Naperville and DuPage County offer various attractions and activities suitable for individuals with diverse mobility needs, providing various wheelchair-friendly and stroller-friendly venues that cater to all. Commitment to accessibility ensures that individuals of all abilities can explore and play!
Macaroni KID Naperville wanted to highlight several businesses, parks, and attractions where everyone can fully participate and enjoy.
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🐎Equine Centers🐎 |
Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities
(630) 588-8543
Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities provides a program of therapeutic horseback riding for individuals with physical, emotional, cognitive, and/or social challenges.
Ready Set Ride Therapeutic Riding Facility
(815) 439-3659
Ready Set Ride provides therapeutic equine recreational activities to special needs or terminally ill individuals.
🌳Outdoor/Indoor Activities🌳 |
Illinois Wheelchair Accessible Trails and Maps
Find the top-rated wheelchair-accessible trails in Illinois. Whether you're looking for an easy short wheelchair-accessible trail or a long wheelchair-accessible trail, you'll find what you're looking for here.
Naperville Park District
(630) 848-5000
The Naperville Park District provides community-based recreational programs and inclusion services for Park District programs in partnership with the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association.
Western DuPage Special Recreation Association
(630) 681-0962
Western DuPage Special Recreation Association provides community-based recreational programs and inclusion services for children, teens, and adults with special needs.
iFLY - All Abilities
1752 Freedom Dr., Naperville, IL
The dream of flight is accessible to all at iFly's All Abilities Night, a supportive and inclusive program designed especially for those with physical and cognitive challenges. The event package includes a pre-flight training session, all necessary flight gear (suit, helmet, goggles), and two flights per flyer. Specially trained instructors will provide assistance and individualized attention and accommodation based on the participant's needs.
Sky Zone - Sensory Hours
87 Executive Dr. Aurora, IL
(331) 207-4759
Sky Zone is a popular chain of indoor trampoline parks featuring freestyle bouncing, Ultimate Dodgeball, joust, ninja warrior courses, Stunt Zone (parkour), Sky Wars, and more.
Kids of all ages are welcome to free play during Sensory Sensitive Times. These monthly recurring times are quieter and toned down with dim lights and no music.
Sensory Garden Playground
2751 Navistar Drive, Lisle, IL
An inclusive playground and garden nestled in the DuPage Forest Preserves’ Danada South area, this playground is completely sensory based with gardens that ignite fragrances of flowers and herbs and instruments that evoke sound. Kids will enjoy the sound garden with chimes and drums. Parents can sit in the shaded central gathering area equipped with benches and picnic tables. The park has a trail that’s suitable for running or walking with six workout stations along the way for a quick stationary workout. The trail is suitable for strollers and wagons. Make sure to keep an eye out for sensory-friendly events happening at the playground each month.
The Sensory Garden Playground is a combination of sensory-integrated playground equipment and amenities along with gardening areas. The Sensory Garden Playground is for children of all ability levels, encouraging side-by-side play, and offering something for all the senses. Take in the scent of the herbs in the fragrance garden, the sound of children playing on the large drums and chimes in the sound garden, the feeling of roaring through the air on high-back swings, and the sight of families gathering together.
The Morton Arboretum
4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532
(630) 968-0074
Looking for something just for kids? The Children's Garden at The Morton Arboretum has so much to offer. Splash through secret streams, climb colossal acorns, and slide down giant tree roots all day long. Give your child open access to connect with nature in a safe and kid-friendly environment designed with them in mind. The majority of the Children's Garden is accessed by paved paths and accessible wooden bridges; the typical incline grade is 2% throughout the garden.
🧑Museums👨🦼 |
DuPage Children's Museum
301 N Washington St., Naperville, IL
(630) 637-8000
Once a month the museum provides a modified environment for play and learning for children and their caregivers who have disabilities or sensory processing disorders. Attendance is limited, and families can expect Sensory Kits, reduced light and noise, dedicated staff to provide a supportive environment, and more.
