Looking for activities that are Sensory Friendly? Need some Sensory Friendly Help or Advice?
This Guide will be constantly updated and revised with new information and logos as I get them! It will always be a work in progress! I am always looking to find companies that support sensory friendly play, offer help, or services and I will do my best to get it out to the community!!
What Makes an Event Sensory-Friendly?
Multiple factors go into making sure an event, activity, or environment is sensory-friendly, including appropriately trained staff and environmental considerations.
Sensory-friendly spaces take into account the environmental factors that can contribute to a sensory overload. All the senses should be considered.
Sight – Having a space with serenity in mind, that doesn’t expose attendees to sudden changes in light. The space focuses on moderation, and calming color schemes.
Touch – Some events will have specific sensory objects and toys designed to stimulate attendees’ sense of touch, and provide a way for people to keep their hands busy.
Taste – Events with food have detailed descriptions of ingredients and taste, and several options.
Hearing – Attendees aren’t exposed to loud and sudden noises, and the general volume never gets too high or low.
Smell – The space is not heavily scented with air fresheners, and mixed odors are kept at a minimum.
In general, the environment of a sensory-friendly event is moderate and structured. Any business that advertises sensory-friendly events should be able to tell you what makes their space and staff equipped to accommodate people with autism. Don’t be afraid to ask what accommodations qualify an event as sensory-friendly.
This Guide is brought to you and sponsored by
In-Home ABA – ages 2 & up
For children on the Autism Spectrum (and other neurodivergent diagnoses)
Now accepting Medicaid & Aetna
With recommended ABA services from your child’s physician, along with a qualifying diagnosis,
your child will learn effective communication, socialization, and adaptive living skills, under the
direction of a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, within their natural environment – @ home and in the community.
The Nurture Nature Connection also collaborates with your family and key caregivers in your child’s life to offer behavioral support strategies.
Contact Kelly to find out more connect@nurturenatureconnection.com
🧩🧩Here are Businesses that offer sensory hours and or sensory help/services 🧩🧩
They vary by location so please verify with the business before heading over!
SafeSplash Swim School:
Adaptive Aquatics Lessons
https://www.safesplash.com/locations/colorado-springs-co/special-needs-swimming-lessons
Children with special abilities best succeed with flexible, patient, empathic teachers who use individual-focused methods. SafeSplash brand Certified™ Adaptive Aquatics instructors have experience teaching the necessary skills at the appropriate time for children with a variety of special abilities, including:
Sky Zone
1750 E Woodmen Rd Colorado Springs CO 80920-3325
https://www.skyzone.com/programs/sensory-hours
Enjoy the freedom of jumping. Sensory hours provide a quieter, toned-down jumping experience for those with special needs.
Check the link above for dates and locations.
Chuck E. Cheese
2925 Geyser Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
https://www.chuckecheese.com/sensory-sensitive-sundays/
Chuck E. Cheese's is proud to support families who have children with autism and special needs. We now offer a sensory-friendly experience on the first Sunday of every month. Our trained and caring staff is there to make sure each guest has a fun filled visit. The Sensory Sensitive Sundays experience includes:
Less crowding and noise
Dimmed lighting
Show and music turned off or down
Limited appearances by Chuck E.
Food and games are offered
PPLD:
Sensory Storytime
“Join us for a fun and interactive storytime that is specially created for children on the autism spectrum or with sensory integration challenges. Peak Autism Services will be available after Sensory Storytime. They would love to answer any questions about autism, ABA therapy, and other resources in the community. Registration is required. Various locations and times.”
Air City 360 Trampoline and Adventure Park
Monday’s Special Needs Family Night
225 Spectrum Loop, Colorado Springs, CO 80921, USA
Every Monday from 3:00-7:00, along with general admission open jump, we are offering our community with special needs children/young adults a opportunity to come and play at their pace. We will also offer a room for needs and offering sensory items. There is a in person discount (Monday’s) for these families so everyone can join in the fun!
CHS Martial Arts:
Para-Taekwondo (Spectrum)
The Farm Sports : 2660 Vickers Dr., Colorado Springs, CO, United States, Colorado
(719) 232-7766
master.chae@chsmartialarts.org
iFly
All Abilities Night
All Abilities Night at iFLY is a unique event that makes the dream of flight a reality for those in the special needs community. This program has been custom designed for those with physical and cognitive challenges to create an environment of support and inclusion, while focusing on making what seems impossible, possible.
