Orlando Science Center marks Disability Pride Month to support their visitors
Meteorologist Victoria Wisniewski got a sneak peek at how every young scientist can have the best experience
IT’S JULY IN A BRAND NEW MONTH MEANS BRAND NEW THINGS ARE HAPPENING. OVER AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. AND THE FOLKS OVER THERE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERY CHILD KNOWS THAT NO MATTER YOUR PHYSICAL ABILITIES, YOU’RE INVITED TO COME EXPLORE THE WONDERS OF THE UNIVERSE. WELCOME BACK TO THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTERS METEOROLOGIST VICTORIA WISNIEWSKI, AND I’M HERE WITH ME BECAUSE THIS MONTH IS DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. SO WHAT CAN OUR VISITORS EXPECT THROUGHOUT THIS MONTH? YES. SO HERE IN THE SCIENCE CENTER, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS WE TRY TO DO IS MAKE THIS PLACE BE ACCESSIBLE AND FUN FOR EVERYBODY TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY. AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP HERE WITH CULTURE CITY. SO THIS IS A SENSORY BAG THAT GUESTS CAN ACTUALLY PICK UP. AND WE’VE GOT A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS IN HERE TO JUST HELP MAKE THEIR DAY A LITTLE BIT EASIER, MAYBE MORE RELAXING AS THEY GO ABOUT IT. OKAY, SO LET’S DIG INTO THE BAG. WHAT’S INSIDE HERE? OKAY, LET’S TAKE A LOOK HERE. ALL RIGHT. FIRST THING THAT WE’VE GOT HERE, WE’VE GOT SOME HEADPHONES. OKAY. I’M GONNA PUT THESE ON. THEY’RE A LITTLE SMALL. YEAH, THEY ARE A LITTLE SMALL. THEY ARE MADE FOR OUR SMALLER FRIENDS, MAINLY. WAIT, WHAT DID YOU SAY THEY WERE? THEY’RE WORKING. THAT’S FANTASTIC. SO SOMETIMES THE SCIENCE CENTER OR SPACES CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OVERWHELMING. THERE MIGHT BE A LOT OF NOISE AND WHATNOT. SO THIS CAN JUST HELP US TO CALM DOWN A LITTLE BIT AND TO BUFFER SOME OF THAT SOUND FOR US. VERY HELPFUL. WHAT’S NEXT? ALL RIGHT. WE’VE GOT HERE. THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ONES. OH, LOOK AT THIS. WAIT, THAT’S KIND OF HEAVY. YEAH. SHE’S GOT A LITTLE WEIGHT TO IT. SO THIS IS A LITTLE WEIGHTED LAP MAT. SO IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK, HAVE A SEAT SOMEWHERE, THE WEIGHT ACTUALLY CAN HELP WITH SELF-REGULATION AND JUST CALMING OUR BODIES DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SO WE’RE FEELING A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, OVERWHELMED. WE CAN JUST HAVE A SEAT, KIND OF TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS. COOL WITH THAT. I HAVE A BIG VERSION OF THIS AT HOME. VERY HELPFUL. WEIGHTED BLANKETS. EXACTLY, EXACTLY. AND LAST THING WE HAVE HERE IS THAT FOR OUR WONDERFUL GUESTS, THEY CAN ACTUALLY GET A SPECIAL VIP BADGE TO WEAR. SO THEY’RE VERY THEY’RE CULTURE CITY VIP. AND THIS JUST HELPS OUR STAFF TO KNOW AS THEY’RE GOING AROUND THAT THIS IS A GUEST THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME SENSORY NEEDS. SO IT’S JUST VERY NICE TO HAVE. AND IT’S ALSO JUST A REALLY COOL THING TO BE ABLE TO WEAR AND SHOW OFF AS WELL. YEAH, THAT’S A BADGE THAT I WOULD WANT TO WEAR. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. SO WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE HERE GOING ON DURING THE MONTH OF JULY. YES. SO WE’VE GOT DIFFERENT TYPES OF LITERATURE HERE. THESE ARE SOME OF THE BOOKS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR KITS TOWN AREA. SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT BOOKS THAT SHOWCASE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR STORIES. AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE OVER HERE A ACCESSIBILITY SCAVENGER HUNT. SO WE MADE THIS FOR KIDS TOWN. HOWEVER, OUR GUESTS AND ANYBODY THAT’S WATCHING CAN MAKE THEIR OWN VERSION OF THIS. AND IT’S JUST SO THAT YOU CAN KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE SPACES THAT YOU’RE AROUND AND SEE HOW ACCESSIBLE THAT THEY ARE. SO YOU CAN GO TO THE LIBRARY, MAYBE GROCERY STORE AND SEE. SO FOR EXAMPLE, IS THERE A WHEELCHAIR RAMP? THAT’S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN CHECK AND SEE. SO HERE IN KITS TOWN BY OUR TRIP DROP AREA, WE DO HAVE A WHEELCHAIR RAMP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’VE GOT ACCESSIBILITY THERE. