Page 4 - 2016 CZS Impact Report

Accommodations for
People with Disabilities

Electronic convenience vehicle rentals
Quiet rooms
Adult changing tables
Family restrooms
Visual schedules
Noise-canceling headphones
Self-identifying badges
Social stories

Brookfi eld Zoo encourages everyone to experience the natural world and make connections with animals.
Life and Work Skills has a developmental disability and one of Illinois, Helping Hand, Growing Solu-
In partnership with Helping Hand Center in five adults has physical or cognitive tions, Community Support Services, Easter
and Project SEARCH, a nationwide challenges. We believe that zoos can Seals, and El Valor. We have also arranged
organization serving people with and must play a role in the lives of these special visits and activities for the Wound-
disabilities, we are piloting a program individuals and their families. Our “A Zoo ed Warrior Project, Best Buddies, Autism
in Illinois to help young people with for All” initiatives are among our most Speaks, and various Special Recreation
disabilities transition to employment. recent efforts to promote inclusion and Associations.
Adults with disabilities lose school- access and provide opportunities that can Zoo Camp for All: We estimate that
supported programming when they bring meaningful change to the lives of 7% of our Zoo Camp participants have
turn 22. To help bridge the gap, we are people with disabilities. disabilities. Our goal is to provide them
providing internships that bolster career Family Fun Saturdays: Research with an inclusive and enriching environ-
skills and ease successful transitions into indicates that the presence of animals may ment. To this end, we employ a seasonal
the work world. During a nine-month increase positive social behaviors in chil- counselor with experience working with
program, participants cycle through three dren with autism. Family Fun Saturdays children with disabilities and provide spe-
zoo internships and receive classroom provide social opportunities and animal cialized training to Camp staff. Additional-
instruction from Helping Hand Center.
The program launched in October 2016, interaction for our youngest guests on the ly, we offer adaptive materials for Campers
autism spectrum. Families with children with special needs, as well as scholarships
and nine interns currently participate.
ages 3 to 6 are invited to our through the National Inclusion Project.
>1,700 Children who participated in ZOO CAMP Hamill Family Play Zoo highly qualified informal educators, the
Our efforts are ongoing. Staffed by
before the exhibit opens to the
7% Percent of ZOO CAMP children with disabilities public for nature play activities award-winning Hamill Family Play
20% Estimated percent of zoo guests with physical, developed in consultation with Zoo is visited by more than 300,000
cognitive, or developmental disabilities occupational therapists. young children and their families every
(according to the Centers for Disease Control Group Visits: We partner year. To better meet the needs of guests
and Prevention) with select organizations that with disabilities, we soon will develop
serve people with disabilities and
Inclusive Programs their families, offering a range of fun and an information resource center for their
caregivers, as well as new accessible quiet
Last year, we also launched or expanded accessible activities, adapted tours, animal zones for children or family members who
a number of initiatives to make Brookfield encounters, and specially narrated Zoo may need a tranquil space. █
Zoo more enjoyable for people of all Chats and Dolphins in Action. Partner
abilities. One in six American children nonprofits include Misericordia, Aspire

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