Today marked the first official day of autumn. With the cooler weather setting in, it is a good time to find some activities to keep your family busy during the months to come. Look no further! We have compiled a list of our favorite New England activities which are more accommodating to the Special Needs Community. The activities are divided into the following categories:
SPECIAL EVENTS
RECREATION AND SPORTS
MUSEUMS AND FINE ARTS
MOVIES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SPECIAL EVENTS
Autism Friendly Performance of Cinderella*
Location: Boston Opera House in Boston, MA
Sunday, October 4th at 5:30 PM
*Advanced Purchase Required
More Info
Sensory Friendly Halloween Party
Location: Recreational Education Center in Peabody, MA
Sunday, October 25th 11 AM – 2 PM
FREE Event
More Info
RECREATION AND SPORTS
Recreational Education Center
Locations: Peabody, MA and Londonderry, NH
Open REC: Daily
Every Tuesday-Sunday
More Info
Pollard Library Lego Time
Location: Lowell, MA
Lego Time for Kids with Special Needs: Monthly*
Next event: Saturday, October 3rd at 10 AM
*Advanced Registration Required.
More Info
Altitude Trampoline Park
Location: Billerica, MA
Sensory Friendly Saturdays: Weekly
Next Event: Saturday, October 3rd
More Info
Launch Trampoline Park
Location: Watertown, MA and Nashua, NH
Special Needs Day: Monthly
Next Event: Tuesday, October 6th
More Info Watertown
More Info Nashua
Cowabunga’s Indoor Inflatable Playground
Locations: North Reading, MA and Hooksett, NH
Kids with Special Needs Night: A Few Times a Year*
Next event: Thursday, October 8th 5 PM – 7 PM
*Advanced Registration Required
More Info
Ultimate Sports Program
Locations: Westfield, MA and other parts of Massachusetts
Social Inclusion Through Sports: Ongoing
Now Accepting Registrations
More Info
For more recreation ideas click here to visit the Sped Child Mass website.
MUSEUMS AND FINE ARTS
Boston Conservatory Music
Location: Boston, MA
Music Programs for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Class Registration
More Info
Museum of Fine Arts
Location: Boston, MA
Beyond the Spectrum: Monthly*
Next Event: Saturday, October 3rd 10:30 AM – 12 PM
*Advanced Registration Required
More Info
Children’s Museum of NH
Location: Dover, NH
Exploring Our Way: Monthly
Next Event: Sunday, October 4th
More Info
Boston Children’s Museum
Location: Boston, MA
Morningstar Access: Monthly*
Next Event: Monday, October 12th 8 AM – 10 AM
*Advanced Registration Required
More Info
Discovery Museum
Location: Acton, MA
Especially for Me: Monthly*
Next Event: Saturday, October 17th 5 PM – 8:30 PM
*Advanced Registration Required: FREE
More Info
MOVIES
AMC Theaters
Locations: Braintree, MA; Burlington, MA; Framingham, MA; Methuen, MA; Tyngsboro, MA
Sensory Friendly Films: Monthly
Next event: Saturday, September 26th at 10 AM
More Info
Cinemagic
Locations: Sturbridge, MA; Portsmouth, NH; South Portland, ME
Sensory Friendly Movies: Monthly
Next event: Saturday, September 26th at 10 AM
More Info
Chunky’s Cinema Pub
Locations: Nashua, NH; Pelham, NH; Haverhill, MA
Sensory Friendly Movies: Monthly
Next event: Wednesday, November 18th at 4 PM
More info
O’Neil Cinemas
Location: Epping, NH
Sensory Friendly Flix: Monthly
Next event: Sunday, September 27th at 10 AM
More Info
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Some organizations and groups that have offered sensory friendly events in the past and may continue to do so for 2016 are as follows:
Autism Eats
Location: Northern Massachusetts
Committed to offering restaurant dining experiences to families with loved ones with Autism. Check their webpage to see when the next dinner is being held.
More Info
Open Door Theater
Location: Acton, MA
Offered a Sensory Friendly performance of Peter Pan in March of 2015
More Info
Superhero Staff from last year’s Annual Halloween Party!
The REConnection 