Naper Settlement
523 S Webster St, Naperville, IL 60540
(630) 420-6010
Naper Settlement makes every effort to offer you a variety of accessibility options in which to participate in the museum experience. Two non-motorized wheelchairs are available at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis at the lobby desk.
🎥Movie Theaters🎥 |
AMC Movie Theaters - Sensory Friendly Film Program
2815 Show Place Dr. Naperville, IL 60564
(877) 262-4450
2nd & 4th Saturday of the month
In partnership with the Autism Society, AMC offers Sensory Friendly Film times where the movie room lights remain on and the sound is turned down. Guests are welcome to freely get up, move around, and speak as they wish during the show. Simply check the showtimes at your participating AMC Theatre. Family-friendly films air on the second and fourth Saturday of each month.
Hollywood Palms Cinema
352 South Route 59, Naperville, IL 60540
630-428-5800
Movie fun for everyone! Hollywood Palms is proud to offer BRIGHT STARS screenings - with the lights up, the sound lowered, and where everyone can feel comfortable talking, moving, and enjoying the movie their way.
We keep the lights up and soften the sound for a comfortable, sensory-friendly setting, ideal for young children and guests sensitive to loud noises or darkness. Everyone's invited! Bright Stars presentations are ideal for families who want to bring their young children to the movies. Parents can bring their babies - no age limit is enforced.
Bright Stars presentations are discounted for everyone. Enjoy a unique screening at a special price! Every Wednesday (and select Saturdays), guests can enjoy a Bright Stars screening of a popular family film, with the to-your-seat service, full menu, and great experience Hollywood Palms is known for - for only $5 a ticket. Children under the age of three years old are free! Tickets will usually be available a week prior.
Studio Movie Grill - Special Needs Screenings
301 Rice Lake Sq., Wheaton, IL
(331) 236-0728
Studio Movie Grill combines first-run movies and in-theater dining. Special Needs Screenings are shown with the lights up and the volume lowered. Guests are welcome to talk and move around the aisles as they please. These events are found on the schedule about once a month, and tickets are free for children with special needs and their siblings. Adult tickets are available at the before-noon price.
🐵Zoos🐅 |
Brookfield Zoo
A sensory garden is an outdoor space with various plants and other elements that stimulate, delight, and engage your five senses — sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell. Here are some of the sensory gardens that you can visit throughout DuPage.
Explore your senses at the Hamill Family Nature Plaza, just south of Tropic World. The east side of Hamill Family Nature Plaza is all about relaxation. Guests are greeted by a serene, natural environment with winding pathways that feature opportunities for nature play. Oversized chimes and flower-shaped percussion instruments allow people to use their imagination and create beautiful sounds. A fabricated nest is nearby where youngsters can climb in and pretend to be a bird. The west side of Hamill Family Nature Plaza is all about discovery. A science exploration garden with bench seating provides an area for structured zoo education programming. A water interpretation garden features wetland-type plantings, educating guests about water issues and the importance of having green space for responsible drainage.
Cosley Zoo
1356 N Gary Ave, Wheaton, IL 60187
(630) 665-5534
KultureCity has partnered with Cosley Zoo to make the zoo and many of its programs and events sensory-inclusive. This initiative promotes an accommodating and positive experience for all guests with sensory sensitivities who visit the zoo.
As part of the certification process, the staff at Cosley Zoo have been trained by leading medical professionals on how to recognize guests with sensory needs and how to handle a sensory overload situation. Weighted lap pads and sensory bags equipped with noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and verbal cue cards are available to guests who may feel overwhelmed by the zoo environment.
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It's so great to see Naperville and DuPage County attractions that embrace inclusivity by providing a wide range of wheelchair-friendly and stroller-friendly attractions and activities. This commitment to accessibility ensures that individuals of all abilities can explore and enjoy Naperville and DuPage County cultural, natural, and recreational offerings.
