Social Stories™ | for Facilities, Parks, Programs and Events*

The Wheaton Park District understands that visiting a new place or engaging in public activities can sometimes be challenging for individuals with different needs. That’s why we offer Social Stories™ to help visitors feel comfortable and confident.

The purpose of the following resources is to assist families, caregivers, and individuals in navigating new experiences with ease at Wheaton Park District facilities, parks, programs and events; creating a welcoming environment for everyone in our community.

Cosley Zoo is Certified Sensory Inclusive

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 that 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.

Read more at cosleyzoo.org.

Create a visual schedule & social story™ for your visit to the Sensory Garden Playground

The Sensory Garden Playground is for children of all ability levels. Some children have difficulty with communication, and may use visual supports. If your child benefits from using visual supports, please feel free to download the resources available at playforalldupage.org. You can also download an app called “Visual Schedule & Social Story”, that will allow you to implement visual supports on the go.

Download the Visual Schedules and Social Stories App
The app is available for download on Apple and Android