The annual Northeast Ohio Parent Choice Awards seeks to gather the opinions of local parents on everything family-friendly in the region. Our readers and online followers voted for their favorite businesses, attractions, family services and more.
Here are the winner and runners-up in the “best sensory-friendly outing” category.
Click here to view winners and runners-up in all categories.
Winner: We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym
This gym in Mayfield is for children of all ages, and provides services like open play, respite, break time care, one-to-one assistance, birthday parties and special events. Alex and Connor, the couple who founded the gym, hope it becomes an inclusive “hub” for families of Northeast Ohio. Alex, an occupational therapist who has worked at a specialty school for children with autism and in an outpatient clinic, wants to support the sensory needs of those with atypical processing patterns, developing gross and fine motor skills, encouraging social skills and facilitating play.
werockthespectrumcleveland.com
Runners-Up:
Akron Zoo
This zoo is a welcoming place for all ages and abilities. People who have sensory needs can enjoy quiet time during events like “Zoothing Hour,” which allows guests the opportunity to explore the zoo before it opens to the public. It also has partnered with KultureCity to provide resources like sensory bags, weighted lap pads, quiet areas, headphone zones and more. The zoo also has an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) board for guests who are non-verbal, minimally speaking or language learning to use as a tool to communicate with staff members and other guests.
akronzoo.org
Children’s Museum of Cleveland
This museum has a hands-on approach for all children. For those with sensory needs, it provides a variety of resources such as sensory support kits, which includes noise canceling headphones, sensory toys and visual supports. It also has call ahead accommodations and a re-entry sticker if breaks are needed. In addition, the museum supports visitors before they step in the doors with visual tools.
cmcleveland.org
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo has been sensory inclusive certified by KultureCity since 2019. Zoo guests with sensory needs can be provided a sensory bag, which includes fidget toys, noise canceling headphones, sunglasses and other visual communication supports. Quiet and headphone zones are located throughout the zoo. clevelandmetroparks.com/zoo