Support & Services
Chiropractor
At Incline Chiropractic Colorado we strive to help all in our
community through the practice of chiropractic medicine. In our practice we specialize in
maternity and pediatric patients! Our goal is to help parents and kids function optimally through
not only the brain body connection but also through all 10 major systems of the body focusing
mainly on musculoskeletal, nervous and circulatory systems!
Dental
Dr. Peter McIntyre, multiple winner of Colorado Springs Top
Dentist award, has been the go-to dentist for the special needs community for 35 years. In 2008,
after saving a kiddo's life he was given the President's Award from the ARC... but those things
are pretty meaningless to Dr. McIntyre, he'd rather be telling you a joke, like "uh.... what is that
on your neck?".... "oh, oh, it's your head!!" At Briargate Advanced Family Dental, we have a
desire to make all our patients and their families or caregivers feel at home. The Briargate office
is equipped with state-of-the-art technology which creates a more pleasant environment for
patients and a 650-gallon fish and turtle tank is entertaining!
Simply Kids pediatric dental specializes in meeting the dental
needs of children ages 0-14 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are always
accepting new clients and have Spanish translators on site. Dr. Sean is certified by the Colorado
State Board of Dentistry to provide in-office sedations as needed for proper care and
treatment.
Educational Consulting & Personalized Learning
Embracing Neurodiversity offers tailored on-demand educational
services facilitated by a certified special education teacher with a focus on life-skills curriculum.
This includes the I CAN Kids Club, a specialized program teaching self-care and emotional
regulation to children with developmental disabilities. Curricula are designed to meet individual
academic and life-skills needs, providing a comprehensive, personalized learning experience for
every child. Through our services, we empower children to grow into Capable, Adaptive, and
Nurtured individuals.
Family Support
PEAK Parent Center provides parent training, information and
resources to families of parents of children and youth with disabilities across Colorado. We offer
free parent advising Monday through Friday, 8am-4:30pm in both English and Spanish by
providing individualized information, support, and referrals to families by phone, email, and in-
person. Information is available on a variety of topics including the special education process
and parent rights, access to inclusive schools and communities, positive behavior supports,
transition to adulthood, and much more. We offer in-person and virtual webinars and training and
resources. Please visit, www.peakparent.org or call 719-531-9400.
We support parents caring for their child with special needs such as IDD,
Autism, Cerebral Palsy, medical fragility, and more. Family caregivers can get compensated by
Medicaid. We help you get paid for the work that you're already doing so you can focus on what
matters: your little one
Wellspring Interest Form: bit.ly/wellspringform
Website: https://www.joinwellspring.co/
Hair Cuts for Kids
Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids
is a local kids salon that focuses on
letting kids have fun while getting their haircut. We take the time to go over every step of the
haircutting process to ensure that every kid knows exactly what to expect haircut wise. All our
stylists have years of training that focus on techniques to calm and refocus kids, which helps
them to successfully finish their haircuts! We are known city-wide for our patience, and
knowledge when it comes to working with the special needs community.
Pediatric Therapies
Front Range Pediatric
Therapies is a home health agency that is passionate
about providing high-quality and caring service in a child's natural environment. In practice for over 20
years, our speech and occupational therapists are experts at integrating evidence-based practices with play
in order to aid in your child's growth and development. We are excited to now be serving families throughout
the Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, and Denver Metro areas!
Early Roots
is a therapy practice for children with
developmental delays including: ADHD, Autism, sensory processing problems, dyslexia, trauma
and more. We look to find the root cause of each child's struggles and work up from there. We
look at many different parts of the brain including primitive reflexes, the vestibular system, the
visual-motor system and more. Then we create an individualized program that meets each child's
needs. Our focus is on maturing the nervous system so that children are capable of functioning
better and not just coping.
Intermountain Counseling
offers essential mental
health support to anyone seeking support and positive change, including children with special needs. Our
compassionate therapists will guide and cheer your child along their unique journey, provide tools to
manage emotional, behavioral, and social challenges. Through an intentional, personalized approach,
we help children cultivate crucial skills in communication, emotional regulation, and coping so they can
grow in self-esteem, resilience, and overall well-being. We also are invested in whole-family flourishing,
coming alongside each person with education and resources so you can create sustainable, long-term
strategies to support your child. Our holistic approach equips your child to realize their fullest potential
and enhance their life quality, while also helping you form an environment where your whole family can
thrive.
Moved by Music
provides one-to-one, in-home
music therapy services to children and adults of all ages, diagnoses, needs, and abilities in
Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Denver, Fort Collins and Western Slope communities. We also offer
group setting services in several schools, skilled nursing facilities, day habilitation centers, and
various clinics. Moved by Music is a qualified Program Approved Service Agency in Colorado
providing music and movement therapy services to Medicaid recipients who are eligible for the
HCBS-CES, HCBS-SLS and CHRP waivers; we also accept self-paying clients at a special rate.
