Third Thursday: An Accessible Evening for the Entire Family

DuPage Children's Museum is dedicated to being accessible to all children and adults and makes a special effort to accommodate our visitors with special needs. Our exhibits offer ways to work on language development, social skills and purposeful play.

Third Thursday events are held on the third Thursday of each month from 5- 7 p.m. This is a special time for all families, especially families of children with autism spectrum disorder, visual impairments and/or mobility impairments. Cindy Miller, our Community Access Coordinator, acknowledges that for some families, Third Thursday has been a bridge. "Once a child's or family's comfort level within the Museum increased, they started visiting the Museum at other times," she stated.

During Third Thursday, visitors have access to our resource table for information on issues and services related to autism, visual impairments and/or mobility impairments. We are pleased to offer resources and information on upcoming community events, service providers and support organizations in the community. Visitors can find recommendations for using our exhibits for therapeutic benefits.

While parents or caregivers explore the community and informational resources, children can explore the contents of our sensory box, filled with items for visual, auditory and tactile stimulation. This sensory box is available during other visits, if requested, for extra support with visual, auditory or tactile play.

Mark your calendars. The next Third Thursday is March 21!  We will feature a family story time in our S.M.A.R.T. café.  For further information about Third Thursday, please contact Cindy Miller, Community Access Coordinator, cmiller@dupagechildrensmuseum.org.