Denver Zoo Lights Sensory Night is a special event designed to provide a more inclusive and comfortable experience for guests with sensory processing disorders (SPD). This event offers a range of accommodations and features to ensure that everyone can enjoy the enchanting holiday lights display at the Denver Zoo.
Accommodations for Guests with SPD
To create a more sensory-friendly environment, the Denver Zoo has implemented several accommodations for the Sensory Night event:
- Attendance Cap: The event will have a lower attendance cap to preserve personal space and reduce overcrowding.
- Quiet Rooms: Quiet rooms will be available throughout the 84-acre campus to provide respite from stimulation.
- Reduced Movement Effects: Strobing, flashing, and blinking effects will be dramatically reduced to minimize sensory triggers.
- Free Sensory Kits: Free sensory kits will be available for checkout on a first-come, first-served basis. These kits include ear defenders, sunglasses, fidget tools, weighted lap blankets, coloring pages, and crayons.
- Train Closure: The Denver Zoo Railroad will be closed for the evening to avoid the train whistle, which cannot be turned off for safety reasons.
- Lowered Music Volume: The music volume on the Conservation Carousel will be significantly lowered to reduce auditory stimulation.
- Community Partnerships: The zoo will work with community partners to ensure guests know what to expect and what to avoid if needed.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Denver Zoo Lights Sensory Night event are priced at $25 for adults and $18 for children aged 3-15. Tickets are limited, and guests are encouraged to purchase them as soon as possible to ensure availability.
Event Schedule
The Denver Zoo Lights Sensory Night event takes place on December 31, which is New Year’s Eve. The exact time of the event is not specified, but it is part of the larger Zoo Lights event, which runs from December 2 to January 7.
Special Activities
In addition to the sensory-friendly accommodations, the Denver Zoo Lights Sensory Night event will feature rolling celebrations to ring in the New Year, highlighting the time zones where Denver Zoo Field Conservation programs are working to save wildlife and wild places.
Additional Resources
To help guests prepare for their visit, the Denver Zoo provides a social narrative and a sensory guide. The social narrative helps guests familiarize themselves with the zoo, while the sensory guide provides information about noise levels, visual stimulation, and tactile components in different areas of the zoo.
Accessibility
The Denver Zoo is a Certified Autism Center, ensuring that at least 80% of its staff is highly trained and certified in the field of autism. The zoo also offers various accessibility features, including nursing facilities, all-gender restrooms, family restrooms, and transportation options like RTD bus routes and Access-A-Ride.
Environmental Efforts
The Denver Zoo is committed to sustainability and has made significant efforts to reduce its energy consumption and waste. The zoo has decreased its energy consumption by 78% by switching to LED lights, saving $600,000. Additionally, the zoo aims to become a zero-waste campus by 2025 and will conduct waste audits during the event to improve sustainability.
References:
– https://denverzoo.org/low-sensory-night/
– https://krdo.com/news/2023/12/29/zoo-lights-low-sensory-night-at-the-denver-zoo/
– https://denverzoo.org/accessibility/
– https://denverite.com/2023/11/17/denver-zoo-lights-is-back-with-an-extra-million-lights-and-78-less-energy-used/
– https://tickets.denverzoo.org/DateSelection.aspx?item=3817