Page 32 - Gateways 2018 Spring

Opening Doors continued
In June 2017, students from
Philip J. Rock Center and School,
an organization serving children
who live with both hearing and
vision disabilities, visited Brookfield to benefit children with disabilities, all tools to expertly navigate a wide range
Zoo and met with some of our
animal ambassadors. The field trip
followed the students’ study of zoo
animals in their classes.
28 GATEWAYS | PROVIDING A SENSE OF HOME
Everybody Wins
Perhaps the most exciting feature of
the “A Zoo for All” initiative is that
when we make programmatic changes
children benefit.
By increasing the availability of
social, emotional, physical, and sensory
support for children with disabilities at
the Play Zoo, those same supports also
become available to all children. The
sensory-friendly family room isn’t limited North American institutions accredited by
to children who have sensory processing
disorders. Any child who is having a rough
moment can use the room to decompress
before getting back to his or her zoo trip.
And the increased skills and capabilities
of staff will provide families with the
of situations that involve both children
with disabilities and those without.
By expanding our “A Zoo for All”
initiative, we’re proud to improve the
Brookfield Zoo experience for all our
guests and to serve as a model for other
the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. █