(970) 572-9138 admin@movedbymusicllc.org movedbymusicllc.com
The Nurture Nature Connection
offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
services to children with autism and other neurodivergent diagnoses, as recommended by their
referring provider. We offer a compassionate approach to therapy within your child’s natural
environment, in-home & in-the-community. We teach skills necessary for effective
communication, socialization, self-regulation, self-advocacy, and independence. To find out
more, visit our website at www.nurturenatureconnection.com Email us at
connect@nurturenatureconnection.com to connect!
Play & Leisure Activities
Shine Dance Factory
is a dance studio that welcomes ALL
students. We offer tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, danceabilities, musical theater, acro, contemporary,
and more! We strive to provide a warm learning environment for children, teens, and adults of
all levels. Whether you are a true beginner, have special needs, or are an advanced dancer, we
have a class for you! Please come join us and "Let your light SHINE through DANCE."
6861 Mesa Ridge Parkway, Fountain, CO, United States, Colorado
(719) 357-8277 ShineDanceFactory@gmail.com
TRE Mission Statement
Advocating for independence and inclusion, TRE partners with children and adults who have a variety of disabilities, delays, mental health or long-term care needs. We do this using a person-centered approach in coordinating care, promoting choices, and collaborating with community partners. The process of creating and finalizing a new mission statement began in summer 2019 when TRE expanded services to include not only people with intellectual and developmental disabilities but also people with mental health and long term care needs. Our expansive and thorough approach included an internal workgroup along with internal and external surveys of the people we serve and their families, community partners, Board Members, and TRE staff to better understand how TRE’s services are viewed. From November 2019 to October 2020, multiple surveys and opportunities for feedback were used to design the above Mission Statement.
This statement is based on the following commonalities: Advocating is an important role we play for the people in we serve, both to support independence as well as ensuring inclusion in communities of choice. Partnering is key to our success. We partner with the people we serve to ensure the supports and services we are coordinating fit priorities and we partner with community agencies and groups to ensure all possible resources are available. Using a person-centered approach is key to our values and therefore must be stated clearly. Describing key actions we take to accomplish our mission is vital – coordinating care, promoting choice, and collaborating with community partners. We appreciate the candid feedback from everyone who took the time to share their thoughts and suggestions throughout this process and are grateful for the the role it played in a comprehensive, representative mission statement. This declaration of why we exist truly reflects our dedication to excellence on behalf of the people we serve and our commitment to building valued relationships across Southern Colorado.
Entry Point for Early Childhood Connections for El Paso and Teller County
The Resource Exchange
Referrals: 719-577-9190
www.tre.org
Hopebridge Autism Services
Hopebridge Happy Campers: A Sensory-Friendly Autism Event
Join us as we celebrate our expansion into the Colorado Springs community! Learn about Applied Behavior Analysis, Diagnostics, Occupational, Speech and Feeding Therapy (Coming Soon) at our Center. This sensory-friendly event is open to the public and will include: smores, face painting, facility tours, and sensory friendly fun!
Hopebridge Autism Services
945 N Academy Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Stablestrides Adaptive Services
Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy: A powerful treatment
strategy that utilizes the movement of the horse as a strategic
intervention to address a variety of disabilities. A licensed and
specially trained Physical (PT), Occupational (OT), or Speech Therapist
(ST) conducts our therapy services, in combination with a certified PATH
International Therapeutic Riding Instructor. During a treatment session,
the movement of the horse, position of the client, equipment, and types
of activities used are monitored, analyzed, and modified by the
therapist to promote the best functional outcomes. Horse movement may be
one of many treatment strategies used by the treating therapist.
Adaptive Riding: Adaptive Riding is an activity on horseback that
positively contributes to the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social
well being of individuals with adaptive needs. It provides benefit in
the areas of therapy, educational sport, recreation, and leisure. A
disability does not have to limit a person's ability to ride horses. In
fact, experiencing the motion of a horse can be very therapeutic.
Mental Health: StableStrides is a national leader in Mental Health
Therapy involving horses. This is a unique therapeutic model, used
around the world as a dynamic, powerful tool in mental health therapy.
It offers personalized opportunities to support individuals' or
families' mental or behavioral health needs by providing a distinctive
perspective of, and engagement with, horses. More information can be
found on our website
- www.stablestrides.org or our phone number at
(719)495-3908.
If you are a business that offers sensory friendly times or services and would like to be in this Guide, please let Macaroni Kid know!!
