Accessibility

In the Kittens' Den, a naturally landscaped sculpture play garden, children may touch sculptures of bobcat kittens, a mama bobcat and even a mountain lion. The experience works well for guests with vision impairments.

Junior Museum & Zoo 1451 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, CA 94301 Phone: 650-329-2111 Fax: 650-473-1965

Accessibility

We welcome people of all abilities and strive to design our Museum and Zoo exhibits to be accessible to visitors with physical and developmental disabilities.

In 2010, we held a focus group with families and community organizations representing varying physical and developmental disabilities to learn how to create experiences that are engaging for all children. We always welcome your suggestions.

In 2015, we had accessibility consultants review the museum and zoo from a universal design and ADA perspective and are currently working on implementing their recommendations. They also advised us on the design of the new building, zoo and future exhibits. We are currently planning a focus group to receive feedback on the new building. If you are interested in participating, please contact us.

At the JMZ, you will find:

• Exhibits that are designed according to the Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design
• Wheelchair accessible exhibits, or exhibits that have a component so that a child or parent in a wheelchair may interact with visitors using the exhibit
• Multi-sensory, hands-on exhibits that engage different abilities depending on a child’s strengths
• Signage designed to be legible to people with vision impairments
• Experiences for visitors with vision and hearing impairments
• A welcoming experience for children with autism and other developmental disabilities and activities that engage this population
• Trained staff that is accommodating to your child’s special needs – please ask if you need any assistance
• Accessible parking

Super Family Sundays Events

Periodically, we have free events for families who have children with special needs. These events are held on Sunday before the museum opens to the general public from 10 am - 12 pm. It is limited to a small number of families to prevent crowds.

The next Super Family Sunday is October 25, 2015 from 10 am to 12 pm. Grandparents and siblings are welcome to attend. In order to maintain a non-crowded environment, SPOTS ARE LIMITED. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED. To make a reservation or request special accommodations, please email Trudi.Wallick-Horrocks@CityofPaloAlto.org, or call (650) 329-2111.

Super Family Sundays are made possible thanks to a generous donation by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation.

Field Trips for Children with Special Needs

If you would like to schedule a field trip for your group with special needs, please call (650) 329-2111 to make a reservation.  Fee: $5 per student.  Teachers and adult chaperones are free. We can work to accommodate your group’s special need. For example, we have a staff person who is experienced working with children who are blind. She can tailor a hands-on experience including touchable experiences with a live animal or artifacts, such as a rattlesnake tail, animal fur or large scale models of the insects on exhibit. Please ask about the possibility when scheduling.

Volunteer Opportunities for People with Special Needs

We welcome volunteers who have physical or developmental needs -- from mild to severe. Children must be at least 14 years old to volunteer. To discuss volunteer opportunities, please call (650) 329-2624.

Plan Your Visit

If you would like to visit the JMZ when it tends to be quieter and less crowded, we suggest visiting during the school year between noon and 2pm. Summers and school holidays are often busy all day long.

Photos from our Super Family Sunday events:

During our Superfamily Sunday events, trained staff tailor experiences to your child. Often, a special animal to touch will be brought out with touchable animal artifacts to increase the sensory experience. A science activity is also developed for each event. Our goal is to give each family a chance to experience the magic of the museum and zoo in a quieter and less crowded setting.