide. This story, developed in partnership with The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP), describes each of CCM's interactive exhibits in child-friendly terms. Reading about the exhibits prior to a visit can relieve children's anxiety and help them better anticipate their experience. Caregivers can download the storybook guide by going to the Access & Inclusion page on CCM’s website.

• Check out a museum kit at the admissions desk. In January, CCM and TAP unveiled new museum kits intended to help caregivers and their children navigate through the museum. In addition to the storybook guide mentioned above, the kits also include a museum schedule that can be personalized to your child's needs and interests, as well as pocket rule cards for children who prefer visual messages. Creating a museum schedule can ease transitions for children who grow apprehensive when moving between activities.

• Ask for additional accessibility materials, if needed. The following items can be checked out at our admissions desk: sound reducing headphones, adult and child-size wheelchairs, U-Cuff (to assist children with fine motor activities), ldynamic seating devices, and lap trays for wheelchairs. The entire museum is wheelchair accessible, with elevators servicing each floor.

• Choose a manageable number of activities. With three-floors of interactive exhibits, there's plenty to do at CCM, but don't feel like it all has to happen in one day! For instance, if your child prefers building or water play, it may be beneficial to spend the majority of your time in Skyline or WaterWays.  Allowing children to focus on a few interests will help them have a positive experience and not feel overwhelmed by the environment.

• Remember that all children have difficult moments. Whether from hunger, exhaustion, or over-stimulation, children can become upset at times.  If you witness a child having a meltdown, please give the family the space and time they need to calm their child. If your child has a difficult moment while at the museum, please remember that this is normal. Let our staff know if there is some way they can help, for instance by finding a quieter space or by modifying an experience so that it's less frustrating or tiring.

• Share your needs and questions with staff. Through partnerships with TAP and The Open Doors Organization, CCM staff members participate in on-going disability awareness trainings. We are prepared to respond to a variety of situations, but we're always eager to learn more.

If you have suggestions of ways we can better serve your family’s needs, please  contact Lynn Walsh at 312.464.7679 or Katie Hench at 312.464.7718.

© 2009 Chicago Children's Museum

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