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, IS THERE MAYBE A QUIET ROOM AVAILABLE? AND HERE IN THE SCIENCE CENTER ON THE FOURTH FLOOR, WE HAVE A QUIET ROOM ALWAYS AVAILABLE. AND THEN FOR SPECIAL EVENT WEEKENDS, KIDS TOWN ACTUALLY CREATES A SPECIAL QUIET ROOM DOWNSTAIRS FOR GUESTS TO BE ABLE TO USE TOO. SO JUST SOME THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT AS THEY’RE GOING ABOUT THEIR DAY AND CHECKING AROUND. I THINK THAT’S SO HELPFUL BECAUSE EVERYONE IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTED HERE AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER, AND IT’S GREAT THAT YOU GUYS HAVE ALL THESE ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS. YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY CAN JOIN US HERE AT THE SCIENCE CENTER AND FIND SOMETHING THAT THEY GET TO ENJOY FOR THE MONTH. WE’LL SEE YOU DURING THE MONTH OF JULY. AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT OTHER COOL STUFF IS HAPPENI
Orlando Science Center marks Disability Pride Month to support their visitors
Meteorologist Victoria Wisniewski got a sneak peek at how every young scientist can have the best experience
The Orlando Science Center is marking Disability Pride Month this July with a lineup of resources designed to make the museum more welcoming for visitors with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities.They are offering guests sensory bags stocked with tools meant to ease the experience for those who may find the museum’s sights and sounds overwhelming. Each bag includes noise-reducing headphones sized for younger visitors, a weighted lap pad that can help with self-regulation and calming the body, and a few other goodies to make every visitor feel supported. The bag also includes a special “VIP” badge that quietly signals to staff that a guest may have sensory needs.”This can just help us to calm down a little bit and to buffer some of that sound for us,” said Yemi, a Science Center staff member who walked through the sensory bag’s contents.Beyond the sensory kits, the Science Center’s KidsTown area has added books highlighting the stories of individuals with disabilities, giving young visitors a chance to see a range of experiences represented on the shelves.Visitors can also participate in an accessibility scavenger hunt, originally designed for KidsTown but intended for anyone to try in their own daily life. The activity encourages people to look at everyday spaces — a library, a grocery store, a museum — and notice details like whether a wheelchair ramp is available or whether a quiet space exists for those who need a break. Organizers say the goal is simple: to make sure every visitor, regardless of physical or sensory needs, has a way to enjoy the museum on their own terms.The Orlando Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Wednesdays.
The Orlando Science Center is marking Disability Pride Month this July with a lineup of resources designed to make the museum more welcoming for visitors with sensory sensitivities and other disabilities.
They are offering guests sensory bags stocked with tools meant to ease the experience for those who may find the museum’s sights and sounds overwhelming. Each bag includes noise-reducing headphones sized for younger visitors, a weighted lap pad that can help with self-regulation and calming the body, and a few other goodies to make every visitor feel supported. The bag also includes a special “VIP” badge that quietly signals to staff that a guest may have sensory needs.
“This can just help us to calm down a little bit and to buffer some of that sound for us,” said Yemi, a Science Center staff member who walked through the sensory bag’s contents.
Beyond the sensory kits, the Science Center’s KidsTown area has added books highlighting the stories of individuals with disabilities, giving young visitors a chance to see a range of experiences represented on the shelves.
Visitors can also participate in an accessibility scavenger hunt, originally designed for KidsTown but intended for anyone to try in their own daily life. The activity encourages people to look at everyday spaces — a library, a grocery store, a museum — and notice details like whether a wheelchair ramp is available or whether a quiet space exists for those who need a break.
Organizers say the goal is simple: to make sure every visitor, regardless of physical or sensory needs, has a way to enjoy the museum on their own terms.
The Orlando Science Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Wednesdays.