Betty Brinn Children’s Museum Sensory-Friendly Session

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum welcomes children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or sensory processing disorders (SPD) and their families to their Sensory-Friendly Session. They understand a visit to the Museum can present challenges for some children. They have worked to create an event where children can enjoy their Museum experience in a calmer, quieter space. They hope the Sensory-Friendly Sessions will provide opportunities to navigate social situations, encourage peer-to-peer interaction and develop confidence through play.

The sessions will include open-play and facilitated programming. The Museum may welcome trusted community partners to attend to provide resources and answer questions. No proof of qualification will be required.

After thoughtful review and conversations with families and community partners, they are moving Sensory Friendly Sessions to the first Saturday of each month from 5pm-7pm. This change allows more families to attend and helps staff create a more consistent, calm environment during these dedicated hours.

Families can expect additional programming and resources designed to support caregivers, promote comfort, and enhance each child’s experience in the Museum.

Sensory Friendly Sessions are designed to create a welcoming and accessible environment for children with autism and sensory processing differences. During these sessions, the Museum reduces noise and visual stimulation, limits attendance, and offers a calmer atmosphere so children can explore, learn, and play in ways that feel safe and supportive. They also put additional safety measures in place to support children who may be at risk of elopement (wandering away from caregivers), helping families feel more at ease during their visit.

Thanks to the generosity of the community funders, Sensory Friendly Sessions will continue to be completely free of charge for families. Advance registration is required so staff can maintain a comfortable capacity and provide the best possible experience for all guests.

Betty Brinn Children’s Museum Sensory-Friendly Session 2026 Times:

• January 3rd
• February 7th
• March 7th
• April 4th
• May 2nd
• June 6th
• July 4 (may take place at an earlier time since they are closed that today)
• August 1st
• September 5th
• October 3rd
• November 7th
• December 5th

Visit https://bbcmkids.org/accessibility/ for more information.

Betty Brinn’s services

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum features interactive exhibits and engaging educational programs that promote children’s mental, physical and social-emotional growth through play. Our makerspace invites families to participate in a wide variety of STEAM activities, workshops and community projects.
The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum is committed to ensuring access for all, offering outreach programs that serve historically underserved children and families, including low-income and those with special needs.
As an industry leader, the Museum creates high-quality, academic-based exhibit products for peer organizations and family-friendly venues around the world.

About the Betty Brinn Childen’s Children’s Museum:
The Museum is named in honor of Betty Brinn, a successful Milwaukee businesswoman who spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages throughout Wisconsin. As an adult, Betty dedicated her life to helping underprivileged women and children in the Milwaukee area secure health care. Her kindness affected many individuals, and her generosity and love of children continues to impact the city of Milwaukee. Betty passed away in 1992, but her legacy lives on through the thousands of children who learn and play in the Museum each year. If you would like to learn more about the life of Betty Brinn, read “On Her Own: The Story of Betty Brinn” by author Priscilla Pardini and illustrator Joanne Scholler Bowring, which is available in many libraries throughout Wisconsin.

Special Exhibit
Velocity – This special exhibit helps children explore the science of motion and makes it fun to learn about basic physics concepts. Children can roll and race golf balls on tracks, loops and hills to experiment with momentum, friction, gravity, acceleration, speed and distance.
The Floor is Lava
Led by our Playlab initiative, children are challenged to climb, jump and problem-solve their way through a pretend volcano. The only rule is not to touch the ground, because the floor is lava!
Please join in for Free Admission to Betty Brinn Children’s Museum!

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